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Some macros spend their whole life cycle in the river. Others emerge to live nearby.

Macroinvertebrates are animals without a backbone that are large enough to see without a microscope. In the river, they include animals from such varied groups as insects, crustaceans, worms, and mollusks. As well as comprising an important part of the aquatic food web, macroinvertebrates are also key bioindicators of water quality. Some macroinvertebrates are highlighted below.

Please email your wildlife questions, stories, or images to wildlife@chicagoriver.org.

• Insects (larvae): , , , ,
• Insects (adults): , and
• Crustaceans: , and
• Mollusks: Snails (both and ),  (including ), and Clams
• Worms: and Planaria

Other resources:

• River Life Stories: , ,  and

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