EntdeckenInvertebrate

Blue Mussel

mytilus edulis

The Blue Mussel is a small, shellfish that can be found in oceans and seas. These creatures are great at filtering water and play a big role in keeping their habitats clean!

Lebensraum: Coastal waters and rocky shorelines.

Aussehen

The Blue Mussel has a smooth, wedge-shaped shell, typically dark blue to purplish-black with concentric growth lines. Its interior is often iridescent, shining with mother-of-pearl. This elongated shell distinctly tapers to a pointed end, making it different from rounder clam shells.

ReichAnimaliaStammMolluscaKlasseBivalviaOrdnungMytilidaFamilieMytilidaeGattungMytilus
Blue Mussel
solitary trait badgefilter_feeder trait badgecoastal trait badgeaquatic trait badge
Blue Mussel

Kategorie

Invertebrate

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

0/5 · Keine bekannte Gefahr

Snaps

Mach den ersten Snap!

Interessante Fakten

A single mussel can filter over a gallon of ocean water every hour!

Blue Mussels can grow 'tree rings' on their shells, showing their age year by year!

Blue Mussels can sometimes change their sex from male to female, or vice-versa!

These mussels often live in enormous underwater 'cities' called mussel beds!

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Fähigkeit

Super Glue Anchor

Blue Mussel can strongly attach to rocks using special byssal threads because of sticky proteins, helping them stay put in crashing waves.

Fähigkeit

Living Water Filter

Blue Mussel has powerful gills that help them filter vast amounts of water, capturing tiny food particles to eat and keeping the water clean.

Fähigkeit

Tide Pool Survivor

Blue Mussel can seal its shell tightly shut, allowing it to survive exposure to air and changing salt levels during low tide.

Maße und Details

Average Length
5 cm
Max Length
10 cm
Lebenserwartung
5 Jahre
Max Lifespan
20 Jahre

Ernährung und Fütterung

Blue Mussels are tiny particle eaters, filtering microscopic food from the water around them.

Hauptnahrung

  • Phytoplankton
  • Zooplankton
  • Detritus
  • Algal spores

Nahrungssuche

  • Filter Feeding

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

eats

Common Sea Star

Asterias rubens

A major predator, prying open mussel shells.

eats

European Green Crab

Carcinus maenas

Crushes the shells of smaller mussels with strong claws.

eats

Common Eider

Somateria mollissima

A sea duck that dives to consume mussels whole.

Merkmale

Auch bekannt als

Common MusselMytilusSea Mussel

Sammlungen

Sicherheit

Gefahr

0/5 · Keine bekannte Gefahr

Noch keine besonderen Sicherheitshinweise.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

Was ist der/die/das average Length von Blue Mussel?

5 cm

Was ist der/die/das max Length von Blue Mussel?

10 cm

Was ist der/die/das lebenserwartung von Blue Mussel?

5 Jahre

Was ist der/die/das max Lifespan von Blue Mussel?

20 Jahre

Was frisst Blue Mussel?

Blue Mussels are tiny particle eaters, filtering microscopic food from the water around them.

Wo findet man Blue Mussel normalerweise?

Coastal waters and rocky shorelines.

Wie jagt Blue Mussel?

Filter Feeding

Snap-Karte

Zoome hinein, um Cluster aufzulösen und zu sehen, wo dieses Objekt fotografiert wurde.

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Neueste Snaps

Neueste Snaps erscheinen hier, wenn neue Beobachtungen hinzukommen.

Wo zu sehen

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