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.

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zebra mussel British  

noun

1. a small striped variety of mussel

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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

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 zebra mussel was introduced to the Great Lakes from Europe prior to 1988 in ballast water.

From Textbooks ● Sep. 6, 2018

The infamous zebra mussel, native to lakes in southern Russia, has wreaked havoc on lakes throughout the Midwest, disrupting ecosystems and damaging harbors, boats, water treatment systems and power plants.

From Washington Times ● Jun. 13, 2016

However, the popular seafood dish has a much less palatable relative, the freshwater zebra mussel.

From BBC ● Feb. 3, 2012