Mussel imitates fish

[Quillback]

Someone posted this on BBC.  Never knew that a mussel could imitate a fish to get bass close enough so that the mussel could release it's larvae which attach to the gills of the bass.  Did a range research of Lampsilis Cardium, northern Arkansas and the entire state of MO are inhabited by that mussel.  Maybe ya'll knew about this, but first I'd heard of it.

Selection, Deception, and Reproduction: Mimicry in Freshwater Mussels | PBS LearningMedia

[Dutch]

Never heard of this before.  Interesting.

[gotmuddy]

thats amazing.

[fishinwrench]

What does the mussel "nymph"(?) gain by being attached to fish gills ?   Verses just being expelled into the water ?  

It doesn't feed on the fish in parasite fashion, right?    And it can't function as a filter feeder while being clamped onto anything.   Therefore the mussel is not dependant on the bass in order to effectively reproduce.   Correct?

Cute video, but what have we actually learned here ?   

[Quillback]

2 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

What does the mussel "nymph"(?) gain by being attached to fish gills ?   Verses just being expelled into the water ?  

It doesn't feed on the fish in parasite fashion, right?    And it can't function as a filter feeder while being clamped onto anything.   Therefore the mussel is not dependant on the bass in order to effectively reproduce.   Correct?

Cute video, but what have we actually learned here ?   

Well it's not what have "we" learned here.  You're on your own.

[fishinwrench]

30 minutes ago, Quillback said:

You're on your own.

Always.  👍

[jdmidwest]

If you ever "filet" a stream bass, the little white fluky like critters are spread by Herons.  Passes from snails to Herons to bass, normally on fins or under scales.  Pop them like zits and fry them up for a tough fishy tasting fish fry.

Then go out and start hunting herons.

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, jdmidwest said:

If you ever "filet" a stream bass, the little white fluky like critters are spread by Herons.  Passes from snails to Herons to bass, normally on fins or under scales.  Pop them like zits and fry them up for a tough fishy tasting fish fry.

Then go out and start hunting herons.

Yeah, did a gravel bar fish fry on the Little Niangua several years ago and the spotted bass were so full of them that you couldn't even eat them (or at least I didn't want to).  Practically more worm meat than fish meat.  

I only filleted two Smallmouth from there and they were void of the worms, as were the green sunfish and bluegill.  So I'm curious if spotted bass are more susceptible to infestation of those Anchor worms (or whatever they are called). 

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

4 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

What does the mussel "nymph"(?) gain by being attached to fish gills ?   Verses just being expelled into the water ?  

It doesn't feed on the fish in parasite fashion, right?    And it can't function as a filter feeder while being clamped onto anything.   Therefore the mussel is not dependant on the bass in order to effectively reproduce.   Correct?

Cute video, but what have we actually learned here ?   

It does say they feed on the fish's blood for nutrients.  About 1:45 mark. 

[Al Agnew]

A number of different mussel species in Missouri and Arkansas do the same thing.  MDC even put out a great little short video about them using a "minnow" lure to attract fish.