Florida Spike
Florida Spike
Elliptio jayensis
Mollusca
RARE

Stats

Lifespan
10-20 yrs
Size
Small
Diet
Filter feeder
Activity
Cathemeral
Social
Solitary
Biome
Freshwater wetland
Range
North America
Movement
Burrowing
Breeding
Egg-laying
Defense
Armor
Status
Rare

About

The Florida spike is a freshwater mussel found in sandy riverbeds and streams. It uses a fleshy lure that mimics a small fish to trick predators into hosting its larvae.

Life cycle

  1. 1.
    juvenile
    A juvenile mollusk takes adult form after its larval phase and begins building or growing its shell.
  2. 2.
    adult
    Fully grown at adult shell size or body length.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Bivalvia
Order
Unionida
Family
Unionidae
Genus
Elliptio
Species
Elliptio jayensis