In Canada, this species has always been restricted to a small area of southwestern Ontario. It is known historically in the Sydenham, Thames and Detroit Rivers, as well as Lake St. Clair. The species now appears confined to a 50 km reach of the East Sydenham River in the Lake St. Clair drainage of Ontario; 17 live specimens were found at four different sites during extensive surveys conducted in 1997-99.

The Mudpuppy mussel is a small freshwater species with a maximum shell length of 50 mm. Its oval shell is thin and smooth-a yellow/tan colour that can also be dark brown. It has no markings. As in all mussels, the two halves of the shell are joined together by a hinge. The Mudpuppy mussel does not have elongated teeth like other species of freshwater mussels.