Eastern Elliptio Mussel

Freshwater mussels such as the eastern elliptio used to be common in Lake Champlain. These mussels, around 3 or 4 inches long, would attach to rocks scattered in the sandy bay next to our camp. In 1993 the 3/4 inch long non-native zebra mussels invaded Lake Champlain and within a few years coated like barnacles every hard surface underwater, including the shells of native mussels. The zebra mussels killed the larger native mussels by attaching to their shells and preventing them from opening to feed. Now the rocks are coated with the razor sharp zebra mussels and the native mussels are nowhere to be found.