Eastern pondmussel
Ligumia nasuta

The eastern pondmussel is a native mussel species that wildlife managers are attempting to restore in the Chesapeake Bay’s freshwater rivers and streams.

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A finger points to two dark bown halves of freshwater mussel shells held in the palm of a hand.
Jorge Bogantes Montero of the Anacostia Watershed Society points to an eastern pondmussel, bottom, while also holding an alewife floater at the nonprofit's headquarters in Bladensburg, Md., on Aug. 22, 2018. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)

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Appearance

The eastern pondmussel’s shell is greenish yellow to dark olive or brown. It has a blunted edge on the posterior ridge that sticks out. The mussel is about three inches on average but can be as large as six inches.

Predators

Predators include crayfish, sturgeons, yellow perch, blue crabs and diving ducks.

Reproduction and life cycle

During spawning, males release sperm directly into the water and females draw in the sperm through their siphon, fertilizing their eggs. The eggs then develop within the female’s gills into the larval stage of the mussel known as “glochidia.” This stage lasts a few days to several months. At the end of this stage, up to several million glochidia are expelled into the water.

Once released from the female, glochidia must find a host fish to attach to. They feed on their host fish and travel away from the spawning grounds. While attached to the host fish, the glochidia go through a metamorphosis, transforming into a juvenile mussel which looks like a much smaller version of the adult. After anywhere from six to 160 days, the juvenile mussel will fall off the host fish and begin its life in the bottom of the water body.

Did you know?

  • Eastern pondmussels can filter up to 20 gallons of water a day, which helps remove nutrient and sediment pollution from the water.
  • Eastern pondmussels are one of several mussel species being restored in freshwaters of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
  • One in ten of North America’s freshwater mussel species have gone extinct in this century.

Sources and additional information

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