Lampsilis

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Lampsilis is a genus of freshwater mussels, a type of aquatic bivalve mollusk in the river mussel family Unionidae. There are more than 100 species in this genus.

One well-known species is Lampsilis ovata, the pocketbook mussel. It uses aggressive mimicry to lure large predatory fish by making its mantle look like an appealing target. When a fish strikes, the mussel releases its larvae (glochidia) into the fish’s mouth. The larvae attach to the fish’s gills and feed on the host’s tissues for several weeks before dropping off to continue their life cycle.