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North Carolina Mussel Atlas <br />~= ~~~ Species Infarma~ion and StQtus <br />=~~ <br />"'"'' wILDLIfE SPEtIES & CflN5ERYATIflN <br />creeper Strophitus undulates (Say, 1817) <br />{interior) <br />Please Note: Red text is defined in the glossary <br />Page 1 of 2 <br />Description <br />Shells of the creeper tend to be rather thin and ~O t0 <br />fragile. Specimens may reach over 100 mm in ,Sf1@ff <br />length in North Carolina. The periostracum is <br />generally smooth and shiny. The color may <br />range from yellowish to dark brown. Green rays may extend over the <br />entire surface of the shelf: The anterior end is rounded and the <br />posterior end is rounded except a straight margin may exist near the <br />terminus of the posterior ridge. The dorsal margin is straight with the <br />umbos extending above this margin. The ventral margin is irregularly <br />rounded. Growth rests are clearly evident when the shell is held <br />toward a bright light.. The posterior slope tends to be roughened even <br />on shells tending to be smooth. Lateral teeth are absent and the <br />pseudocardinal teeth are vestigial in each valve. The nacre tends to <br />be iridescent and ranges in color from gray to blue. The nacre may <br />be extensively colored salmon. <br />Distribution (.see map) <br />The range of the creeper includes both the Atlantic Slope and the <br />Interior Basin. It is found through the Mississippi and Ohio drainages <br />from Central Texas to Lake Winnipeg, Canada. In the Atlantic Slope <br />it.occurs from the Savannah River in South Garolina to the St. <br />Lawrence River in Canada (Johnson 1970). <br />Distribution by County: French Broad River Basin: Transylvania Co. <br />(Little River Subbasin, French Broad River), Henderson Co. (Cane. <br />Creek Subbasin, French Broad River), BuncombeCo. (French Broad <br />River}. Broad River Basin: Polk Co. (Green River). Pee Dee River <br />Basin: Union Co. (Goose Cr. Subbasin), Stanly Co. (Bear Cr. <br />Subbasin), Montgomery Co. (Barnes and Densons creek subbasins, <br />Little River Subbasin), Randolph Co. (Caraway Cr. Subbasin). Cape <br />Fear River Basin: Moore Co. (Deep River Subbasin), Chatham Ca. <br />(Rocky River Subbasin, Buckhorn Cr. Subbasin), Alamance Co. <br />(Stinking Quarter Cr. Subbasin), Orange Co. (Cane Cr. Subbasin}. <br />Neese River Basin: Orange C.a. (Eno and Little river subbasins), <br />Person Co. (Flat River Subbasin), Durham Co. (Flat and Little river <br />subbasins), Wake Co. (Crabtree, Swift, and Middle creek subbasins), <br />Johnston Co. (Middle and Swift creek subbasins, Little River <br />Subbasin), Nash Co. (Moccasin and Turkey creek subbasins), <br />Wilson Co. (Moccasin, Turkey, and Contentnea creek subbasins), <br />Jones Co. (Trent River Subbasin}. Tar River Basin: Person Ca. (Tar <br />River Subbasin), Granville Co. (Shelton and Cub creek subbasins, <br />and Tar River Subbasin}; Vance Co. {Ruin and Tabbs creek <br />subbasins), Franklin Co. (Sandy, Fox, and Crooked creek <br />subbasins), Nash Co. (Stony and Swift creek subbasins, Tar River <br />Subbasin}, Warren Co. (Fishing and L. Fishing creek subbasins), <br />Halifax Co. (L. Fishing Cr. 5ubbasin). Roanoke River Basin: Person <br />Co. (Mayo Cr. Subbasin), Caswell Co. (Country Line Creek <br />http://www.newildlife.org/pg07_wildlifes~eeiescon/pg7blal 20.htm. 1/6/2009 <br />(exterior) <br />