The shells of adult females are obovate in outline and appear awollen and rounded along the postventral area of the shell.
Males have an ovate shell with a wide shallow sulcus.
Although the food habits and reproductive biology of the northern riffleshell are unknown, they are probably similar to those of other freshwater mussels. Freshwater mussels feed on organic particles, algae, and minute plants and animals which they siphon out of the water. During feeding and respiration, females also take in the sperm that has been released into the water by males. Fertilzed eggs remain in the gills until the larvae develop. When the larvae are released into the water, they attach and form cysts on the gills or fins of a fish host.