Mussels like to go fishing

Freshwater mussels are actually parasites. They depend upon a host organism (almost always a fish species) to disperse their larvae. To help increase their chances of attracting the right host fish, some mussels have evolved elaborate and complex display mechanisms. Pictured is a photo of the rainbow mussel (Villosa iris) . This species adapts its mantle tissue to form fingerlike projections, which it will wiggle to resemble a prey item for one of its fish hosts. When a fish takes the bait and strikes at the female mussel, she will eject the larvae or glochidia which, if fortunate, will attach to the host fish's gills where they will develop for several weeks or months, then drop off to live as free organisms.

Today's photo was taken by Bill Roston from Missouri.

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