- Range:
Blue = current range
Hollow circles = former range
- Status in Kansas:
Species In Need of Conservation
- North American Status:
(From NatureServe)
This species is widespread
and stable throughout the Mississippi River drainage. It inhabits the Gulf drainages from
the Ochlockonee River system west to the Rio Grande and apparantly extends into
northeastern Mexico, but does not occur in Canada. It is widespread throughout the
Mississippi River drainage. In the Apalachicola Basin (formed by Apalachicola,
Chattahoochee, and Flint Rivers) of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, this species is
historically known from 120 records from 51 sites including the mainstem and tributaries
of the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint Rivers and recently in the lower Chipola
River.
- Comments:
The washboard is the largest and probably the longest-lived freshwater mussel in
North America. The shell exterior is nearly black and roughened (like a washboard) with
ridges and grooves. Young washboards have a noticeable zigzag sculpturing in the umbo area
that over time erodes to a smooth surface.It could be confused with large threeridge
shells. Using growth-rest lines (rings) as reference, some authorities believe these
mollusks can live over a century. Also, these mussels have been located in several
archeological sites suggesting Indians used these large shells for plates, hoes or
scrapers. The females release glochidia in late winter. There are several potential fish
hosts for this species in Kansas rivers. The washboard can be found in the Marais des
Cygnes, Fall, Verdigris and Neosho rivers and the lower end of Labette Creek.
- Fish Hosts:
white crappie, black crappie, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black bullhead,
brown bullhead, white bass, largemouth bass, freshwater drum, sauger and gizzard shad
- See also the GPNC species portrait page
for the Washboard.
|
