Alewife floater

Distribution: Parts of the lower Connecticut, Merrimack, and coastal watersheds. See which watersheds and/or waterbodies PDF Document the species has been documented.

Description: A large, elongate and thin mussel reaching 6-7 inches in length. Shells are usually yellowish-brown or blackish and have prominent growth lines. The inside shell is usually a white or pinkish color.

Commonly Confused Species: Eastern floater, creeper

Habitat: Rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes with either constant or absent flow. Substrate varies from cobble to silty or sandy.

Life History: Host fish include the anadromous alewife, blueback herring, and American shad.

Conservation Threats: Pollution, dams restricting anadramous fish distribution.