Sandshell (Yellow Sandshell)
Lampsilis teres anodontoides (Lea)

Status: State Endangered (August 1, 1989).

Occurence: Occurs in the Mississippi, Namekagon, and lower Wisconsin Rivers.

Aid to ID: The smooth, shining yellow shell is usually weakly rayed with green. The beak region is often reddish or brown. It is thick, elongated and somewhat inflated. The anterior end is rounded and the posterior end is pointed. The dorsal and ventral margins are straight and nearly parallel. Lateral teeth are long, roughened and nearly straight. Pseudocardinal teeth somewhat compressed and serrated. Nacre is white and may be tinged with salmon color, iridescent posteriorly. The female is more rounded and inflated than the male, and has an orange stripe on inner surface. Length up to 6 inches (150 mm) long. In contrast to L.t.anodontoides, the young are yellowish with few rays.

Habitat: Inhabits large, swift rivers with a sandy bottom and in water a meter or more in depth.

Management Considerations: Habitat destruction and river pollution have resulted in mussel declines. Protection of habitat and improvements in water quality along with restriction of dredging, impoundments, sand and gravel mining, and navigational improvements would benefit this species

The content for this page was originally presented in the Endangered and Threatened Invertebrates of Wisconsin, a free publication available by contacting the Endangered Resources Program.