Head to head
Zebra Mussel vs Quagga Mussel
Zebra Mussel
VS Quagga Mussel
The zebra mussel and the quagga mussel are close relatives in the same genus, both native to eastern Europe and both notorious invaders of lakes and rivers.
| Zebra Mussel | Quagga Mussel | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Dreissena polymorpha | Dreissena rostriformis bugensis |
| Relationship | A close relative of the quagga mussel, in the same genus | A close relative of the zebra mussel, in the same genus |
| Native range | Lakes and rivers of the Black Sea and Caspian Sea region of Eastern Europe and Western Asia | The Dnieper River drainage of Ukraine and the Black Sea region |
| Shell | Dark zigzag or striped bands across its shell, which give it its common name | A small, wedge-shaped shell with light and dark stripes and a rounded shape, usually 2 to 4 cm long |
| Attachment | Sticky byssal threads attach it firmly to rocks, pipes, boat hulls, and other solid structures | Lives in dense layers that carpet the lake bottom, as well as on hard surfaces |
| Depth | Mostly lives in shallower water | Can live in deeper and colder water than the zebra mussel |
| Effects | Filters enormous volumes of water, increasing clarity, altering food webs, and clogging water intake pipes and power plant cooling systems | Carpets the bottom, changes the food web, and clogs water intake pipes and fouls boats and structures |
| Conservation status | Not Evaluated, and a major invader in North America and western Europe | Not Evaluated, and invasive in the Great Lakes and many European waters |
Zebra Mussel vs Quagga Mussel: common questions
Which mussel lives in deeper water?
The quagga mussel, which can live in deeper and colder water than the zebra mussel.
Why are both a problem?
Both filter huge volumes of water, change lake food webs, and clog water intake pipes and foul boats and structures.
Which one replaced the other?
In many places the quagga mussel has replaced the zebra mussel, which it can outcompete in deeper and colder water.