Common Mussel

Name: Common Mussel

Scientific name: Mytilus edulis

Category: Marine

Nature Stars: 20

What are nature stars?

About: Lives on rocky, sandy or muddy shores, from the low tide mark well out to sea. Forms large, dense 'beds' of mussels which, when exposed at low tide, are a favourite hunting ground for oystercatchers. A filter feeder.

How to identify: A very familiar shell, triangular-oval shaped and black-blue in colour, up to 7cm long.

Where: Found all round our shores.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 10
• Agility: 10
• Rarity: 20
• Cute factor: 20
• Traveller: 20

Fantastic fact: Mussels are commercially grown on ropes, as well as harvested from wild growing populations.

Photograph credit: Photo credit tbc