Anodontoides ferussacianus
cylindrical papershell

The cylindrical papershell is found in the mid to upper Mississippi River, the St. Lawrence River and in the Great Lakes. In the Canadian Interior Basin it occurs in the Albany River system and areas drained by the Nelson River, and is also found in the Ottawa River. In general its range extends as far south as Tennessee and Arkansas, as far west as Colorado, and as far north as Manitoba.

In Michigan A. ferussacianus is found in creeks and small rivers in almost every county in both the upper and lower peninsulas. (Burch, 1975; van der Schalie, 1938)

Anodontoides ferussacianus is mainly found in creeks and small rivers. It is generally a headwater species, found in substrates of mud or sand. (van der Schalie, 1938)

The cylindrical papershell is up to 7.6 cm (3 inches) long , and is elongate and elliptical. The shell is usually fairly thin and inflated. The anterior end is rounded, the posterior end bluntly pointed. The dorsal margin is straight to slightly curved and the ventral margin is slightly rounded, a slight arch, or “pinch” in the middle.

Umbos are low, raised only slightly above the hinge line. The beak sculpture has three or four very fine V shaped ridges.

The periostracum (outer shell layer) is light green to yellowish-brown. Beaks are generally lighter. Older specimens tend to be more brown.

On the inner shell, both the left and right valve lack pseudocardinal teeth but have swellings on the hinge line beneath the beaks. Lateral teeth are also absent.

The beak cavity is shallow. The nacre is silvery or bluish white and iridescent at the posterior end.

In Michigan, this species can be confused with the creeper, paper pondshell or giant floater. In general, A. ferussacianus is more cylindrical than the other species, and has a “pinch” in the middle of the ventral margin. The paper pondshell has distinctly flat umbos. The creeper in general is larger, has a slightly more blunt posterior end, and is slightly more compressed. (Cummings and Mayer, 1992; Oesch, 1984; Watters, 1995a)

Fertilized eggs are brooded in the marsupia (water tubes) up to 11 months, where they develop into larvae, called glochidia. The glochidia are then released into the water where they must attach to the gill filaments and/or general body surface of the host fish. After attachment, epithelial tissue from the host fish grows over and encapsulates a glochidium, usually within a few hours. The glochidia then metamorphoses into a juvenile mussel within a few days or weeks. After metamorphosis, the juvenile is sloughed off as a free-living organism. Juveniles are found in the substrate where they develop into adults. (Arey, 1921; Lefevre and Curtis, 1910)

The age of mussels can be determined by looking at annual rings on the shell. However, no demographic data on this species has been recorded.

Mussels in general are rather sedentary, although they may move in response to changing water levels and conditions. Although not thoroughly documented, the mussels may vertically migrate to release glochidia and spawn. (Oesch, 1984; Watters, 1995a)

The middle lobe of the mantle edge has most of a bivalve's sensory organs. Paired statocysts, which are fluid filled chambers with a solid granule or pellet (a statolity) are in the mussel's foot. The statocysts help the mussel with georeception, or orientation.

Mussels are heterothermic, and therefore are sensitive and responsive to temperature.

Unionids in general may have some form of chemical reception to recognize fish hosts. How the cylindrical papershell attracts or if it recognizes its fish host is unknown.

Glochidia respond to both touch, light and some chemical cues. In general, when touched or a fluid is introduced, they will respond by clamping shut. (Arey, 1921; Brusca and Brusca, 2003; Watters, 1995a)

In general, unionids are filter feeders. The mussels use cilia to pump water into the incurrent siphon where food is caught in a mucus lining in the demibranchs. Particles are sorted by the labial palps and then directed to the mouth. Mussels have been cultured on algae, but they may also ingest bacteria, protozoans and other organic particles.

The parasitic glochidial stage absorbs blood and nutrients from hosts after attachment. Mantle cells within the glochidia feed off of the host’s tissue through phagocytocis. (Arey, 1921; Meglitsch and Schram, 1991; Watters, 1995a)

Unionids in general are preyed upon by muskrats, raccoons, minks, otters, and some birds. Juveniles are probably also fed upon by freshwater drum, sheepshead, lake sturgeon, spotted suckers, redhorses, and pumpkinseeds.

Unionid mortality and reproduction is affected by unionicolid mites and monogenic trematodes feeding on gill and mantle tissue. Parasitic chironomid larvae may destroy up to half the mussel gill. (Cummings and Mayer, 1992; Watters, 1995a)

Fish hosts are determined by looking at both lab metamorphosis and natural infestations. Looking at both is necessary, as lab transformations from glochidia to juvenile may occur, but the mussel may not actually infect a particular species in a natural situation. Natural infestations may also be found, but glochidia will attach to almost any fish, including those that are not suitable hosts. Lab transformations involve isolating one particular fish species and introducing glochidia either into the fish tank or directly inoculating the fish gills with glochidia. Tanks are monitored and if juveniles are later found the fish species is considered a suitable host.

Lab transformations have been observed in the bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass, spotfin shiner and the Tippecanoe darter. (Cummings and Watters, 2004; Hove et al., 1995; Hove et al., 1997; O'Dee and Watters, 2000; Watters, 1995b)

There are no significant negative impacts of mussels on humans.

Mussels are ecological indicators. Their presence in a water body usually indicates good water quality.

The cylindrical papershell is listed as endangered in Vermont and threatened in Iowa. (Hove, 2004)