Species profile
Yellow Sandshell
Lampsilis teres
Identify Yellow Sandshell (Lampsilis teres) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 1 jurisdiction.
At a glance
Yellow Sandshell (Lampsilis teres) is an IUCN Least Concern bivalve mollusk with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 1,953 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Texas, Alabama, and Missouri the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Yellow Sandshells get their name from the bright yellow-green outer shell coating visible on young individuals.
- They live buried in sandy substrates of large river systems across the central and eastern United States.
- Like other Lampsilis mussels, females use a fish-mimicking mantle lure to infect host fish with their larvae.
- Yellow Sandshells can live for several decades in undisturbed river habitats with clean water and stable substrate.
- They are important filter feeders that help maintain water clarity in the large rivers they inhabit.
Where Yellow Sandshell are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Yellow Sandshell
Background
Lampsilis teres, the yellow sandshell or slough sandshell, is a freshwater mussel native to the United States and Mexico. Although it is considered a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List, it is extirpated from (locally extinct) and endangered in parts of its range.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Yellow Sandshell article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other clams/oysters/mussels on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Yellow Sandshell?
Yellow Sandshell (Lampsilis teres) is an IUCN Least Concern bivalve mollusk with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
What is the scientific name for Yellow Sandshell?
Yellow Sandshell is Lampsilis teres.
Is Yellow Sandshell regulated for fishing?
Yes — Yellow Sandshell has fishing regulations in 1 U.S. state and/or Canadian province tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Yellow Sandshell?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Yellow Sandshell along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.