Zebra Mussel facts: more than an INVASIVE species | Animal Fact Files

Zebra mussels can be beneficial to their native habitat in parts of southern Russia and the surrounding regions. These zebra mussel facts will help you understand these small creatures from a different perspective. Zebra mussels get their name from their striped appearance, but did you know not all zebra mussels have stripes?! Join us as we learn about these fascinating freshwater animals.
Scientific Name: Dreissena polymorpha
Range: native to freshwater systems of Eurasia (specifically in southern Russia and surrounding regions)
Size: up to 2 inches (5cm)
Diet: plankton
Lifespan: 3 to 9 years
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Zebra Mussel 0:00
Zebra Mussel INVASIVE 0:10
Zebra Mussel NATIVE RANGE 0:35
Zebra Mussel BENEFITS 0:46
Zebra Mussel SESSILE? 1:06
Zebra Mussel BYSSAL THREADS 1:24
Zebra Mussel APPEARANCE 1:34
Zebra Mussel SIZE 1:49
Zebra Mussel LIFE CYCLE 1:59
Zebra Mussel PREDATORS 2:15
Zebra Mussel LIFESPAN 2:46
Thanks / Outro 2:56
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Image and Video Credits:
Jan Kepic - • FD - Dreissena polymor...
JK Trk - • Dreissena late pedivel...
biwatro 1 - • Wandermuschel unter Wa...
Nudibranch MDP (producent);Peter van Rodijnen (camera);Stichting Natuurbeelden - openbeelden.nl/media/984908/A...
Learning by action (producent);Klaudie Bartelink (camera);Stichting Natuurbeelden - openbeelden.nl/media/983734/D...
Lamiot - commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... ; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... ; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Bj.schonenmakers - commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Research Credits:
nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactS...
www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/85295
animaldiversity.org/accounts/...
journals.plos.org/plosone/art...
www.nobanis.org/globalassets/...
www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-are-ze...
#animalfactfiles
#zebramussel
#zebramusselfacts

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Zebra mussels have a bad reputation. Have you ever heard before that they can actually be beneficial to their native habitats??

[@Tetrad20]

Do one on,
Mantisfly
Assassin spiders
Trapjaw spiders

[@Hyperion-5744]

The terrible claw lobster would make for a good video it lives within the buttom of the sea.

[@j.mcdaniel4580]

Yeah so good, they eat all of the algae and cause the other fish to die off.

[@tracybowling97]

I love learning about creatures I have never heard of!

[@Aadams700]

I live next to the lake that originally got invaded by zebra mussels in the USA. They single Handley saved lake st Clair. I get their invasive but they saved lake st Clair

[@jimmyblais1502]

I just expanded my mind, thank you.

[@Doxicyclin]

very cool! Can you do Cymothoa Exigua next? :)

[@491drpepper]

I have stepped on one barefoot and it might as well had been barbed wire

[@eduardobotello4059]

Can you do a video on the abalone please

[@siyacer]

Zebras do have a lot of muscles

[@l0lan00b3]

Great way to split your toes in the great lakes of the n.e.

[@PopRocksOTP]

I love the domino effect of life.

[@1888bry]

All the great lakes are polluted with the zebras now. Thanks to international ships dumping their bilge in the great lakes. Then they fill up the ship with fresh water in every compartment.

[@VideoCentral-bh9tf]

My feet get cut by them a lot

[@raphlvlogs271]

the fact that cargo ships are getting increasingly bigger also contributes to this invasive issue.

[@ThatOneCom]

Veri cool animal channel

[@radekkabrle5300]

I already have a thesis about zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)

[@concretecurse6594]

Damn you zebra mussel

[@dwightschrute900]

Let’s eat them

[@hemlethair2040]

Just learned about these in my environmental science class

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Sounds fun!

[@G-B-F123]

I thought the mussel on the thumbnail was some sort of tunnel

[@andrescalderonsanchez6515]

Can you both do the pink River dolphin 🐬

[@penny_the_wiser413]

Can you please do a Wooly Bear video. Do they turn into moths?

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Awesome idea! And yes they turn into the Isabella tiger moth (Pyrrharctia isabella)

[@jhowell1704]

Could you do a chinchilla episode? Thanks!

[@Gmacc187]

Its really a simple concept. The land is ours. The water is theirs.

[@eunaekim9216]

Wait a minute! Is this how Musselshell County, Montana, got its name?

[@jadenl629]

I never knew that even invasive animals could be helpful to the environment!🥰

[@JessicaMary0702]

They ruined my childhood beach

[@AraAraArisan]

Are mealworms blind/ deaf?

[@zinimountglobal]

Can you talk about Mexican Beaded Lizards please?

[@comment8767]

I still blame the mussels.

[@MrTwenty20video]

Are these mussels edible? Thank for the video.

[@bradleyblake7588]

Technically yes, you could eat them. I really would not recommend doing so, though. They are filter feeders which means any pollutans and toxins in the water can build up inside of them, which you would then be eating. They are also commonly found to be contaminated with Botulism, which is very, very bad. Not to mention, what little meat you could get from them would taste terrible anyways. So, I really wouldn't recommend trying them out. Unless you're literally starving to death and that's your only option, and you're also willing to run the risk of suffering from horrible illnesses, and then possibly dying if you can't receive medical care in time, then I guess you could go for it.

[@datboiderrty]

And too small to eat, such a shame

[@dwightschrute900]

Let’s still eat them

[@bradleyblake7588]

Amd filled with any pollutants that are in the water, as well as usually found to be contaminated with Botulism.

[@FACELESS_VOID_00]

Do Mealworms.

[@Shikshakshok_i_am]

0:21 sh*t its Grose

[@pedrogabrielduarte4544]

Make a vídeo about the real zebras

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Awesome suggestion! Thank you!

[@3456yuhhhjjijZia]

Fftt