Story: Shellfish

Mussel beard

Mussel beard

The byssus or beard of a mussel is a mass of elastic threads, which hold the mussel to solid surfaces. They are produced by a special gland in the mussel’s foot.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Photograph by Melanie Lovell-Smith

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How to cite this page:

Maggy Wassilieff, 'Shellfish - Bivalve molluscs', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/8026/mussel-beard (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 12 Jun 2006