Freshwater Mussel with lure

thingiverse

This is a tribute to a real freshwater mussel, not an actual one. The model is roughly based on the mantle lure of the Wavy-rayed Lampmussel (Lampsilis fasciola), as shown in this picture. Seventy percent of all freshwater mussel species are considered threatened or endangered. Freshwater mussels from the Unionidae family rely on a fish host for their parasitic larvae to develop. Some species use a "lure" that attracts fish hosts by resembling something they would normally eat, and it's a modification of the mantle tissue. To learn more about this fascinating process, check out this video: https://ket.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nat16.sci.lisci.mussel/selection-deception-and-reproduction-mimicry-in-freshwater-mussels/ The model still needs some support for the fish lure. Unfortunately, the tail of the lure broke off when I removed the supports during printing. This model was generated in MeshMixer.