Yves LaurentB.Sp.Ens. , AFC Wood Wildfowl and Fishcarving
SmallMouth Bass lurking at a WavyRay mussell...
(2010)
Subject: SmallMouth Bass and mussell... Dimensions (inches): 20 x 25 x 15 Medium: Basswood carving, dritfwood and padouk base Description: Special commission for the Canadian Government (Fishing and Oceans Canada) This work represents an endangered submarine scene. The mussel WavyRay which we perceive in the foreground is at present endangered due to pollution and of invasion of Great Lakes by the streaked mussel. WavyRay reproduces in symbiosis with the smallmouth Bass. This unique mussel shakes a resembling decoy looking like a little fish or, as in the case here, at a bright orange decoy. When the Bass attacks, the decoy retracts and the mussel throws its larvas in the face of the fish. Larvas hang on to the gills of the animal and lives at his/her expense for a while. At a precise moment, larvas fall down and bury themselves in the ground under cover. In this way, this mussel makes sure of the scattering of its species.