It inhabits streams with gravely bottoms where it buries itself in the riffles and feeds by filtering food from the water. Historically, the fanshell was widely distributed in the Ohio, Wabash, Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers and other tributaries in the states of Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Non-reproducing populations still are found in a few other rivers. The rough pigtoe pearly mussel has a somewhat triangular shell with irregular, concentric growth marks. The mature dimensions are 6.5 cm.
Color is a slightly glossy, yellowish to reddish brown.
The inner shell surface varies in color from white to pinkish, reddish, or orange. Historically, this species was found in large rivers such as the Mississippi, Cumberland, Tennessee, and the Ohio River. However,it's current distribution is much more limited. There are no current population estimates. Return to the top of the current page .