SpeciesFacts

All species › Zebra Mussel

Zebra Mussel

Dreissena polymorpha

Snail · family Dreissenidae · order Veneroida

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]

The Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) belongs to the family Dreissenidae[3]. It is not native to the United States, and USGS lists it as a nonindigenous aquatic species in parts of the country[4].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Zebra Mussel a global rank of G5, which means Secure[2]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[5]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data[1]. In the 24 states with NatureServe state ranks, every rank is SNA, which is used for species that are not native there[6].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[5] Least concern
USGS nonindigenous aquatic species[4] Listed as exotic in parts of the US
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[7] >1,000,000 individuals

Where Zebra Mussel lives

NatureServe lists the Zebra Mussel as introduced, not native, in the states below[8]. These are Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming[8]. On GBIF, the states with the most observation records are Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Texas[9]. Those counts follow how much people look and report, not how many animals live there[9].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: introduced, state rank SNAWIVermont: introduced, state rank SNAVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: introduced, state rank SNAMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: introduced, state rank SNAMNIllinois: introduced, state rank SNAILMichigan: introduced, state rank SNAMINew York: introduced, state rank SNANYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: introduced, state rank SNAWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: introduced, state rank SNAIAIndiana: introduced, state rank SNAINOhio: introduced, state rank SNAOHPennsylvania: introduced, state rank SNAPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: introduced, state rank SNACTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: introduced, state rank SNAMOKentucky: introduced, state rank SNAKYWest Virginia: introduced, state rank SNAWVVirginia: introduced, state rank SNAVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: introduced, state rank SNAKSArkansas: introduced, state rank SNAARTennessee: introduced, state rank SNATNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: introduced, state rank SNAOKLouisiana: introduced, state rank SNALAMississippi: introduced, state rank SNAMSAlabama: introduced, state rank SNAALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[6].
Show state ranks (24 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaSNANot Applicable
ArkansasSNANot Applicable
ConnecticutSNANot Applicable
IllinoisSNANot Applicable
IndianaSNANot Applicable
IowaSNANot Applicable
KansasSNANot Applicable
KentuckySNANot Applicable
LouisianaSNANot Applicable
MichiganSNANot Applicable
MinnesotaSNANot Applicable
MississippiSNANot Applicable
MissouriSNANot Applicable
MontanaSNANot Applicable
New YorkSNANot Applicable
OhioSNANot Applicable
OklahomaSNANot Applicable
PennsylvaniaSNANot Applicable
TennesseeSNANot Applicable
VermontSNANot Applicable
VirginiaSNANot Applicable
West VirginiaSNANot Applicable
WisconsinSNANot Applicable
WyomingSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records many kinds of water for this species[10]. They include big rivers, medium rivers, creeks, riffles, pools, deep water, shallow water and river mouths or tidal rivers[10]. It is also recorded in high, moderate and low gradient streams, which describes how steeply the water drops[10]. One study found more mussels on complex surfaces than on flat ones[11]. The authors suggest that living in groups may be a defense against being eaten[11].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[10]

Life history

NatureServe notes that egg production and fertilization happen when the water is warmer than 12 degrees C[12]. NatureServe estimates the global adult population at more than 1,000,000 individuals[7].

When to look for it

Observation records of the Zebra Mussel in the United States on GBIF are highest in August, September and October[13]. These records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[13].

January: 277 recordsJanFebruary: 142 recordsFebMarch: 221 recordsMarApril: 292 recordsAprMay: 484 recordsMayJune: 627 recordsJunJuly: 1,002 recordsJulAugust: 1,261 recordsAugSeptember: 1,347 recordsSepOctober: 1,155 recordsOctNovember: 337 recordsNovDecember: 983 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[13].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January277
February142
March221
April292
May484
June627
July1,002
August1,261
September1,347
October1,155
November337
December983

Where to see it

States with the most GBIF observation records: Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas[9]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Zebra Mussel endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure[2].
Is the Zebra Mussel native to the United States?
No. USGS lists it as a nonindigenous aquatic species[4]. NatureServe lists it as introduced in many states, including Ohio and New York[8].
Where does the Zebra Mussel live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as introduced in states including Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, New York and Ohio[8]. GBIF has the most observation records from Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Texas[9].
What kind of water does the Zebra Mussel live in?
NatureServe records it in rivers, creeks, pools, riffles, deep water, shallow water and river mouths[10].
When is the Zebra Mussel reported most?
GBIF records in the United States are highest in August, September and October[13].

Facts and sources

  1. Zebra Mussel is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Zebra Mussel: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) is a snail in the family Dreissenidae, order Veneroida. NatureServe Explorer
  4. USGS lists Zebra Mussel as a nonindigenous aquatic species in parts of the United States (exotic). USGS NAS
  5. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe state ranks for Zebra Mussel (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe lists Zebra Mussel as introduced (not native) in: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee,... NatureServe Explorer
  9. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Zebra Mussel: Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  10. Habitat types NatureServe records for Zebra Mussel: Big river, Medium river, Creek, High gradient, Moderate gradient, Low gradient, Riffle, Pool, Deep water, Shallow water, River mouth/tidal river. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for Zebra Mussel. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Zebra Mussel. NatureServe Explorer
  13. GBIF observation records of Zebra Mussel in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.