True Facts: Mussels That Catch Fish

Use the link www.nordvpn.com/zefrank to get an exclusive NordVPN deal. To commemorate NordVPNs 11th birthday, for a limited time only - you will also receive an additional mystery gift on top. ✌

Fun fact about the facehugger mussels The fish they specialise in have reinforced skulls which allow them to survive the facehugging, if the mussel grabs a different species that isn't suitable for their young, they will just crush their skull. So in a weird way, they actually have somewhat of a symbiotic relationship, as the mussels remove competing species from the environment.

I'm a freshwater mussel conservation biologist and I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for this video. It has been watched over one MILLION times in under three days and is almost certainly the most effective single piece of Freshwater mussel outreach ever produced. I cannot clap loudly enough to express my thanks for creating it.

That's sad, I didn't know there was an extinction event for the mussels, too. I used to go camping and watch them do their thing along the edge of the river with a lamp. I don't know why, but watching hundreds of them float their lil lippies and undulating them in the water was quite hypnotic and peaceful. I remember thinking they acted like the rivers liver or something, cleaning all the gunk out of the water. You can actually see clean water past the patches of the mussels, much clearer than just upstream of their bunches.

"The females, which can look quite female" I nearly choked. Frank's out here saying what we're all thinking.

I've actually worked alongside Dr. Barnhart for over a decade. A pleasant surprise to see his footage here. While mussels are his specialty we and others have also been studying Lepidoptera, which would be another fantastic True Facts video topic. Mimicry, poisons, their many foes, parasitic lepidoptera, a species where males drink the blood of their own children to attract females, and so many other fascinating facts make Butterflies, Moths, and Skippers the perfect subject for one of these videos.

As a freshwater mussel biologist and huge fan of Ze Frank, I gotta say, I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE!!!

My first encounter with ZeFrank here and really must say thank you. I'm 71 and consider myself quite knowledgeable about animals, from tardigrade to blue whales. Yet this was news to me, and delightful for me to learn with the teacher adding humor throughout the clip. After reading several dozen comments I am anxious to discover more videos on the varied topics presented by the one that goes by ZeFrank.

I love this kinda natural horror that feels like it shouldn't be real, and I've never known about this. That perfect mix of deeply fascinating and disturbing. Big WTF to nature. AGAIN. Love your content. Seriously good, obscure information delivered with wonderful and absurd comedy.

"Now sometimes the sperm comes in balls". That is deeply profound, it changed my life forever

I am a mussel biologist & I approve this message. XD Also, I am thrilled to see Chris Barnhart's amazing media finally get some more attention outside of mussel world. These are truly amazing animals - even after working with them for almost 20 years, I am still regularly astonished at what they can do and the complexity of their lives. I am so happy that my long hope for a zefrank mussel video has finally been fulfilled!!!

One of the absolute funniest episodes to date. Everything from 7:00 to "yay!" is absolute comedy gold. And as a fan of wacky invertebrates everywhere, absolutely fascinating to watch! Thank you, Ze Frank, Caitlin Cowie, Dr. Chris Barnhart and everyone else who contributed to this beautiful work!

Nice! A new episode of "If these were humans, they would be in prison."

These mussels prove those people wrong who say “you can’t survive by sitting in your room all day”

Undersea reproduction be wild. And very clever. It's incredible how simultaneously beautiful and disgusting (and horrifying) evolution can be. Great job, as always, Ze Frank.

I still say if ZeFrank and his friend taught science in school, I probably would have been more interested. I am nearly 50 and he's still hilarious as ever, and educational!

"It looks like it's sneezed out it's pituitary" I freaking adore your imagination because this is on point 😂😂😂😂

Who would have ever thought mussels to be so diverse and amazingly creative in their lures. And Zefrank's narration is top notch chef kiss

I am now writing my doctoral thesis on dispersal of freshwater macroinvertebrates (but of another kind, caddisflies and so), and the thing of going upstream to not end up eventually in the sea is a thing, I can tell you.

I just learned about your channel and my life is changed for the better. I'm a bio major graduating in 2 months. Thank you for your humor and integrity.