Aquatic Invertebrates

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Photo of an alderfly larva among rocks and gravel in an aquarium.

Alderfly Larvae

Sialis spp.

Photo of an aquatic isopod in an aquarium, crawling on a rock.

Aquatic Pillbugs and Sowbugs (Aquatic Isopods)

Freshwater members of the crustacean order Isopoda

Photo of a spotted fishing spider perched on the water's surface amid floating duckweed plants

Aquatic Spiders

Dolomedes spp., Tetragnatha spp., and others

brokenray

Arkansas Brokenray

Lampsilis reeveiana

Photo of backswimmer, side view

Backswimmers

About 32 North American species in the family Notonectidae

Photo of a belted crayfish, also called Big River crayfish.

Belted Crayfish (Big River Crayfish)

Faxonius harrisonii (formerly Orconectes harrisonii)

Photo of a Big Creek crayfish.

Big Creek Crayfish

Faxonius peruncus (formerly Orconectes peruncus)

Bluefer

Bluefer (Purpleshell)

Potamilus purpuratus

Photo of a bristly cave crayfish, viewed from the side.

Bristly Cave Crayfish

Cambarus setosus

Gray, speckled, translucent gelatinous blob cut in half to show structure

Bryozoans (Moss Animals)

Freshwater species in the phylum Bryozoa

butterfly

Butterfly

Ellipsaria lineolata

Photo of caddisfly larva with case made of detritus

Caddisfly Larvae

Various species in the order Trichoptera

Photo of a Cajun dwarf crayfish.

Cajun Dwarf Crayfish

Cambarellus puer

Photo of a papershell crayfish, also called calico crayfish.

Calico Crayfish (Papershell Crayfish)

Faxonius immunis (formerly Orconectes immunis)

Photo of a Caney Mountain cave crayfish out of water on a wet, red-coated cave rock.

Caney Mountain Cave Crayfish

Orconectes stygocaneyi

Two Chinese mysterysnails, out of water, resting on a white surface, with a ruler nearby for scale

Chinese Mysterysnail

Cipangopaludina chinensis malleata (syn. Bellamya chinensis)

Invasive

Photo of a coldwater crayfish.

Coldwater Crayfish

Faxonius eupunctus (formerly Orconectes eupunctus)

Endangered

Photo of crane fly larva

Crane Fly Larvae

There are over 500 species of crane flies in North America.

Photo of a spothanded crayfish viewed from above on white background.

Crayfishes

About 36 species in Missouri

Photo of a damselfly nymph on rocks in an aquarium.

Damselfly Larvae

Species in the suborder Zygoptera

deertoe

Deertoe

Truncilla truncata

Photo of a devil crayfish.

Devil Crayfish

Lacunicambarus aff. diogenes

Photo of a digger crayfish.

Digger Crayfish

Creaserinus fodiens (formerly Fallicambarus fodiens)

Photo of a dragonfly larva resting on a stone.

Dragonfly Larvae

Species in the suborder Anisoptera

Photograph of Ebonyshell freshwater mussel shell exterior view

Ebonyshell

Fusconaia ebena

Endangered

elephant's ear

Elephantear

Elliptio crassidens

Endangered

elktoe

Elktoe

Alasmidonta marginata

ellipse

Ellipse and Bleedingtooth

Venustaconcha ellipsiformis and V. pleasii

fatmucket

Fatmucket

Lampsilis siliquoidea

Photo of a fishfly larva crawling among rocks in an aquarium.

Fishfly Larvae

Chauliodes, Neohermes, and Nigronia spp. (in eastern US)

fragile papershell

Fragile Papershell

Leptodea fragilis

Photo of a freckled crayfish.

Freckled Crayfish

Cambarus maculatus

Photo of a freshwater jellyfish

Freshwater Jellyfish

Craspedacusta sowerbii (syn. C. sowerbyi)

Monkey Face Mussel

Freshwater Mussels

Bivalve molluscs in order Unionoida

giant floater

Giant Floater

Pygandon grandis

Photo of a giant water bug

Giant Water Bugs

Species in the genera Abedus, Belostoma, and Lethocerus

Venomous

Photo of several prosobranch pond snails crawling on a rock.

Gilled Aquatic Snails (Prosobranch Pond Snails)

Over 20 Missouri species in former subclass Prosobranchia

Photo of a golden crayfish viewed through the surface of creek water.

Golden Crayfish

Faxonius luteus (formerly Orconectes luteus)

Photo of a grassland crayfish, also called prairie crayfish.

Grassland Crayfish (Prairie Crayfish)

Procambarus gracilis

Photo of a gray-speckled crayfish.

Gray-Speckled Crayfish

Faxonius palmeri (formerly Orconectes palmeri)

Photo of hellgrammite

Hellgrammite

Corydalus cornutus

Photo of a deer fly larva, probably in a petri dish, on a gray background.

Horse and Deer Fly Larvae

Tabanus, Chrysops, and related genera

Photo of a horsehair worm in an aquarium

Horsehair Worms

About 350 species scientifically described.

Photo of Hubbs' crayfish.

Hubbs' Crayfish

Cambarus hubbsi

No photo available

Hydras

Various species in the genus Hydra

Photo of a leech

Leeches

Various species in the subclass Hirudinea

lilliput

Lilliput

Toxolasma parvus

Photo of a longpincered crayfish.

Longpincered Crayfish

Faxonius longidigitus (formerly Orconectes longidigitus)

Photo of pulmonate snail crawling on rock

Lunged Aquatic Snails (Pulmonate Pond Snails)

Over 30 Missouri species in former subclass Pulmonata

Photo of a Mammoth Spring crayfish.

Mammoth Spring Crayfish

Faxonius marchandi (formerly Orconectes marchandi)

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About Aquatic Invertebrates in Missouri

Missouri's streams, lakes, and other aquatic habitats hold thousands of kinds of invertebrates — worms, freshwater mussels, snails, crayfish, insects, and other animals without backbones. These creatures are vital links in the aquatic food chain, and their presence and numbers tell us a lot about water quality.

Common Features

Freshwater Mussels Facts

How to Identify

Common Features

Aquatic Invertebrate Facts