Mapleleaf
Quadrula quadrula
DIAGNOSTICS 10
SHELL
- size: mid-sized
- thickness: thick
- shape: squared in posterior, rounded in anterior; prominent but shallow sulcus anterior to the posterior ridge.
- width: moderately inflated
- surface: two loose rows of nodules bordering margins of sulcus, most prominent on early shell, becoming mostly smooth nearing ventral margin in adults; corrugations common on posterior slope close to beaks .
- beaks: pointed apex curled inward/forward. sculptures: acutely lobed, tightly packed double loops forming rows of small nodule, transitioning to multiple nodules on either side of sulcus, more so in anterior.
- color/markings: pale yellowish brown to dark brown, with faint greenish rays on juveniles
- sexual dimorphism: none
- pseudocardinal teeth: strong, serrated.
- lateral teeth: low, straight
- nacre: white
Soft parts: foot white
Similar species/lookalikes: Distinctive. The prominent sulcus bordered by two rows of nodules is diagnostic in Canadian material. Other nodulous species such as Cyclonaias tuberculata and Quadrula pustulosa don't have a wide prominent sulcus and both tend to display more numerous nodules with older shell formation. In Q. pustulosa the early shell is usually smooth, devoid of nodularities, and usually displays a broad, short green ray near the posterior part part of the beak
DISTRIBUTION/WATERSHEDS 11
ONTARIO
- Bayfield R.
- Ausable R.
- Sydenham R.
- Thames R. < McGregor Cr., Baptisite Cr.
- Ruscom R.
- Grand R.
- Welland R.
- 16 Mile Cr.
- 20 mile Cr.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Philippe Blais, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Philippe Blais
- (c) William Van Hemessen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by William Van Hemessen
- (c) Cindy Jones, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Cindy Jones
- (c) nr_travis, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
- (c) Scott Gibson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Scott Gibson
- (c) keith_lott, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by keith_lott
- (c) Blake A. Mann, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Blake A. Mann
- (c) Mignoffo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Mignoffo
- (c) Colin Murray, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Colin Murray
- Adapted by Philippe Blais from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadrula_quadrula
- (c) Philippe Blais, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
