zebra mussel

American  

noun

1. a small striped freshwater mussel from NE Europe, Dreissena polymorpha: introduced to the Great Lakes in the 1980s and deleteriously affecting water pipes, other fauna, etc.

---

zebra mussel British  

noun

1. a small striped variety of mussel

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

zebra mussel

Zebra and quagga mussels are both freshwater species, native to Eastern Europe, with the zebra mussel growing up to 2 inches in length, and the quagga mussel slightly bigger.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 26, 2021

If you are interested in reducing pollution in a nearby lake, explain how to stop the zebra mussel infestation or reduce the frequent algae blooms.

From Textbooks ● Dec. 21, 2021

While the average adult zebra mussel is fingernail-size, juveniles as small as a poppy seed can easily go unnoticed in a damp crevice or deep in a drain hole.

From National Geographic ● Jan. 6, 2021

The cost of operating quagga and zebra mussel inspection stations has made reservoir management for boating a challenge.

From Washington Times ● Jan. 24, 2018

So named because of the patterns on its shell, the zebra mussel is native to Russia and Ukraine.

From BBC ● Feb. 3, 2012