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INV004-00307

An endangered Higgins’ eye mussel (Lampsilis higginsii) displays a fish-like lure at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery. The mussel has evolved the lure, full of its young, to entice fish to strike it. When a fish bites down, the tiny young mussels explode and grab onto the fish’s gills. By hitchhiking on host fish, the mussel species is able to move throughout a watershed this way. This is one of 44 species of freshwater mussels still found in the upper Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien, WI.

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INV004-00306

An endangered Higgins’ eye mussel (Lampsilis higginsii) displays a fish-like lure at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery. The mussel has evolved the lure, full of its young, to entice fish to strike it. When a fish bites down, the tiny young mussels explode and grab onto the fish’s gills. By hitchhiking on host fish, the mussel species is able to move throughout a watershed this way. This is one of 44 species of freshwater mussels still found in the upper Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien, WI.

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INV004-00305

The shell of a zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) an invasive species of freshwater mussel that was introduced into the Great Lakes from Europe. This mussel species out competes native North American mussel species and is considered a pest in the Great Plains.

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INV004-00304

A black sandshell mussel (Lugimia recta), one of 44 species of freshwater mussels still found in the upper Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien, WI.

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INV004-00303

A black sandshell mussel (Lugimia recta), one of 44 species of freshwater mussels still found in the upper Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien, WI.

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INV004-00302

A plain pocketbook mussel (Lampsilis cardium), one of 44 species of freshwater mussels still found in the upper Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien, WI.

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INV004-00301

A fragile papershell mussel (Leptodea fragilis) at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery. This is one of 44 species of freshwater mussels still found in the upper Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien, WI.

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INV004-00300

A plain pocketbook mussel (Lampsilis cardium), one of 44 species of freshwater mussels still found in the upper Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien, WI.

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INV004-00299

A butterfly mussel (Ellipsaria lineolata) at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery. This is one of 44 species of freshwater mussels still found in the upper Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien, WI.

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INV004-00298

A butterfly mussel (Ellipsaria lineolata) at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery. This is one of 44 species of freshwater mussels still found in the upper Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien, WI.

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INV004-00297

A threeridge mussel (Amblema plicata) at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery. This is one of 44 species of freshwater mussels still found in the upper Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien, WI.

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INV004-00296

A threeridge mussel (Amblema plicata) at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery. This is one of 44 species of freshwater mussels still found in the upper Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien, WI.

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INV004-00295

A threehorn wartyback (Obliquaria reflexa) at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery. This is one of 44 species of freshwater mussels still found in the upper Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien, WI.

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INV004-00294

A threehorn wartyback (Obliquaria reflexa) at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery. This is one of 44 species of freshwater mussels still found in the upper Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien, WI.

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INV004-00293

A fragile papershell mussel (Leptodea fragilis) at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery. This is one of 44 species of freshwater mussels still found in the upper Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien, WI.

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INV004-00292

A washboard mussel (Megalonaias nervosa) at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery. This is one of 44 species of freshwater mussels still found in the upper Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien, WI.

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INV004-00291

A washboard mussel (Megalonaias nervosa) at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery. This is one of 44 species of freshwater mussels still found in the upper Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien, WI.

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INV004-00290

A pimpleback mussel (Quadrula pustulosa) at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery. This is one of 44 species of freshwater mussels still found in the upper Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien, WI.

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INV004-00289

A fat mucket mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea) displays a fish-like lure used to attract fish hosts for its young. This is one of 44 species of freshwater mussels still found in the upper Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien, WI.

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INV004-00288

The shell of a zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) an invasive species of freshwater mussel that was introduced into the Great Lakes from Europe. This mussel species out competes native North American mussel species and is considered a pest in the Great Plains.

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INV004-00287

A black sandshell mussel (Lugimia recta) one of 44 species of freshwater mussels still found in the upper Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien, WI.

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INV006-00399

Yellow star coral (Xenia elongata) on the back of an empty shell at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo in Fresno, California.

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INV006-00398

Yellow star coral (Xenia elongata) on the back of an empty shell at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo in Fresno, California.

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INV006-00343

A group of strawberry anemones (Corynactis californica) living on an empty hermit crab shell from San Francisco Bay. Photographed at the East Bay Regional Parks Mobile Education Program.

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INV006-00342

Two strawberry anemones (Corynactis californica) living on an empty abalone shell from San Francisco Bay. Photographed at the East Bay Regional Parks Mobile Education Program.

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INV006-00341

A group of strawberry anemones (Corynactis californica) living on an empty hermit crab shell from San Francisco Bay. Photographed at the East Bay Regional Parks Mobile Education Program.

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INV005-00173

A hairy hermit crab (Pagurus hirsutiusculus) from San Francisco Bay. Photographed at the East Bay Regional Parks Mobile Education Program.

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INV005-00172

A hairy hermit crab (Pagurus hirsutiusculus) from San Francisco Bay. Photographed at the East Bay Regional Parks Mobile Education Program.

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INS028-00010

A giant canyon isopod (Porcellio dilatatus) at Josh’s Frogs in Owosso, Michigan.

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INS028-00009

A giant canyon isopod (Porcellio dilatatus) at Josh’s Frogs in Owosso, Michigan.

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ANI041-00390

A blood clam (Noetia ponderosa) photographed at Gulf Specimen Marine Lab
and Aquarium.

All are living on an old Florida fighting conch shell (Strombus alatus) shell. The pink is an encrusting bryozoan. An encrusting sand tube worm (Sabellaria sp.) on the left.

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ANI041-00389

A blood clam (Noetia ponderosa) photographed at Gulf Specimen Marine Lab
and Aquarium.

All are living on an old Florida fighting conch shell (Strombus alatus) shell. The pink is an encrusting bryozoan. An encrusting sand tube worm (Sabellaria sp.) on the left.

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ANI041-00315

A Chinese mystery snail (Cipangopaludina chinensis) at the Missouri State University Mussel Lab.

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ANI041-00314

A Chinese mystery snail (Cipangopaludina chinensis) at the Missouri State University Mussel Lab.

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INV004-00173

The shell of a fig snail (Ficus communis) photographed at Gulf Specimen Marine Lab and Aquarium.

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INV004-00174

The shell of a fig snail (Ficus communis) photographed at Gulf Specimen Marine Lab and Aquarium.

Photo: Julie Jensen Director of Marketing | WVC O: 866.800.7326 | D: 702.443.9249 | E: j.jensen@wvc.org

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