Content tagged with "Aquatic Invertebrates"

Pink Papershell

Potamilus ohiensis

This species enjoys the same geographic distribution in our state as the pink heelsplitter, and it generally resembles that species, too. But as the name suggests, the pink papershell usually has a thinner shell and is smaller. Also, it prefers rather shallow water with a good current.

Pistolgrip (Buckhorn)

Tritogonia verrucosa

Shaped like a checkered gunstock, with its unique, turned-down edge, pistolgrips are easy to identify.

Plain Pocketbook (Pocketbook)

Lampsilis cardium

One of the most common and widespread mussels in our state, its oval shape, relatively large size and frequent occurrence make it one of the most easily recognized.

Pond Mussel

Ligumia subrostrata

This widespread species is one of the few Missouri mussels successful in shallow ponds and lakes.

Prairie Crayfish

Procambarus gracilis

This rather uniformly colored, bright red or reddish crayfish has broad, powerful pincers. As the name suggests, it inhabits grasslands from Wisconsin and Indiana down to Texas. In our state, it occurs in grasslands in the northern half and in the west.

Predaceous Diving Beetles (Water Tigers)

Species in the beetle family Dytiscidae

Like many aquatic insects, these large oval beetles prey voraciously on other aquatic organisms. Excellent swimmers, they fly well, too, and are often attracted to lights.

Purple Wartyback (Purple Pimpleback)

Photograph of Purple Wartyback freshwater mussel shell exterior view

Cyclonaias tuberculata

Before buttons were made of plastic, they were made of shell. Because only white buttons were in demand, the coppery-purple shell of this species made it worthless for the button industry.

Ramshorn Snails (Wheel Snails; Planorbids)

Gyraulus, Helisoma, Menetus, Micromenetus, Planorbula spp.

This group of freshwater snails is easy to identify at a glance, because the shell is a flat, disklike coil. Like other pulmonate snails, they lack an operculum (a hard horny “trapdoor” that other types of aquatic snails possess that closes when the animal retracts into the shell).

Red Swamp Crayfish

Procambarus clarkii

This crayfish is found in Missouri's Bootheel. Adults of this species are dark red (nearly black on the carapace) and have a wedge-shaped black stripe on the abdomen. Juveniles are a uniform gray, sometimes overlain by dark wavy lines.

Ringed Crayfish

Orconectes neglectus

This olive-green to reddish-tan crayfish usually has prominent black or brown rings around the fingers of its pincers near their tips. In our state, it is found in clear, rocky Ozark streams in the southwestern quarter.

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Content tagged with "Aquatic Invertebrates"

Pink Papershell

Pistolgrip (Buckhorn)

Plain Pocketbook (Pocketbook)

Pond Mussel

Prairie Crayfish

Predaceous Diving Beetles (Water Tigers)

Purple Wartyback (Purple Pimpleback)

Ramshorn Snails (Wheel Snails; Planorbids)

Red Swamp Crayfish

Ringed Crayfish

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