# Eastern elliptio

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Species of bivalve

Eastern elliptio Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] Secure (NatureServe)[2] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Bivalvia Order: Unionida Family: Unionidae Genus: Elliptio Species: E. complanata Binomial name Elliptio complanata (Lightfoot, 1786)[3] Synonyms[4] List ? complanata Lightfoot Elliptio complanata subsp. complanata (Lightfoot) 1786 Elliptio complanatus (Lightfoot) 1786 Elliptio complanatus subsp. catawbensis (I.Lea, 1857) Elliptio complanatus subsp. complanatus (Lightfoot) 1786 Elliptio complanatus subsp. cuvierianus (I.Lea, 1853) Elliptio complanatus subsp. jejunus (I.Lea, 1838) Elliptio complanatus subsp. northamptonensis (I.Lea, 1862) Elliptio complanatus subsp. quadrilaterus (I.Lea, 1863) Elliptio complanatus subsp. subinflatus (Conrad, 1835) Elliptio errans (I.Lea, 1857) Elliptio geminus (I.Lea, 1856) Elliptio insulsus (I.Lea, 1857) Elliptio nubilus (I.Lea, 1868) Elliptio rostrum (I.Lea, 1862) Elliptio spadiceus (I.Lea, 1857) Elliptio subinflatus (Conrad, 1835) Elliptio violaceus (Spengler, 1793) Elliptio violaceus subsp. cuvierianus (I.Lea, 1853) Elliptio violaceus subsp. jejunus (I.Lea, 1838) Elliptio violaceus subsp. northamptonensis (I.Lea, 1862) Elliptio violaceus subsp. subinflatus (Conrad, 1835) Elliptio violaceus subsp. wheatleyi (I.Lea, 1857) Margarita (Unio) complanata (Lightfoot) 1786 Margarita (Unio) griffithianus (I.Lea, 1834) Margarita (Unio) paliatus I.Lea, 1836 Margaritana decumbens (I.Lea, 1861) Margaritifera decumbens (I.Lea, 1861) Margaritifera decumbens (I.Lea, 1861) Margaron (Unio) abbevillensis (I.Lea, 1857) Margaron (Unio) aberrans (I.Lea, 1863) Margaron (Unio) baldwinensis (I.Lea, 1859) Margaron (Unio) beaverensis (I.Lea, 1868) Margaron (Unio) burkensis (I.Lea, 1859) Margaron (Unio) catawbensis (I.Lea, 1857) Margaron (Unio) chathamensis (I.Lea, 1863) Margaron (Unio) complanatus (Lightfoot) 1786 Margaron (Unio) contractus (I.Lea, 1857) Margaron (Unio) curatus (I.Lea, 1863) Margaron (Unio) cuvierianus (I.Lea, 1853) Margaron (Unio) datus (I.Lea, 1868) Margaron (Unio) decumbens (I.Lea, 1861) Margaron (Unio) errans (I.Lea, 1857) Margaron (Unio) exactus (I.Lea, 1858) Margaron (Unio) fuliginosus (I.Lea, 1845) Margaron (Unio) gastonensis (I.Lea, 1863) Margaron (Unio) geminus (I.Lea, 1856) Margaron (Unio) griffithianus (I.Lea, 1834) Margaron (Unio) humerosus (I.Lea, 1868) Margaron (Unio) indefinitus (I.Lea, 1863) Margaron (Unio) insulsus (I.Lea, 1857) Margaron (Unio) jejunus (I.Lea, 1838) Margaron (Unio) mecklenbergensis (I.Lea, 1863) Margaron (Unio) mediocris (I.Lea, 1863) Margaron (Unio) neusensis (I.Lea, 1858) Margaron (Unio) northamptonensis (I.Lea, 1862) Margaron (Unio) nubilus (I.Lea, 1868) Margaron (Unio) paliatus (I.Lea, 1836) Margaron (Unio) percoarctatus (I.Lea, 1857) Margaron (Unio) perlucens (I.Lea, 1863) Margaron (Unio) postellii (I.Lea, 1858) Margaron (Unio) protensus (I.Lea, 1865) Margaron (Unio) purus (I.Lea, 1858) Margaron (Unio) quadrilaterus (I.Lea, 1863) Margaron (Unio) raeensis (I.Lea, 1859) Margaron (Unio) raleighensis (I.Lea, 1863) Margaron (Unio) rostrum (I.Lea, 1862) Margaron (Unio) savannahensis (I.Lea, 1857) Margaron (Unio) spadiceus (I.Lea, 1857) Margaron (Unio) squameus (I.Lea, 1862) Margaron (Unio) subflavus (I.Lea, 1857) Margaron (Unio) subinflatus (Conrad, 1835) Margaron (Unio) uhareensis (I.Lea, 1868) Margaron (Unio) vicinus (I.Lea, 1856) Margaron (Anodonta) virens (I.Lea, 1857) Margaron (Unio) weldonensis (I.Lea, 1863) Mya complanata (Lightfoot) 1786 Mya rigidus Wood, 1828 Unio abbevillensis I.Lea, 1857 Unio aberrans I.Lea, 1863 Unio amplus I.Lea, 1872 Unio (Elliptio) aurata Rafinesque, 1820 Unio baldwinensis I.Lea, 1859 Unio beaverensis I.Lea, 1868 Unio burkensis I.Lea, 1859 Unio carinifera Lamarck, 1819 Unio catawbensis I.Lea, 1857 Unio chathamensis I.Lea, 1863 Unio cirratus I.Lea, 1874 Unio coarctata Lamarck, 1819 Unio (Elliptio) complanatus (Lightfoot) 1786 Unio (Elliptio) complanatus subsp. jejunus I.Lea, 1838 Unio complanatus subsp. mainensis Rich, 1915 Unio (Elliptio) complanatus subsp. quadrilaterus I.Lea, 1863 Unio complanatus subsp. subinflatus Conrad, 1835 Unio contractus I.Lea, 1857 Unio curatus I.Lea, 1863 Unio curvatus I.Lea, 1872 Unio cuvierianus I.Lea, 1852 Unio datus I.Lea, 1868 Unio decumbens I.Lea, 1861 Unio differtus I.Lea, 1872 Unio dissimilis I.Lea, 1872 Unio errans I.Lea, 1857 Unio exactus I.Lea, 1858 Unio fluviatilis Green, 1827 Unio fuliginosus I.Lea, 1845 Unio gastonensis I.Lea, 1863 Unio geminus I.Lea, 1857 Unio georgina Lamarck, 1819 Unio glabrata Lamarck, 1819 Unio griffithianus I.Lea, 1834 Unio humerosoides I.Lea, 1868 Unio humerosus I.Lea, 1868 Unio indefinilus I.Lea, 1863 Unio indefinitus Lea, 1863 Unio infulgens I.Lea, 1874 Unio infuscus I.Lea, 1872 Unio insulsus I.Lea, 1857 Unio irwinensis I.Lea, 1872 Unio jejunus I.Lea, 1838 Unio ligatus I.Lea, 1872 Unio mecklenbergensis I.Lea, 1863 Unio mediocris I.Lea, 1863 Unio neusensis I.Lea, 1858 Unio northamptonensis I.Lea, 1862 Unio nubilus I.Lea, 1868 Unio oblongus I.Lea, 1872 Unio percoarctatus I.Lea, 1857 Unio perlucens I.Lea, 1863 Unio postellii I.Lea, 1858 Unio protensus I.Lea, 1865 Unio (Arconaia) provancheriana Pilsbry, 1890 Unio pullatus subsp. majusculus de Gregorio, 1914 Unio purpurascens Lamarck, 1819 Unio purpureus Say, 1817 Unio purus I.Lea, 1858 Unio quadrilaterus I.Lea, 1863 Unio raeensis I.Lea, 1859 Unio raleighensis I.Lea, 1863 Unio rarisulcata Lamarck, 1819 Unio ratus I.Lea, 1872 Unio rhombula Lamarck, 1819 Unio rigidus Wood, 1828 Unio (Elliptio) roanokensis subsp. northamptonensis I.Lea, 1862 Unio roanokoides I.Lea, 1868 Unio rostrum I.Lea, 1862 Unio santeensis I.Lea, 1871 Unio savannahensis I.Lea, 1857 Unio spadiceus I.Lea, 1857 Unio squameus I.Lea, 1862 Unio subflavus I.Lea, 1857 Unio subinflatus (Conrad, 1835) Unio (Elliptio) subinflatus Conrad, 1835 Unio subolivaceus I.Lea, 1874 Unio subparallelus I.Lea, 1872 Unio subsquamosus I.Lea, 1872 Unio sulcidens Lamarck, 1819 Unio tortuosus G.B.Sowerby II, 1868 Unio uhareensis I.Lea, 1868 Unio vicinus I.Lea, 1857 Unio violaceus Spengler, 1793 Unio virens I.Lea, 1857 Unio virginiana Lamarck, 1819 Unio weldonensis I.Lea, 1863 Unio wheatleyi I.Lea, 1857 Unio yadkinensis I.Lea, 1872

The **eastern elliptio** (***Elliptio complanata***) is a [freshwater mussel](/source/Freshwater_mussel) in the [Unionidae](/source/Unionidae) family, native to [Canada](/source/Canada) and the [United States](/source/United_States). It is a bivalve member of the phylum Mollusca. Not only is it found in Canada and the United States, but it is frequently the most abundant species of mussel found in its home waterways. It is the most common mussel in the Delaware River [5] and the most common mussel found in the state of [New Hampshire](/source/New_Hampshire) and [Vermont](/source/Vermont).[6][7] It can be found in the substrate at the bottom of lakes, ponds and rivers. Size is variable, but can reach up to 13 centimetres (5.1 in) in length.[8][9]

## Reproduction

The eastern elliptio reproduces sexually via spawning from third week of April to second week of June.[10]

## Life cycle

Like most Unionidae, *Elliptio complanata* begins as an egg within the gills of the female elliptio, matures into a [glochidium](/source/Glochidium), attaches itself to a host fish species and then becomes a [juvenile](/source/Juvenile_(organism)) [mussel](/source/Mussel). *Elliptio complanata* is known to attach to several fish species including American eel *[Anguilla rostrata](/source/Anguilla_rostrata)*, brook trout *[Salvelinus fontinalis](/source/Salvelinus_fontinalis)*, lake trout *[Salvelinus namaycush](/source/Salvelinus_namaycush)*, mottled sculpin *[Cottus bairdii](/source/Cottus_bairdii)*, and slimy sculpin *[Cottus cognatus](/source/Cottus_cognatus)*. It has the most success maturing on the American eel.[11]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-iucn_status_12_November_2021_1-0)** Cummings, K.; Cordeiro, J. (2011). ["*Elliptio complanata*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/188880/8656796). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2011** e.T188880A8656796. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T188880A8656796.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T188880A8656796.en). Retrieved 12 November 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NS_2-0)** [NatureServe](/source/NatureServe). ["*Elliptio complanata*"](https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1066212/). *NatureServe Explorer*. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 24 December 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["*Elliptio complanata* (Lightfoot, 1786)"](https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=79952). [Integrated Taxonomic Information System](/source/Integrated_Taxonomic_Information_System). Retrieved September 18, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["*Elliptio complanata* (Lightfoot) 1786"](http://www.gbif.org/species/2288334). *[Global Biodiversity Information Facility](/source/Global_Biodiversity_Information_Facility)*. Retrieved 31 March 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Lake, Mailing Address: 274 River Road Beach; Us, PA 18405 Phone: 570 685-4871 Contact. ["Mollusks - Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River (U.S. National Park Service)"](https://www.nps.gov/upde/learn/nature/mollusks.htm). *www.nps.gov*. Retrieved 2023-01-09.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_numeric_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Elliptio complanata | Vermont Atlas of Life"](https://val.vtecostudies.org/projects/vermont-freshwater-mussel-atlas/elliptio-complanata/). *val.vtecostudies.org*. Retrieved 2023-01-10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Department, NH Fish and Game. ["Eastern elliptio | Nongame | New Hampshire Fish and Game Department"](https://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/wildlife/profiles/eastern-elliptio-mussel.html). *www.wildlife.state.nh.us*. Retrieved 2023-01-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Elliptio complanata (Eastern elliptio) - Michigan Natural Features Inventory"](https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/species/description/397737/Elliptio-complanata). *mnfi.anr.msu.edu*. Retrieved 2023-01-10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Elliptio complanata: Eastern Elliptio | Rare Species Guide | Minnesota DNR"](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/rsg/profile.html?action=elementDetail&selectedElement=IMBIV14060). *www.dnr.state.mn.us*. Retrieved 2023-01-10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Elliptio complanata (Eastern elliptio) - Michigan Natural Features Inventory"](https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/species/description/397737/Elliptio-complanata). *mnfi.anr.msu.edu*. Retrieved 2023-01-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Lellis, William A.; St. John White, Barbara; Cole, Jeffrey C.; Johnson, Connie S.; Devers, Julie L.; van Snik-Gray, Ellen; Galbraith, Heather S. (2013). ["Newly documented host fishes for the eastern elliptio mussel (Elliptio complanata)"](https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70045817). *Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management*. **4** (1): 7585. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3996/102012-JFWM-094](https://doi.org/10.3996%2F102012-JFWM-094).

## External links

Media related to [*Elliptio complanata*](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Elliptio_complanata) at Wikimedia Commons

Taxon identifiers Elliptio complanata Wikidata: Q3012534 ADW: Elliptio_complanata BOLD: 88642 CoL: 39BJ9 EoL: 449666 GBIF: 2288334 iNaturalist: 151576 IRMNG: 10768792 ITIS: 79952 IUCN: 188880 NatureServe: 2.1066212 NCBI: 55832 Open Tree of Life: 376863 WoRMS: 160340 Mya complanata Wikidata: Q105983894 CoL: 44RJ9 ITIS: 986391 WoRMS: 857514

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