Plain Pocketbook
ExploreInvertebrate
Plain Pocketbook
Lampsilis cardium
The Plain Pocketbook is a special kind of freshwater mussel that lives in rivers and lakes. It has a smooth, flat shell that can be light brown or yellowish, making it blend in with its surroundings.
Habitat: Freshwater rivers and lakes
Appearance
The Plain Pocketbook is a freshwater mussel with a thick, smooth, oval-shaped shell, typically yellowish-brown to dark brown, often adorned with faint green rays. Its shell is noticeably inflated, giving it a 'chubby' and distinctively rounded appearance, differentiating it from flatter mussel species.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumMolluscaClassBivalviaOrderUnionidaFamilyUnionidaeGenusLampsilis
Category
InvertebrateRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
A single Plain Pocketbook can filter up to 10 gallons of water every single day!
Plain Pocketbooks have special light-sensing cells in their mantle, giving them a type of 'eyesight'!
Some Plain Pocketbooks can live longer than your grandparents, reaching over 50 years old!
They begin life as tiny parasites, hitchhiking on fish gills for a ride and a meal!
Special abilities
Ability
Wiggly Lure
Plain Pocketbook can wiggle its mantle tissue, which looks just like a small fish, to attract host fish for its baby mussels.
Ability
Water Filter
Plain Pocketbook can filter vast amounts of water every day, cleaning it by trapping tiny food particles like algae and bacteria.
Ability
Burrowing Power
Plain Pocketbook has a strong, muscular foot that helps it slowly burrow into riverbeds, staying anchored and hidden from predators.
Measurements & details
- Size
- 60-120 mm
- Lifespan
- 3650-18250 days
Diet & Feeding
These tiny filter-feeders feast on microscopic plants and decaying bits floating in the water.
Age differences: Larvae are parasitic on fish gills, feeding on fish blood or tissues.
Primary Foods
- algae
- bacteria
- phytoplankton
- detritus
Foraging Method
- Filter Feeding
Ecological connections
parasitizes
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
Its larvae attach to fish gills.
eats
Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
Muskrats crack open mussel shells for food.
eaten by
Green Alga
Scenedesmus quadricauda
Filtered from water as a food source.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Camouflaged
Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.
Filter Feeder
Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Longevous
This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
Freshwater
Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species.
Keystone Species
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Endangered
Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Don't touch or pick up mussels without adult supervision, as they can be delicate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is Plain Pocketbook?
60-120 mm
How long does Plain Pocketbook live?
3650-18250 days
What does Plain Pocketbook eat?
These tiny filter-feeders feast on microscopic plants and decaying bits floating in the water.
Where is Plain Pocketbook usually found?
Freshwater rivers and lakes
How does Plain Pocketbook hunt?
Filter Feeding
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