The Mapleleaf is usually found in medium to large rivers with slow to moderate currents and firmly packed substrate of sand, coarse gravel or clay/mud. In the United States, the Mapleleaf occurs from Texas to Alabama. Its northern distribution includes the Great Lakes drainage in Minnesota and Wisconsin to New York and extends into the Red River drainage in Minnesota and North Dakota. In Canada, the Mapleleaf is restricted to the Red River drainage (Manitoba) and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence watershed (Ontario).

The Mapleleaf is a medium to large freshwater mussel. It has a thick, square-shaped shell and reach 125 mm in length, 100 mm in height and 50 mm in width. They have heavy hinged teeth. Their colour varies: young specimens are yellowish green to light brown and older specimens are greenish brown to dark brown.

The lifespan of the Mapleleaf is long; specimens from Manitoba have lived up to 64 years of age but average 22 years.