The life cycle of a James River spinymussel is unique and complex. It begins with the release of the male mussel’s sperm into open water. After flowing through the water, the sperm is drawn into the females through their siphons to fertilize the eggs on the female's gills. Inside the female mussels, the eggs develop into microscopic larvae, also known as glochidia. Only 1 out of 1,000,000 glochidia reach the juvenile stage. In order to complete the reproduction process, the female mussel must attach the glochidia to the fins, gills, and scales of the host fish. To attract the fish, the female stick out a fleshy proturbance meant to resemble an injured minnow (seen below). On the host fish, the glochidium begins to develop a foot, gills, and many internal structures, such as the liver and siphons. After further development, the juvenile mussels will drop off their host. For most mussels, the juvenile stage can last from 2 to 12 years. The last step in the mussel’s life cycle is the sub-adult stage where they will gain the capability to reproduce. The spinymussel habitat has to provide all the resources it might need in order to sustain the intricate lifecycle. Therefore, it is crucial for us to find the right river with perfect conditions for this endangered animal.