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

Yellow Lampmussel

Lampsilis cariosa

Endangered Species

Key Features

Size: Up to five inches.

Shape: Ovate. Valves laterally inflated. Mature females usually more rounded toward the posterior ventral margin. Valves strong and thick, particularly toward the anterior end.

Periostracum: Color bright yellow in young individuals, sometimes becoming yellowish-brown with age. Faint green shell rays present on the dorso-posterior slope, particularly evident on young specimens.

Lateral Teeth: Present. Two on the left valve and one on the right valve.

Pseudocardinal Teeth: Present. Two on the left valve and two or three on the right valve. The teeth are stout, with striations on the surface, and usually located directly under the beak [this is an important feature for distinguishing this species from the tidewater mucket].
Nacre: Color white or bluish-white. Nacre thicker and more lightly colored toward the anterior end.

Often Confused With ... Tidewater mucket, eastern lampmussel

External shell of Yellow Lampmussel

External shell

Internal shell, right valve of Yellow Lampmussel

Internal shell, right valve

Hinge teeth of Yellow Lampmussel

Hinge teeth

Habitat: The yellow lampmussel inhabits medium to large-sized rivers and lakes, and exists in a variety of substrate types.

Range in Connecticut: Rediscovered in 2006 in the Connecticut River.

Conservation: Though historically known from the Housatonic watershed, this species has not been documented in this watershed since the 1960s. The yellow lampmussel is listed as endangered in Massachusetts and threatened in 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.