About Quadrula quadrula (Rafinesque, 1820)
Quadrula quadrula, commonly called the mapleleaf, is a species of freshwater mussel. It is an aquatic bivalve mollusk that belongs to Unionidae, the family of river mussels. This species has a thick shell that is roughly as broad as it is long, with heavy hinge teeth. The outer surface of the shell ranges in color from yellowish green to dark brown, while the inner surface is white. In most individuals, two rows of raised bumps extend in a V-shape from the umbo to the back edge of the shell. This mussel species is native to North America. In the United States, it occurs in the Interior, Nelson, and Great Lakes basins, as well as the western Gulf Coastal Plain. Two separate populations exist in Canada. One population is found in Manitoba, inhabiting the Red River, the Assiniboine River, and Lake Winnipeg. The other population is located in Ontario, found in rivers that drain into Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, and Lake Ontario. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada has designated the Manitoba population as Threatened, and the Ontario population as Special Concern.
