Field Guide

Aquatic Invertebrates

Showing 1 - 10 of 34 results
brokenray
Arkansas Brokenray
Lampsilis reeveiana
The Arkansas brokenray only occurs in streams that flow south off of the Salem and Springfield plateaus, so it is found only in about the southern quarter of Missouri.
Two pairs of Asian clam shells, still hinged together, showing exterior and interior
Asian Clam
Corbicula fluminea
The Asian clam is a nonnative, invasive species that lives in a variety of aquatic habitats. It has thick shells with distinctly ridged, concentric rings and a yellowish-brown to dark brown shell covering.
butterfly
Butterfly
Ellipsaria lineolata
The butterfly is one of the most beautiful of Missouri’s mussels.
deertoe
Deertoe
Truncilla truncata
A common mussel in some areas, deertoe have decorative green markings.
Photograph of Ebonyshell freshwater mussel shell exterior view
Ebonyshell
Fusconaia ebena
At one time the most valuable shell to the commercial button industry, the ebonyshell is now classified as endangered in Missouri and is a candidate for federal endangered status.
elephantear mussel half-buried in a gravel substrate
Elephantear
Elliptio crassidens
Today found only in the Meramec River, the elephantear has been classified as endangered in Missouri and is a candidate for federal endangered status.
elktoe
Elktoe
Alasmidonta marginata
The elktoe is one of many Missouri mussels with a declining population.
ellipse
Ellipse and Bleedingtooth
Venustaconcha ellipsiformis and V. pleasii
These small mussels use darters, a type of fish, as hosts for their young.
fatmucket
Fatmucket
Lampsilis siliquoidea
The fatmucket was a favorite species harvested for the button industry in the early 1900s.
fragile papershell
Fragile Papershell
Leptodea fragilis
A widespread mussel that relies on freshwater drum as host fish for the developing young.
See Also

About Aquatic Invertebrates in Missouri

Missouri's streams, lakes, and other aquatic habitats hold thousands of kinds of invertebrates — worms, freshwater mussels, snails, crayfish, insects, and other animals without backbones. These creatures are vital links in the aquatic food chain, and their presence and numbers tell us a lot about water quality.