Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Creeper

Strophitus undulatus

Key Features

Size: Up to three inches.

Shape: Subovate to subtrapezoidal. Valves usually laterally compressed, thin and fragile.

Periostracum: Color yellowish to greenish-brown (juveniles) to dark brown or black (adults). Shell rays usually only visible in juveniles or light-colored adults. Surface rough due to prominent growth lines.

Lateral Teeth: Absent.

Pseudocardinal Teeth: Present but extremely reduced—they are very simple swellings that are sometimes difficult to discern.
Nacre: Color usually white or bluish-white, and often yellowish-green toward the beak cavity.

Often Confused With ... The creeper can be confused with several other species, and it is important to examine the key features of all these species before making a positive identification. They include the eastern elliptio, brook floater, triangle floater, alewife floater, eastern floater, and dwarf wedgemussel.

External shell of Creeper

External shell

Internal shell, right valve of Creeper

Internal shell, right valve

Hinge teeth of Creeper

Hinge teeth

Range map of CreeperHabitat: The creeper only inhabits streams and rivers, and prefers sand and gravel.

Range in Connecticut: The creeper is widespread but rarely abundant in Connecticut.

Conservation: Although the creeper appears to be doing well in Connecticut, it shares habitat with other listed species such as the brook floater and dwarf wedgemussel, and experiences many of the same environmental threats. Careful monitoring is needed to understand population trends in Connecticut. It is listed as special concern in Massachusetts and Maine.

Freshwater Mussel Fact Sheets

Eastern Pearlshell
Dwarf Wedgemussel
Triangle Floater
Brook Floater
Creeper
Eastern Elliptio
Eastern Floater
Alewife Floater
Eastern Pondmussel
Tidewater Mucket
Yellow Lampmussel
Eastern Lampmussel

The Freshwater Mussels of Connecticut

Content last updated on January 29, 2014.