Lampsilis

Lampsilis
Lampsilis radiata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Unionida
Family: Unionidae
Tribe: Lampsilini
Genus: Lampsilis
Rafinesque, 1820

Lampsilis is a genus of freshwater mussels, aquatic bivalve mollusks in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. There are over 100 species in the genus.

Some species, notably Lampsilis ovata (pocketbook mussel) use aggressive mimicry to lure large predatory fish by using their mantle as a lure, ejecting larvae into the mouth of the fish when they strike. The larvae attach to the gills, using the fish's blood as food for several weeks.[1][2]

  1. ^ Haag, Wendell R.; Warren, Melvin L. Jr. (1999). "Mantle displays of freshwater mussels elicit attacks from fish". Freshwater Biology. 42: 35–40. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2427.1999.00454.x. S2CID 50529814.
  2. ^ Zanatta, David T.; Murphy, Robert W. (2006). "Evolution of active host-attraction strategies in the freshwater mussel tribe Lampsilini (Bivalvia: Unionidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 41 (1): 195–208. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.05.030. ISSN 1055-7903.