Hillegass, K. R. and M. C. Hove (1997). Suitable fish hosts for glochidia of 
three freshwater mussels: strange floater, ellipse, and snuffbox. Page 14 in M. 
Olekszyn and M. Steingraeber, eds. Proceedings of the Mississippi River Research 
Consortium, La Crosse, Wisconsin (USA), Mississippi River Research Consortium.
	
Of 297 freshwater mussels species living in North America, 213 are either 
endangered, threatened, or of special concern.  The identification of fish hosts 
is listed in the National Strategy for Freshwater Mussel Conservation as an 
urgent research objective.  We conducted laboratory studies to determine 
suitable fish hosts for three species of freshwater mussels: strange floater 
Strophitus undulatus,  ellipse Venustaconcha ellipsiformis, and snuff box 
Epioblasma triquetra.  Various fish species were exposed to mussel larvae via 
artificial infestation.  A fish was considered a suitable hosed when larval 
metamorphosis to the juvenile stage was observed.  Juvenile strange floater were 
collected from five of seven species tested: largemouth bass, green sunfish, 
black bullheads, bluegills, and yellow perch.  Of nine fish species exposed to 
ellipse glochidia, only blackside darters were suitable hosts.  Snuff box 
glochidia metamorphosed on log perch and blackside darters.  Host requirements 
for strange floater glochidia appeared to be quite general, whereas the ellipse 
glochidia were more selective.  Species-specific molecular markers are being 
developed for use in the identification of glochidia collected from naturally 
infested fish.