How Mussels Fool Fish Into Carrying Their Parasitic Babies - 1
28 November 2017
A fatmucket mussel, Lampsilis siliquoidea, displays a fish-like lure at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery.
Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
The smallmouth bass (pictured, at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery) is often parasitised by rainbow mussels.
Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
Juvenile rainbow mussels cluster together at Missouri State University. Mussel larvae can't swim and only live a few hours, so finding an animal to take care of them is key.
Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
A smallmouth bass swims through the St. Lawrence River in New York.
Photograph by David Doubilet, National Geographic Creative
The endangered snuffbox mussel, native to the U.S. and Canada, lures fish using its fleshy mantle.
Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
The kidneyshell mussel (seen at the Columbus Zoo) is another mollusk that uses a host to raise its babies.
Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
Mussels in the genus Lampsilis have evolved a clever way of dispersing their young.
