Mussel
Marine mussels behind some Goose barnacles
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Bivalvia
Subclasses
Pteriomorpha (marine mussels) Palaeoheterodonta (freshwater mussels) Heterodonta (zebra mussels)

The common name mussel is used for members of several different families of clams or bivalve molluscs, from both saltwater and freshwater habitats. Goose barnacles (suborder Lepadomorpha) sometimes Gooseneck barnacles, are filter-feeding Crustaceans that live attached to hard surfaces of Molluscs are animals belonging to the phylum Mollusca. There are around 250000 extant Species within the phylum with an estimated 70000 Bivalves are Molluscs belonging to the class Bivalvia. They have two-part shells and typically both valves are symmetrical along the hinge line Pteriomorphia is a Mollusc Subclass of the Bivalvia. Apart from the orders Arcoida, Mytiloida, Ostreoida, and Paleoheterodonta is a Mollusc Subclass of the Bivalvia. It contains the extant order Unionoida (freshwater mussels and the prehistoric Heterodonta is a Mollusc subclass in the class Bivalvia and contains the orders † Cycloconchidae, † Hippuritoida (rudists † Lyrodesmatidae Clam is a word which can be used for all some or only a few Species of Bivalve Mollusks the word is a Common name which has Bivalves are Molluscs belonging to the class Bivalvia. They have two-part shells and typically both valves are symmetrical along the hinge line Molluscs are animals belonging to the phylum Mollusca. There are around 250000 extant Species within the phylum with an estimated 70000

"Mussel" is historically applied to bivalves of the marine family Mytilidae, most of which live exposed in the intertidal zone, attached by means of strong byssal threads to a firm substrate. Mytilidae is a family of small to large saltwater Mussels marine Bivalve Mollusks in the order Mytiloida Bivalves referred to as "clams" generally live buried in a soft material, and communicate to the surface by means of a tube or siphon. In most marine mussels the shell is longer than it is wide, being wedge-shaped or asymmetrical. The external color of the shell is dark blue, blackish, or brown, while the interior is silvery and somewhat nacreous. "Mussel" is also used for larger freshwater bivalves, more exactly called "clams", given their mode of existence. Marine mussel species live in intertidal and subtidal areas along coastlines worldwide. Marine is an Umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the Sea or Ocean, such as Marine biology, Marine A few species have colonized hydrothermal vents associated with deep ocean ridges. A hydrothermal vent is a Fissure in a planet's surface from which geothermally heated Water issues Freshwater mussel species inhabit lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks, canals, and similar habitats.

Freshwater mussels (several allied families, the largest being the Unionidae) and saltwater mussels (family Mytilidae) are not closely related. Unionidae is a family of freshwater Mussels distributed world-wide but most diverse in North America with about 297 recognized taxa Mytilidae is a family of small to large saltwater Mussels marine Bivalve Mollusks in the order Mytiloida They are taxonomically grouped in different subclasses, despite some superficial similarities in appearance. Taxonomy is the practice and science of classification The word comes from the Greek, taxis (meaning 'order' 'arrangement' and, nomos A class is the Taxonomic rank in the Biological classification of organisms in Biology below phylum and above order.

The freshwater Zebra mussels and their relatives in the family Dreissenidae are not related to either of the previously mentioned groups, even though they resemble many Mytilus species in shape, and live attached to rocks and other hard surfaces in a similar manner. The zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, is a Species of small freshwater Mussel, an Aquatic Bivalve Mollusk. The Dreissenidae are a family of small freshwater Mussels aquatic Bivalve Mollusks They attach themselves to stones or to any other hard They are classified with the Heterodonta, the taxonomic group which includes most of the bivalves commonly referred to as "clams". Heterodonta is a Mollusc subclass in the class Bivalvia and contains the orders † Cycloconchidae, † Hippuritoida (rudists † Lyrodesmatidae Clam is a word which can be used for all some or only a few Species of Bivalve Mollusks the word is a Common name which has

A freshwater mussel from the Netherlands, Unio pictorum (from the family Unionidae), commonly known as the "Painter's mussel". Individual shell valves of this species were used by painters as a small dish in which to mix pigments.

Anatomy

Marine blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, showing some of the inner anatomy. The blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, is a medium-sized edible marine Bivalve Mollusc in the family Mytilidae. The white posterior adductor muscle is visible in the upper image, and has been cut in the lower image to allow the valves to open fully

The mussel's external shell is composed of two hinged halves or "valves". The valves are joined together on the outside by a ligament, and are closed when necessary by strong internal muscles. Mussel shells carry out a variety of functions, including support for soft tissues, protection from predators and protection against desiccation.

The shell is made of three layers. In the pearly mussels there is an inner iridescent layer of nacre (mother-of-pearl) composed of calcium carbonate, which is continuously secreted by the mantle; the prismatic layer, a middle layer of chalky white crystals of calcium carbonate in a protein matrix; and the periostracum, an outer pigmented layer resembling a skin. Nacre, also known as mother of pearl, is an organic-inorganic Composite material produced by some Mollusks as an inner shell layer Calcium carbonate is a Chemical compound with the Chemical formula Ca[[Carbon C]] O 3 The periostracum is a thin organic coating or "skin" which is the outermost layer of the shell of many Mollusks for example the shells of many bivalves The periostracum is composed of a protein called conchin, and its function is to protect the prismatic layer from abrasion and dissolution by acids (especially important in freshwater forms where the decay of leaf materials produces acids). Conchiolin (sometimes referred to as conchin) and perlucin are complex Proteins which are secreted by a Mollusc 's outer Epithelium

Like most bivalves, mussels have a large organ called a foot. In freshwater mussels, the foot is large, muscular, and generally hatchet-shaped. It is used to pull the animal through the substrate (typically sand, gravel, or silt) in which it lies partially buried. It does this by repeatedly advancing the foot through the substrate, expanding the end so it serves as an anchor, and then pulling the rest of the animal with its shell forward. It also serves as a fleshy anchor when the animal is stationary.

In marine mussels, the foot is smaller, tongue-like in shape, with a groove on the ventral surface which is continuous with the byssus pit. The word Byssus has two related meanings and one rather different one according to the context IN BIOLOGY The filaments created by numerous different kinds of marine In this pit, a viscous secretion is exuded, entering the groove and hardening gradually upon contact with sea water. This forms an extremely tough byssus thread that secures the mussel to its substrate. The word Byssus has two related meanings and one rather different one according to the context IN BIOLOGY The filaments created by numerous different kinds of marine The byssus thread is also used by mussels as a defensive measure to tether predatory molluscs, such as dog whelks, that invade mussel beds, immobilising and starving them to death. The dog whelk, dogwhelk, or Atlantic dogwinkle, Nucella lapillus, is a Species of Predatory sea Snail;

Life habits

Feeding

Both marine and freshwater mussels are filter feeders; they feed on plankton and other microscopic sea creatures which are free-floating in seawater. Filter feeders (also known as suspension feeders) are Animals that feed by straining suspended matter and food particles from water typically by passing the water Plankton consist of any drifting Organisms ( Animals Plants Archaea, or Bacteria) that inhabit the Pelagic zone of A mussel draws water in through its incurrent siphon. The water is then brought into the branchial chamber by the actions of the cilia located on the gills for cilliary-mucus feeding. A cilium (plural cilia) is an Organelle found in eukaryotic cells Cilia are tail-like projections extending approximately A gill is an anatomical structure found in many aquatic organisms The wastewater exits through the excurrent siphon. The labial palps finally funnel the food into the mouth, where digestion begins.

Marine mussels are usually found clumping together on wave-washed rocks, each attached to the rock by its byssus. Sessile is a term in Biology with two distinct meanings In botany and medicine In Botany, sessile means "without a stalk The word Byssus has two related meanings and one rather different one according to the context IN BIOLOGY The filaments created by numerous different kinds of marine The clumping habit helps hold the mussels firm against the force of the waves. At low tide mussels in the middle of a clump will undergo less water loss because of water capture by the other mussels.

Reproduction

Both marine and freshwater mussels are gonochoristic, with separate male and female individuals. In marine mussels, fertilization occurs outside the body, with a larval stage that drifts for three weeks to six months, before settling on a hard surface as a young mussel. There, it is capable of moving slowly by means of attaching and detaching byssal threads to attain a better life position.

Freshwater mussels also reproduce sexually. Sperm released by the male directly into the water enters the female via the incurrent siphon. After fertilization, the eggs develop into the larval stage called glochidia. The glochidia grow in the gills of the female where they are constantly flushed with oxygen-rich water. For a time, these glochidia are parasitic on fish, attaching themselves to the fish's fins or gills. Glochidia are generally species-specific, and will only live if they find the correct fish host. Once the larval mussels attach to the fish, the fish body reacts to cover them with cells forming a cyst, where the glochidia remain for two to five weeks (depending on temperature). A cyst is a closed sac having a distinct membrane and Division on the nearby tissue. They grow, break free from the host, and drop to the bottom of the water. If they land in a suitable location, they will continue development and begin an independent life.

Reproduction in the Dreissenidae (zebra mussels and their relatives) is similar to marine mussels.

Predators

A starfish consuming a mussel.

Marine mussels are eaten by humans, seastars, and by numerous different species of predatory marine gastropods in the family Muricidae, such as the dog whelk, Nucella lapillus. Starfish (also called sea stars) are any Echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea. The class Gastropoda or the gastropods, also previously known as gasteropods, or univalves, and more commonly known as Snails Muricidae, Common names murex snails or rock snails, is a large and varied Taxonomic family of small to large Predatory The dog whelk, dogwhelk, or Atlantic dogwinkle, Nucella lapillus, is a Species of Predatory sea Snail;

Freshwater mussels are eaten by otters, by racoons, and by some ducks and geese. Otters are semi- aquatic (or in one case aquatic) fish-eating Mammals The otter subfamily Lutrinae forms part of the family The raccoon ( Procyon lotor) (sometimes spelt as racoon) also known as the common raccoon, North American raccoon, northern raccoon For duck as a food see Duck (food; for other meanings see Duck (disambiguation. Goose (plural geese) is the English name for a considerable number of Birds belonging to the family Anatidae.

Distribution and habitat

A stamp from the Faroe Islands showing Modiolus modiolus, the horse mussel, with various other marine invertebrates living on its shell.

Marine mussels are abundant in the low and mid intertidal zone in temperate seas globally.

Other species of marine mussel live in tropical intertidal areas, but not in the same huge numbers as in temperate zones.

Certain species of marine mussels prefer salt marshes or quiet bays, while others thrive in pounding surf, completely covering wave-washed rocks. Some species have colonized abyssal depths near hydrothermal vents. A hydrothermal vent is a Fissure in a planet's surface from which geothermally heated Water issues

Freshwater mussels inhabit permanent lakes, rivers, canals and streams throughout the world except polar regions. They require a constant source of cool, clean water, with bottoms that are not muddy. They prefer water with a substantial mineral content, using calcium carbonate to build their shells.

Cultivation

commercial
molluscs
abalone
clams
cockles
periwinkle
mussels
oysters
scallops
whelk
cuttlefish
octopus
squid
fishing industry
fisheries
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Bouchots are vertical pilings planted at sea for growing mussels. Commercial fishing, also known as industrial fishing, is the activity of capturing Fish and other Seafood for commercial Profit, mostly Shellfish is a Culinary and Fisheries term for those aquatic Invertebrate animals that are used as Food: various species of molluscs Abalone (from Spanish Abulón) are medium-sized to very large edible sea Snails marine Gastropod Mollusks in the Clam is a word which can be used for all some or only a few Species of Bivalve Mollusks the word is a Common name which has Cockle is the common name for edible Bivalve Mollusks of the family Cardiidae. "Winkle" redirects here For the contract bridge play see Winkle squeeze. The common name mussel is used for members of several different families of Clams or Bivalve Molluscs, from both saltwater and freshwater habitats The common name oyster is used for a number of different groups of Bivalve Mollusks most of which live in marine habitats or Brackish water. A scallop (ˈskɒləp or /ˈskæləp/ is a marine Bivalve Mollusk of the family Pectinidae. A whelk is one of several Species of large sea Snails marine Gastropod Mollusks found in temperate waters Cuttlefish are marine animals of the order Sepiida belonging to the Cephalopoda class (which also includes Squid, Octopuses The Squid are marine Cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species The fishing industry includes any industry or activity concerned with taking culturing processing preserving storing transporting marketing or selling fish or fish products For the fishing industry and the practice of fishing see Fishing. Here, bouchots are demonstrated at an agriculture salon.

Freshwater mussels are used as host animals for the cultivation of freshwater pearls. Freshwater pearls are a kind of Pearl that comes from freshwater Mussels They are produced in Japan and the United States on a limited scale Some species of marine mussel, including the Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis) and the New Zealand green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus), are also cultivated as a source of food. The blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, is a medium-sized edible marine Bivalve Mollusc in the family Mytilidae. The New Zealand green-lipped mussel, also known as the New Zealand mussel or the greenshell mussel, Perna canaliculus, is a Species of

There are a variety of techniques for growing mussels.

• Intertidal growth technique, or bouchot technique: pilings, known in French as bouchots, are planted at sea; ropes, on which the mussels grow, are tied in a spiral on the pilings; some mesh netting prevents the mussels from falling away. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people This method needs an extended tidal zone.
• Mussels are cultivated extensively in New Zealand, where the most common method is to attach mussels to ropes which are hung from a rope back-bone supported by large plastic floats. The most common species cultivated in New Zealand is the New Zealand green-lipped mussel. The New Zealand green-lipped mussel, also known as the New Zealand mussel or the greenshell mussel, Perna canaliculus, is a Species of

Mussels as food

Cooked mussels can be orange, or of a pale yellow.

There is archaeological evidence that humans have utilised mussels as a source of food for thousands of years. Nowadays marine mussels remain a popular seafood, especially in Belgium and the Netherlands, where they are consumed with french fries ("mosselen met friet" or "moules frites"). Seafood is any Sea Animal or Seaweed that is served as Food, or is suitable for eating particularly saltwater animals such The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands French fries ( North American English; sometimes not capitalized chips ( British English) fries or French-fried potatoes (formal In Italy, they are popular, often mixed with other sea food, or eaten with pasta. Italian cuisine as a national Cuisine known today has evolved through centuries of social and political changes with its roots traced back to 4th century BC In Turkey, mussels are either covered with flour and fried on shishs ('midye tava'), or filled with rice and served cold ('midye dolma'). Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches Kebab (also transliterated as kabab, kabob, kibob, kebhav, kephav) refers to a variety of meat dishes in Middle Eastern Mussels are usually consumed with alcohol (mostly with raki or beer). Raki ( Turkish: rakı rakɯ is a non-sweet usually Anise -flavored Apéritif that is produced by twice distilling either only In France, the Éclade des Moules is a mussel bake popular along the beaches of the Bay of Biscay. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Seafood boil is the generic term for any number of different kinds of social events in which Shellfish is the central element Cantabrian Sea redirects here Not to be confused with Biscay Bay Newfoundland and Labrador or Biscayne Bay. In Cantonese cuisine, mussels are cooked in a broth of garlic and fermented black bean. Cantonese ( Yue) cuisine comes from Guangdong Province in Southern China, or specifically from Guangzhou (Canton In New Zealand, they are commonly served in a chili based vinaigrette. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Vinaigrette is a mixture of Vinegar (or sometimes citrus juice and oil often flavored with Herbs Spices and other ingredients During the Second World War in the United States, mussels were commonly served in diners. This was due to the unavailability of red meat related to wartime rationing. Rationing is the controlled distribution of resources and scarce goods or services ^[1] In Ireland and among the Irish Community in the West of Scotland, they are popular. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world The Irish diaspora (Diaspóra na nGael consists of Irish Emigrants and their descendants in countries such as Great Britain, the United States Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Boiled and seasoned with vinegar, with the "bray" or boiling water as a supplementary hot drink.

In India mussels are popular in Kerala, Bhatkal, and Goa. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Bhatkal ( Kannada - ಭಟ್ಕಲ) is a Port town in Uttara Kannada Goa ( Konkani: गोंय /ɡɔ̃j/ is India 's smallest state in terms of area and the fourth smallest in terms of population. They are either prepared with drumsticks, bread fruit or other vegetables , or filled with rice and coconut paste with spices and served hot. Breadfruit ( Artocarpus altilis) is a Tree and Fruit native to the Malay Peninsula and western Pacific islands

Mussels can be smoked, boiled, steamed or fried in batter. Smoking is the process of flavoring, Cooking, or preserving Food by exposing it to the Smoke from burning or smoldering plant materials Boiling (also called ebullition) a type of Phase transition, is the rapid vaporization of a Liquid, which typically occurs when a liquid Steaming is a method of Cooking using Steam. Steaming is considered a relatively healthier cooking technique and capable to cook almost all kinds of food Frying is the Cooking of food in Oil or Fat, a technique that originated in ancient Egypt around 2500BC Batter is a liquid mixture usually based on one or more Flours combined with liquids such as Water, Milk or Beer. As for all shellfish, mussels should be alive just before they are cooked because they quickly become toxic after they die. Shellfish is a Culinary and Fisheries term for those aquatic Invertebrate animals that are used as Food: various species of molluscs A simple criterion is that live mussels, when in the air, will tightly shut when disturbed. Open unresponsive mussels are dead and should be discarded. Closed mussel shells that are unusually heavy should be discarded as well, because usually contain only mud and can be tested by slightly moving the two shells away from each other. Mussel shells open by themselves when the mussels are cooked, revealing the cooked soft parts.

Commercial mussel fishermen unloading the cargo of mussels in Donegal, Ireland.

In Belgium, mussels are often served with fresh herbs and flavorful vegetables in a stock of butter and white wine. Frites/Frieten and Belgian beer are popular accompaniments. French fries ( North American English; sometimes not capitalized chips ( British English) fries or French-fried potatoes (formal It is claimed that Belgian beer comprises the most diverse national collection of quality beer in the world and varies from the popular Pale lager to Lambic Months with an "R" in their name (September to April) are said to be the "in" season for mussels. ^[2]

In the Netherlands, mussels are sometimes served fried in batter or breadcrumbs, particularly at take-out food outlets or other informal settings. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Breading is a dry Grain -derived coating for a piece of food such as meat vegetable poultry fish Shellfish, Crustacean, seitan, or Take-out (in North American English) carry-out (in US and Scottish English) take-away (in Australian English,

Although mussels are valued as food, mussel poisoning due to toxic planktonic organisms can be a danger along some coastlines. For instance, mussels should be avoided along the west coast of the United States during the warmer months. This poisoning is usually due to a bloom of dinoflagellates (red tides), which contain toxins. The dinoflagellates are a large group of Flagellate Protists Most are marine Plankton, but The dinoflagellates and their toxin are harmless to mussels, even when concentrated by the mussel's filter feeding, but if the mussels are consumed by humans, the concentrated toxins cause serious illness, such as paralytic shellfish poisoning. Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP is one of the four recognized syndromes of Shellfish poisoning (the others being Neurotoxic shellfish poisoning, diarrhetic Usually the US government monitors the levels of toxins throughout the year at fishing sites. See Red Tide. "Red tide" is a common name for a phenomenon known as an Algal bloom, an event in which estuarine marine or fresh water algae accumulate rapidly in the Water

Freshwater mussels nowadays are generally considered to be unpalatable, though the native peoples in North America utilized them extensively.

Nutrition Highlights Mussel: Calories: 146 Protein: 20g Carbohydrate: 6. 3g Total Fat: 3. 8g Fiber: 0. 0g

• Excellent source of: Selenium (76mcg), and Vitamin B12 (20mcg)
• Good source of: Zinc (2. 3mg), and Folate (64mcg)

• Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value. Foods that are a “good source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the Recommended Daily Value.

Mussels are not a source of omega-3 fatty acids. Reference http://www.truestarhealth.com/Notes/1839009.html

^[3]

Gallery

Blue mussels, Mytilus edulis, in the intertidal zone in northern Norway

Blue mussels in the intertidal zone in Cornwall, England

Mussels as food

See also

• California mussel, Mytilus californianus
• Clam
• Dwarf wedge mussel, Alasmidonta heterodon
• Oyster
• Zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha

References

External links

• Freshwater Mussel Genera
• Methods of mussel farming
• Photo of bouchot pilings for growing mussels
• Mississippi River Mussels
• Marine Ecology Station
• Video of how to prepare mussels
• Newcastle University Biofouling Group Studying the physiology and behaviour of marine fouling organisms