# 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! - **Category:** [Invertebrate](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/invertebrate) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Coastal waters and rocky shorelines. - **Also known as:** Common Mussel, Mytilus, Sea Mussel ![Blue Mussel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Miesmuscheln_Mytilus_2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Benutzer:Darkone , 26. Oktober 2003, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Miesmuscheln_Mytilus_2.jpg) ## Appearance 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Mollusca - **Class:** Bivalvia - **Order:** Mytilida - **Family:** Mytilidae - **Genus:** Mytilus ## Interesting facts - 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! ## Special abilities - **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. - **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. - **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. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 10 cm - **Length:** 5 cm - **Lifespan:** 5 years - **Lifespan:** 20 years ## Diet & Feeding Blue Mussels are tiny particle eaters, filtering microscopic food from the water around them. - **Primary Foods:** Phytoplankton, Zooplankton, Detritus, Algal spores - **Foraging Method:** Filter feeding ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Common Sea Star (*Asterias rubens*) — A major predator, prying open mussel shells. - **Eats:** [European Green Crab](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-green-crab) (*Carcinus maenas*) — Crushes the shells of smaller mussels with strong claws. - **Eats:** [Common Eider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eider) (*Somateria mollissima*) — A sea duck that dives to consume mussels whole. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Invertebrates](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/invertebrates) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Blue Mussel? Compare the overall shape, opening, spiral, ribs, hinge and surface sculpture. Beach shells often lose the colors and sharp edges they had on the living animal, so shape does most of the work. Seashell Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Blue Mussel? 10 cm ### How long does Blue Mussel live? 5 years ### What does Blue Mussel eat? Blue Mussels are tiny particle eaters, filtering microscopic food from the water around them. ### Where is Blue Mussel usually found? Coastal waters and rocky shorelines. ### How does Blue Mussel hunt? Filter feeding ## Where to spot - [Bellevue Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellevue-avenue-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Ocean Drive Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ocean-drive-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Towers Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/towers-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Winter Island](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/winter-island) — US · Natural Landmark - [Spectacle Island](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/spectacle-island) — Massachusetts, US · Natural Landmark [View all places to see Blue Mussel](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/blue-mussel) ## More Invertebrate - [Coral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coral) - [Crab Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crab-spider) (*Mecaphesa asperata*) - [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Araneus diadematus*) - [Brown Recluse Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-recluse-spider) (*Loxosceles reclusa*) --- Source: [Blue Mussel: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-mussel)