Rainbow mussel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rainbow mussel |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Villosa
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| Species: |
iris
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| Synonyms | |
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Unio iris Lea, 1829 |
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The Villosa iris, also known as the rainbow mussel or rainbow-shell, is a special type of freshwater mussel. It's an aquatic bivalve mollusk, which means it's a soft-bodied animal with a two-part shell that lives in water. This mussel belongs to the family Unionidae, often called river mussels.
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About the Rainbow Mussel
Rainbow mussels are fascinating creatures that live at the bottom of rivers and streams. They play an important role in keeping our freshwater ecosystems healthy. These mussels filter water, helping to clean it for other animals.
How Rainbow Mussels Reproduce
All river mussels, including the rainbow mussel, have a unique way of reproducing. When they are very young, they are in a tiny stage called a glochidia (gloh-KID-ee-uh). These baby mussels need to attach to a host fish to get nutrients. They live on the fish's gills, fins, or skin for a short time.
Tricking a Host Fish
Female rainbow mussels are very clever! They attract host fish by pretending to be a crayfish. They have special parts on their mantle (the soft tissue inside their shell) that look like a crayfish's antennae, legs, and eyes. They can even move these parts like a crayfish's legs. They also do "tail tucking" movements, just like a crayfish. This trick helps them get close to a fish so their glochidia can attach.
Young Mussels Grow Up
Once the baby mussels are big enough, they drop off the fish. They then bury themselves just below the surface of the riverbed. Here, they feed on tiny bacteria and small particles, including algae, that are found in the water between the sediment grains.
Where Rainbow Mussels Live
The rainbow mussel is found in many parts of North America. You can find them widely spread across several large river systems. These include the St. Lawrence, upper Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland River Basins. This wide distribution shows they can adapt to different freshwater environments.
Protecting Rainbow Mussels
Overall, the rainbow mussel is considered a secure species around the world. However, in some specific areas, like Ontario in Canada and Wisconsin in the United States, they are a special concern. In Canada, the Villosa iris is listed as endangered by COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) and by the province of Ontario. In Wisconsin, it is also listed as state endangered. This means that in these specific places, there are fewer rainbow mussels, and efforts are being made to protect them and help their populations grow.
