Species profile
Eastern Elliptio
Elliptio complanata
At a glance
Eastern Elliptio (Elliptio complanata) is an IUCN Least Concern bivalve mollusk present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 6,751 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- One of the most abundant freshwater mussels in eastern North America.
- A single mussel filters large volumes of water daily, removing algae and bacteria.
- Larvae (glochidia) temporarily parasitize fish gills to complete their development.
- Shell length can reach about 4 inches (10 cm) in large individuals.
- Can live for several decades, making them long-lived relative to most invertebrates.
Where Eastern Elliptio are seen
Background
The eastern elliptio (Elliptio complanata) is a freshwater mussel in the Unionidae family, native to Canada and the United States.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Eastern Elliptio article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other clams/oysters/mussels on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.