Elliptio
Encyclopedia
Elliptio is a genus
of medium-sized to large-sized freshwater mussels, aquatic
bivalve mollusks in the family Unionidae
, commonly known as the unionids, freshwater mussels or naiad
s. In contrast with many other groups of American unionidae, the Elliptio reach their greatest diversity in the Atlantic draining rivers of Georgia and the Carolinas, and large parts of Florida. One species ranges north into New England and southern Canada, and two occur in the interior Mississippi drainages. Most Elliptio species have elongate shells, with silvery or purplish interior nacre beneath a thick periostracum
, and few reach large size or thickness.
The genus name Elliptio refers to the elliptical shape of these bivalves.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of medium-sized to large-sized freshwater mussels, aquatic
Aquatic animal
An aquatic animal is an animal, either vertebrate or invertebrate, which lives in water for most or all of its life. It may breathe air or extract its oxygen from that dissolved in water through specialised organs called gills, or directly through its skin. Natural environments and the animals that...
bivalve mollusks in the family Unionidae
Unionidae
Unionidae is a family of freshwater mussels, the largest in the order Unionoida, the bivalve mollusks sometimes known as river mussels, naiads, or simply as unionids.The range of distribution for this family is world-wide...
, commonly known as the unionids, freshwater mussels or naiad
Naiad
In Greek mythology, the Naiads or Naiades were a type of nymph who presided over fountains, wells, springs, streams, and brooks....
s. In contrast with many other groups of American unionidae, the Elliptio reach their greatest diversity in the Atlantic draining rivers of Georgia and the Carolinas, and large parts of Florida. One species ranges north into New England and southern Canada, and two occur in the interior Mississippi drainages. Most Elliptio species have elongate shells, with silvery or purplish interior nacre beneath a thick periostracum
Periostracum
The periostracum is a thin organic coating or "skin" which is the outermost layer of the shell of many shelled animals, including mollusks and brachiopods. Among mollusks it is primarily seen in snails and clams, i.e. in bivalves and gastropods, but it is also found in cephalopods such as the...
, and few reach large size or thickness.
The genus name Elliptio refers to the elliptical shape of these bivalves.
Species within the genus Elliptio
- Elliptio aheneaElliptio aheneaElliptio ahenea is a species of bivalve in the Unionidae family. It is endemic to the United States.-Source:* Bogan, A.E. 1996. . Downloaded on 7 August 2007....
- Elliptio angustataElliptio angustataElliptio angustata is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.This species is endemic to the United States.-Source:* Bogan, A.E. 1996. . Downloaded on 7 August 2007....
- Alabama spikeAlabama spikeThe Alabama spike, scientific name Elliptio arca, is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels....
, Elliptio arca - Elliptio buckleyi
- Chipola slabshellChipola slabshellThe Chipola slabshell, scientific name Elliptio chipolaensis, is a species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. It is native to Florida in the United States, where it is now found only in the Chipola River and associated creeks. It is extirpated from Alabama. There are...
, Elliptio chipolaensis - Elliptio complanata
- Elliptio congaraeaElliptio congaraeaElliptio congaraea is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.This species is endemic to the United States.-References:* Bogan, A.E. 1996. . Downloaded on 7 August 2007....
- Elliptio crassidens
- Elliptio dariensisElliptio dariensisElliptio dariensis is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.This species is endemic to the United States.-Source:* Bogan, A.E. 1996. . Downloaded on 7 August 2007....
- Spike mussel or lady finger, Elliptio dilatata
- Elliptio downieiElliptio downieiElliptio downiei is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.This species is endemic to the United States.-Source:* Bogan, A.E. 1996. . Downloaded on 7 August 2007....
- Elliptio folliculataElliptio folliculataElliptio folliculata is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.This species is endemic to the United States.-Source:* Bogan, A.E. 1996. . Downloaded on 7 August 2007....
- Brother spikeBrother spikeThe brother spike scientific name Elliptio fraternum, is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.This species is endemic to the United States.-Source:...
, Elliptio fraternum - Elliptio fumata
- Elliptio hopetonensisElliptio hopetonensisElliptio hopetonensis is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.This species is endemic to the United States.-Source:* Bogan, A.E. 1996. . Downloaded on 7 August 2007....
- Elliptio icterina
- Yellow lanceYellow lanceThe yellow lance, scientific name Elliptio lanceolata, is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.This species is endemic to the United States.-Source:...
, Elliptio lanceolata - Elliptio mcmichaeliElliptio mcmichaeliElliptio mcmichaeli is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river musselsThis species is endemic to the United States.-Source:* Bogan, A.E. 1996. . Downloaded on 7 August 2007....
- Recovery pearly musselRecovery pearly musselThe recovery pearly mussel or winged spike, scientific name Elliptio nigella, was a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels....
, Elliptio nigella - Elliptio productaElliptio productaElliptio producta is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.This species is endemic to the United States.-Source:* Bogan, A.E. 1996. . Downloaded on 7 August 2007....
- Elliptio roanokensis
- Altamaha lanceAltamaha lanceThe Altamaha lance is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels, naiads or unionids.This species is endemic to the United States.-Source:...
, Elliptio shepardiana - Altamaha spinymusselAltamaha spinymusselThe Altamaha spinymussel or Georgia spiny mussel, scientific name Elliptio spinosa, is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.This species is endemic to the United States....
, Elliptio spinosa - Tar River spiny musselTar River spiny musselThe Tar River spiny mussel or Tar River spinymussel, scientific name Elliptio steinstansana, is a species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. This species is endemic to North Carolina in the United States...
, Elliptio steinstansana - Florida lanceFlorida lanceThe Florida lance, scientific name Elliptio waltoni, is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.This species is endemic to the United States.-Source:...
, Elliptio waltoni