zebra mussel

noun

: a chiefly freshwater Eurasian lamellibranch mollusk (Dreissena polymorpha) that was accidentally introduced into the Great Lakes and has spread to other waterways where it colonizes and clogs water intake pipes and competes with native fish for food

Examples of zebra mussel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While much smaller, just finger-nail sized, zebra mussels have also caused huge problems with algal blooms and clogging pipes. —Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 12 June 2024

Still, other species such as Asian carp and zebra mussels are doing big damage, especially in our waterways. —Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 12 June 2024

Invasive species, such as lionfish, zebra mussels, and Pacific jellyfish, are disrupting coastal ecosystems and in some cases have caused the collapse of entire fisheries. —Alan B. Sielen, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2013

But zebra mussels can only attach to hard substrates. —Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 2 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

so named from a comparison of the irregular dark striping on the shell to a zebra's stripes

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above