A small mussel in the Ohio River might look harmless, but its reproduction has earned it the nickname “tiny monster.”
The pocketbook mussel, native to the Ohio River basin and other large rivers across the state, may look ordinary. But it has a surprisingly tricky reproductive strategy. While adult mussels spend decades buried in sediment filtering water, their larvae lead a far more dramatic life.
Here’s what to know about pocketbook mussels and why the BBC calls them “tiny monsters.”
What is a pocketbook mussel? Where are they found in Ohio?
The pocketbook mussel (Lampsilis ovata) is a freshwater bivalve in the river mussel family. The Ohio Division of Wildlife describes the species as relatively large and thin, growing up to about 6 inches. Its shell is typically tan or yellow, often with green streaks, and the inside is white.
In Ohio, they are most commonly found in the Ohio River, where they sit just beneath the surface of silt and gravel.
How pocketbook mussels trick fishes into housing parasitic larvae
After fertilization, the larvae develop inside the female’s gills into tiny, aggressive “Pac-Man”-like creatures, the BBC reports. To survive, they must latch onto a host fish (usually a bass) and attach to its gills for a short time.
Females pull this off with a clever trick.
A flap of tissue near the shell mimics minnows or small fish, complete with eye spots and a striped body. When a bass moves in to strike, the female mussel blasts a cloud if its live larvae into its face. The larvae attach to the fish’s gills and feed on the fish’s blood before eventually dropping off into the riverbed.
The larvae don’t harm the fish, the BBC notes, and stay attached for a few weeks as they absorb nutrients from its blood. The fish then acts as a moving taxi, spreading the next generation.
Are Ohio River fish safe to eat?
Why numbers of freshwater mussels are falling
Populations of freshwater mussel species have dipped over the years, according to the Ohio River Foundation.
The organization adds that at the turn of the century, the Ohio River basin was home to 127 of North America’s 297 freshwater mussel species, but since then, 11 have gone extinct and 46 more are considered endangered or of concern.
Conservation groups point to pollution, dam construction, habitat changes and invasive species as major factors.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: This Ohio animal tricks fish into carrying its parasitic larvae
Reporting by Alex Perry, USA TODAY NETWORK / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Alex Perry, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
