# Three-ridge Mussel (*Amblema plicata*) The Three-ridge Mussel is a special shellfish that lives in rivers and lakes. It has a unique shell with three ridges, making it easy to recognize. These mussels help keep water clean by filtering it! - **Category:** [Invertebrate](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/invertebrate) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Freshwater rivers and lakes ![Three-ridge Mussel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Amblema_plicata.jpg&width=800) Photo: Dick Biggins, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amblema_plicata.jpg) ## Appearance The Three-ridge Mussel has a thick, oval shell that is typically dark brown to black, with three distinct ridges running across its surface. Its inner shell, or nacre, is usually white or iridescent, and its shape is unique compared to smoother mussels. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Mollusca - **Class:** Bivalvia - **Order:** Unionida - **Family:** Unionidae - **Genus:** Amblema ## Interesting facts - A single mussel can filter over 40 liters of water every day – that's a lot! - Baby mussels, glochidia, are tiny hitchhikers that attach to fish gills to grow! - Mussel shells grow rings, just like trees, which show how old they are! - They breathe using special feathery gills inside their shells, extracting oxygen from water. ## Special abilities - **Nature's Filter:** Three-ridge Mussel can filter large volumes of water, cleaning freshwater habitats by removing tiny particles and algae. - **Stealthy Burrower:** Three-ridge Mussel has a strong foot that helps them burrow into mud or sand, providing protection from predators. - **Tiny Fish Lure:** Three-ridge Mussel can create a fleshy lure that mimics a small fish, attracting larger fish to help spread larvae. - **Super Survivor:** Three-ridge Mussel has an exceptionally long lifespan, allowing them to filter water and contribute to the ecosystem for decades. ## Measurements & details - **Size:** 80-150 mm - **Lifespan:** 7300-18250 days - **Leg Count:** 0 ## Diet & Feeding These mussels filter tiny food particles like algae and plankton from the water. - **Primary Foods:** algae, plankton, detritus - **Foraging Method:** Filter feeding ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Muskrat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/muskrat) (*Ondatra zibethicus*) — Muskrats crack open mussel shells for food. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Raccoons forage along shorelines, often finding and eating mussels. - **Depends on:** [Largemouth Bass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/largemouth-bass) (*Micropterus salmoides*) — Its larvae attach temporarily to the gills of this fish to develop. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Armored](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/armored): Armored describes animals protected by a hard, external covering or shell for defense. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful near water! Always stay close to an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Three-ridge Mussel? Compare body symmetry, shells, segments, legs, tentacles and how the animal moves. Invertebrates span many unrelated groups, so start with body structure. Invertebrate Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How big is Three-ridge Mussel? 80-150 mm ### How long does Three-ridge Mussel live? 7300-18250 days ### What does Three-ridge Mussel eat? These mussels filter tiny food particles like algae and plankton from the water. ### Where is Three-ridge Mussel usually found? Freshwater rivers and lakes ### How does Three-ridge Mussel hunt? Filter feeding ### How many legs does Three-ridge Mussel have? 0 ## Where to spot - [Centreville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/centreville-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Pawnee County Courthouse](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pawnee-county-courthouse) — Nebraska, US · Historic Site ## More Invertebrate - [Coral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coral) - [Crab Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crab-spider) (*Mecaphesa asperata*) - [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Araneus diadematus*) - [Brown Recluse Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-recluse-spider) (*Loxosceles reclusa*) --- Source: [Three-ridge Mussel: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/three-ridge-mussel)