Mollusks

Presque Isle and French Creek in northwest Pennsylvania have a very diverse mollusk fauna.  Many of the species at Presque Isle have been extirpated due to invasive zebra and quagga mussels that attach to the native animals and reduce their survival.  The Natural History Museum includes 16 species of mussels from Presque Isle and eight species from French Creek. There is a relict population of mussels in Thompson Bay of Presque Isle that is monitored periodically and has seven species (indicated in the list *) with 137 specimens in the latest sampling (August 2009).

There is also a representative collection of mussels from the Detroit River in Michigan.

French Creek

Actinonaias ligamentina – Mucket

Alasmidonta marginata – Elktoe

Elliptio dilata – Spike

Epioblasma triquetra – Snuffbox

Lampsilis cardium  – Plain Pocketbook

Lasmigona costata – Fluted Shell

Ligumia recta – Black Sandshell

Ptychobranchus fasciolaris – Kidney Shell

Quadrula cylindrica – Rabbitsfoot

Presque Isle

*Amblema plicata – Three-ridge

Elliptio dilata – Spike

*Fusconaia flava – Wabash Pigtoe

Lampsilis cardium – Plain Pocketbook

Lampsilis siliquoidea – Fatmucket

*Leptodea fragilis – Fragile Papershell

*Ligumia nasuta – Pointed Sandshell

Ligumia recta – Black Sandshell

Potamilus alatus – Pink Heel-splitter

Obliquaria reflexa – Three-horn Wartyback

*Pyganodon grandis – Giant Floater

Quadrula quadrula – Mapleleaf

Strophitus undulatus – Creeper

*Toxoplasma parvus – Lilliput

Truncilla donaciformis – Fawnsfoot

Truncilla truncata – Deertoe