Butterfly Mussel

← Back to the app

Ellipsaria lineolata

Butterfly Mussel, a reference photo
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie credit Tim Menard / USFWS. · CC BY 2.0 (licence)

Ellipsaria lineolata is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. This is the sole species in the monotypic genus Ellipsaria. This species is native to the drainage systems of the Mississippi River, the Mobile River, the Tennessee River, and the Cumberland River in the United States. It exists in the midwestern United States, and has also been observed in the east coast and as far south as the Gulf of Mexico. The common name of Ellipsaria lineolata is the Butterfly Mussel.

From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Is it venomous or poisonous?

We have no record of Butterfly Mussel being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.

Easily confused with

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Bivalvia
Order
Unionida
Family
Unionidae
Species
Ellipsaria lineolata

Found one? Take a photo and B.inomen will suggest what it is, free.

Check your photo

More species