Project
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Keys to Nature Project |
| Key to the Mussels of the Chicago Wilderness Region |
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Title: Key to the Mussels of the Chicago Wilderness Region |
| Version: 111 |
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| Author(s): Roger Klocek, James Bland, Laura Barghusen |
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| Email: rklocek@openlands.org, lbarghusen@openlands.org, ilmbland@comcast.net |
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| Description: |
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| Key Structure: 1. shells less than 2 inches long with no teeth OR two sets of similar looking teeth. – 2 1. shells of any size with visible lateral and/or pseudocardinal teeth. – 5 2. small, elongated shells with no apparent teeth – 3 2. shells with a pair of lateral teeth in each half – 4 3. shell can stand on flat side without toppling - zebra mussel 3. shell can not stand on flattened side without toppling - quagga mussel 4. less than 2 inches, with heavy, regularly spaced, raised lines on shell - Asiatic clams 4. less than 1/2 inch, thin shelled, with very fine to medium lines on shell surface - fingernail clams 4. shells less than 2 inches long and with heavy, exaggerated ornamentation on beak -juvenile mussels - beyond the scope of this key 5. Shells with bumps, knobs, ridges or flutes on external surface – 6 5. Shells without bumps, knobs, ridges or flutes externally – 12 5. shells less than 2 inches long and with heavy, exaggerated ornamentation on beak -juvenile mussels - beyond the scope of this key 6. shells with ridges or flutes on external surface – 7 6. Shells with bumps or knobs on external surface – 8 7. shells with one and usually at least three ridges but without marks below the beak – threeridge 7. shell with at least 3 ridges and raised markings below beak - washboard 7. shells with flutes on posterior edge - fluted shell 8. shells with small bumps: bumps not arranged in recognizable rows – 9 8. shells with large bumps or knobs; bumps arranged in rows – 10 9. somewhat rounded shells with several to many small bumps and indistinct greenish markings on beak – pimpleback 9. shell somewhat rounded with many small bumps and usually purplish nacre but never with greenish markings on the beak - purple wartyback 9. shell elongated with many small bumps – pistolgrip 10. shell with small to large bumps arranged in two rows – mapleleaf 10. shells with large bumps or knobs not arranged in two rows – 11 11. shells with knobs or large bumps in a single row on thickened growth rings – sheepnose 11. shells with knobs and bumps as well as a distinctive shape – monkeyeface 12. shells that have a length to width ratio of 2:1 or nearly so – 13 12. shells that have a length to width ratio that is less than 2:1 – 16 13. shells that have a darker colored exterior surface (periostracum) – 14 13. shells generally with a lighter colored external surface (periostracum) – 15 14. shell is thinner, more compressed and has the posterior tip pointing downward – spike 14. shell is thicker, more inflated, more circular in cross section, and has the tip pointing medially or upward - black sand shell 15. shell yellowish brown to darker brown with no rays; beak has radiating sculpture – pondhorn 15. shell yellowish, sometimes with some rays; beak with double-looped sculpture - yellow sandshell 15. shell yellowish with distinct broken rays and distinct beak sculpture – rainbow 16. wide, somewhat compressed shells with dark brownish periostracum (exterior surface) and a distinct wing – 17 16. wide, somewhat compressed shells with a less pronounced wing and often having a lighter colored periostracum – 18 16. wide, somewhat compressed to inflated shells with a less pronounced wing and often having a lighter colored periostracum – 20 17. large teeth with white nacre and double looped beak sculpture - white heelsplitter 17. medium pseudocardinal teeth with pink nacre and relatively smooth beak sculpture- pink heelsplitter 18. thick shell, can't easily be broken by fingers, white to yellowish nacre, distinct, looped beak sculpture - creek heelsplitter 18. thin shell, can be broken with fingers, white to pink nacre, beak sculpture indistinct -19 19. thin shell, smaller wings, white to somewhat pinkish nacre, external shell surface a bit rough - fragile papershell 19. thin shell, usually larger wings, nacre pink to purple, shell relatively smooth - pink papershell 20. thin shells with reduced or absent pseudocardinal teeth – 21 20. thicker shells with medium to large teeth – 25 20. shell thin to moderately thick with small to medium sized teeth – 31 21. shell with beaks that are flat, not raised above the hinge line - paper pondshell 21. shells with beaks noticeably raised above hinge line – 22 22. shell without internal teeth and having double looped beak sculpture - giant floater 22. shell without teeth or with indistinct teeth and without double-looped beak sculpture – 23 23. shell with no teeth and beak sculpture that is very fine; with a smoothly- rounded, indistinct, posterior ridge externally - cylindrical papershell 23. shell with no teeth or indistinct teeth; beak sculpture that is heavy or coarse; with a pronounced posterior ridge externally – elktoe 23. shell with no or indistinct teeth & beaks with two or three thickened ridges, and an indistinct posterior ridge – creeper 24. thicker shells with medium or large teeth & roughly triangular shape – 25 24. thicker shells with medium or large teeth and not roughly triangular shaped – 27 24. shell thin to moderately thick with small to medium sized, less massive teeth – 31 25. roughly triangular shaped shells with a sulcus - Wabash pigtoe 25. roughly triangular shells without a sulcus – 26 26. roughly triangular and beaks noticeably angled anteriorly; usually distinctly striped externally – butterfly 26. roughly triangular, beaks not dramatically angled forward and usually eroded beaks - elephant ear 27. thick shells with medium to large teeth, fine beak sculpture and roughly rounded or squat-oblong in shape - round pigtoe 27. relatively thick shells with medium teeth – 28 27. thin to moderately thick shells with smaller teeth – 29 28. thick shells with medium to large teeth, fine beak sculpture and shell noticeably longer than wide - mucket 28. adult shell thick, with medium teeth , coarse beak sculpture and shell somewhat wider and more inflated - plain pocketbook 28. shell thin to moderately thick with less massive teeth – 31 29. thinner shells with smaller teeth; shell outline is moccasin shaped – 30 29. thin to moderately thick shells with smaller teeth that are not moccasin shaped – 31 30. small moccasin shaped shell under 2 inches with thick beak sculpture and small teeth - lilliput 30. large moccasin shaped shell with fine double-looped beak sculpture and medium teeth - female fatmucket 31. thinner shells, not moccasin shaped, with smaller teeth and heavy, thick beak sculpture – 32 31. thinner shells, smaller teeth, not moccasin shaped with somewhat triangular shell – 33 31. thinner shell, less triangular and more elongated in shape with medium teeth – 34 32. very thin, elongated shell with very small teeth and coarse, thickened beak sculpture - salamander mussel 32. small, thin shell with small teeth; truncated posterior end and thickened lines as a beak sculpture – slippershell 33. moderately thick shell, small teeth, somewhat triangular in shape with a sharply angled posterior ridge – deertoe 33. moderately thick shell, small teeth, somewhat elongated with a more rounded posterior ridge – fawnsfoot 34. moderately thick and elongated shell, medium teeth, fine unique beak sculpture - male fatmucket 34. moderately thick shell, medium teeth, broad beak, distinctive markings – snuffbox 34. moderately thick, elongated shell, with broad green rays and medium teeth, - ellipse |
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