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Elliptio icterina (Conrad, 1834)
Type locality: Savannah River, Augusta, Richmond Co., Georgia. Range: Neuse to Apalachicola River systems. Absent from peninsular Florida. Remarks: This is one of the most misunderstood Elliptio taxa and the name icterina has been variously used for nearly any southern species. The concept used here is of a solid, rather inflated species with a polished shell, usually with distinct rays -- at least as a juvenile. However, northern specimens may be rayless, including the holotype. Large individuals may be nearly black. The nacre typically is light purple and/or salmon or yellowish. Some populations in the Altamaha system have a peculiar nacre that is nearly lusterless and blotched. Elliptio lugubris (Lea, 1838), treated here as distinct, may be a variant of icterina.
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