Daily Devotional – August 14

Biology

Freshwater mussels have a very unusual and complex life cycle. One part of their life cycle requires the use of a fish as a host. But how does the mussel get its larvae into the fish? One mussel found in the waters of North America, the “snuff box mussel,” uses an amazing method. This mussel does what many sport fishermen do; it catches a fish, and then releases it.

When the mussel is ready to release its larvae for the next stage in its reproductive life cycle, it catches a host fish by closing its shell on its head or snout and holds onto the fish until the larvae are released and attach themselves to the fish’s gills. Then the mussel releases the fish. Weeks later, the larvae have grown and dropped off the fish to continue the mussel’s life cycle. How does evolution explain this? How does a mussel that has no eyes grab a logperch fish? The best explanation is that God designed this specific life cycle to reveal His cleverness to us.

For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised….

~ 1 Chronicles 16:25

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.