Synonyms: Actinonaias ellipsiformis   

Distribution: This species occurs in the Mississippi River basin from southern Minnesota to the Ozark highlands in Missouri, and in tributaries of Lake Michigan. Whether it occurs in Oklahoma is questionable as there are few if any shells that have been collected from Oklahoma, but several records from the Spring River in Missouri and the Illinois River in Arkansas exist. Any living populations in Oklahoma would likely occur in those streams, but are most likely extirpated.

Life History and Ecology: Most often found in small to medium-sized streams in gravel or mixed sand-gravel substrate and in riffles or runs with swift to moderate current. Long-term brooder that uses a mantle flap to attract hosts and reportedly specializes on darters as fish hosts (Riusech and Barnhart 2000).

Special Status: none

Shell Description: click here for shell description

Literature cited:

Riusech, F. A., & Barnhart, M. C. (2000). Host suitability and utilization in Venustaconcha ellipsiformis and Venustaconcha pleasii (Bivalvia: Unionidae) from the Ozark Plateaus. In Freshwater mollusk symposia proceedings. Ohio Biological Survey Special Publication, Columbus, Ohio (pp. 83-91).