Endangered Resources Program Species Information
Butterfly (Ellipsaria lineolata)

Overview

Species Overview

Butterfly (Ellipsaria lineolata), a mussel listed as Endangered in Wisconsin, is found in large rivers in the western and southern parts of the state. It prefers a stable substrate containing rock, gravel and sand in swift current. The known host species include three common fish; drum, green sunfish, and sauger.

Status and NHI Documented Occurrences in Wisconsin

The table below provides information about the protected status (State and Federal Status) and the rank (S and G Ranks) for Butterfly (Ellipsaria lineolata). See the Working List Key for more information about the abbreviations used. Counties shaded blue have documented occurrences for this species in the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory database. For invertebrates, dots depict locations from the "Invertebrate Atlas," a database with occurrences of rare and common aquatic and select terrestrial invertebrate species found in Wisconsin and adjacent areas. While the invertebrate atlas is a quality assured database, not all records have been verified. The map is provided as a general reference of where this species has been found to date and is not meant as a range map.

Summary Information State Status: END Federal Status in Wisconsin: none State Rank: S2 Global Rank: G4 Tracked by NHI: Y Species of Greatest Conservation Need: Y

Detailed Information

Identification: Yellowish brown shell with broken brown rays is smooth, triangular, and flattened, with a sharply angled posterior ridge. The anterior end is broadly rounded, and the posterior end pointed. The beak sculpture has a few fine, double-looped ridges. Old shells have faint brown rays and are up to 4 inches (10.2 cm) long. The beak cavity is shallow to moderately deep. The nacre is white.

Habitat: Inhabits large rivers in sand or gravel substrates.

State Distribution: Occurs in the Mississippi, lower Wisconsin and St.Croix Rivers.

Phenology: Host fish are freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens), green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus), and sauger (Stizostedion canadense). The glochidia have been found on green sunfish in July.

Management Guidance: Habitat destruction and river pollution have resulted in mussel declines. Protection of habitat and improvements in water quality along with restriction of dredging, impoundments, sand and gravel mining, and navigational improvements would benefit this species. The development of fish runways to facilitate the movement of host species through or around dams could help to protect this species.

Information compiled from publication PUB-ER-085-99 (now out-of-print).

Photos

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Photo © Kevin Cummings.

Related Links

Links to Additional Butterfly Information

• MN Department of Natural Resources [Exit DNR]
• Illinois Natural History Survey [Exit DNR]

Other Links Related to Mussels and Clams

• Illinois Natural History Survey [Exit DNR]
• The Field Museum [Exit DNR]
• Conchologists of America [Exit DNR]
• EPA Biological Indicators of Watershed Health [Exit DNR]
• Milwaukee Public Museum [Exit DNR]