Original upload date: Thu, 26 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT
Archive date: Sun, 05 Dec 2021 05:38:45 GMT
New video recordings of an unusual spurting behavior of freshwater mussel Unio crassus (thick shelled river mussel)!
This species crawls up to the edge of the river, exposing its excurrent siphon out
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of water, and then spurts jets of water into the air - falling back on the water surface. The fountain of water often contains its parasitic larvae that need a fish to develop into new mussel. Recent observations (Dr. Vicentini) indicates that this strategy has developed in order to bait the fish to get into contact with the larvae.
Amazing behavioral adaptation; but the mussels are on the verge of extinction in many areas of their former distribution range. This unique relationships can be lost in near future.
