About

One of our most familiar bivalves (meaning two shells - or valves - that clamp together), the Common mussel lives on rocky, sandy or muddy shores, from the low tide mark and in shallow seas all around the UK. It forms large, dense mussel beds that cover the seabed, with each mussel attaching itself to the seabed and each other using sticky fibres called byssus threads. If uncovered at low tide, mussel beds become a seabird buffet - particularly for the noisy Oystercatcher. They are also an important food source for many creatures, including Starfish, Flatfish, Crabs and Dog whelks. They aren't helpless victims though and will use their sticky byssus threads to immobilise the Dog whelk predator, resulting in its slow death. Mussels are filter feeders, filtering detritus and plankton from the water. Their shells are usually a blueish-grey colour, though they are sometimes purple or brown. They are also known as the Blue Mussel.