''Lampsilis cardium'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

freshwater mussel Freshwater bivalves are one kind of freshwater mollusc, along with freshwater snails. They are bivalves that live in fresh water as opposed to salt water, which is the main habitat type for bivalves. The majority of species of bivalve molluscs ...

in the family

Unionidae The Unionidae are a family of freshwater mussels, the largest in the order Unionida, the bivalve molluscs sometimes known as river mussels, or simply as unionids. The range of distribution for this family is world-wide. It is at its most diverse ...

, the river mussels. It is known commonly as the plain pocketbook.Plain pocketbook, ''Lampsilis cardium''.
Unio Gallery. Missouri State University. It is widespread in eastern North America, where it is native to the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it f ...

and

Great Lakes The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes in the mid-east region of North America that connect to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River. There are five lakes ...

drainage systems.

Reproduction

All Unionidae are known to use the gills, fins, or skin of a host fish for nutrients during the larval glochidia stage. ''Lampsilis cardium'' accomplishes this by having the inner sides of its mantle flaps marked with longitudinal stripes, resembling a small fish of the genus ''

Notropis ''Notropis'' is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae. They are known commonly as eastern shiners.''No ...

''. When these are attacked and ruptured by a striking predator fish, especially '' Micropterus coosae'', the mussel larva is released into the gills of the host fish where it feeds and develops.

References

Molluscs of the United States cardium Bivalves described in 1820 Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Unionidae-stub