[3] It is endemic to the United States, where it occurs in the upper Mississippi River and the drainages of some of its tributaries.

[5] It has always been rare, but it experienced a large reduction in population after 1965, when it began to lose the northernmost and southernmost reaches of its distribution, a total of over 50% of its range.

[7] Other invasive species include the Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea), which competes with the native mussel and consumes its sperm, larvae, and juveniles.

[4] During breeding, the male releases sperm and the female siphons it and keeps the fertilized eggs in her gills until they hatch.

The glochidia, or mussel larvae, are released and enter the bodies of host organisms, which are fish.