mussel
Clam's dark cousin
A mussel is a bivalve mollusk with a dark, elongated shell, found in both freshwater and marine environments.
Mussels attach themselves to rocks, piers, and other surfaces in clusters.
They're harvested as seafood, often steamed and served in broth: moules frites, mussels in white wine.
The word is unrelated to muscle, though the spelling confusion is common.
Two-shelled mollusk
- clamSand-dwelling hinged shellfish
- oysterPearl-bearing edible mollusk
- cockleSmall ribbed bivalve
- scallopFan-shaped edible shellfish
invertebrate · gastropod · cephalopod · octopus · squid · abalone · whelk · conch
Fluid flow controller
- nacreIridescent shell coating
- nacreousResembling pearl's iridescence
- calciumElement twenty, builds bones
- exoskeletonExternal skeletal structure
seashell · iridescence · hinge · adductor · beard · blue-black · oblong
Heated by vapor
- bouillabaisseMarseille fish and shellfish stew
- paellaSaffron rice with shellfish
- cioppinoItalian-American seafood stew
- chowderThick creamy seafood soup
gumbo · escabeche · garlic butter · white wine sauce · shallots · broth · crusty bread · frutti di mare
Animal straining waterborne nutrients
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- planktonDrifting marine microlife
- algaePrimitive aquatic photosynthesizers
- water qualityCondition of H2O supply
bioindicator · invasive · quagga · ecosystem · biodiversity · bioaccumulation · aquaculture · colony
Non-marine nacre sphere
- nacreIridescent shell coating
- lusterSoft reflected light
- iridescenceColor shift from interference
- culturedEducated in arts, manners
bivalve
Two-shelled mollusk
scallop · invertebrate · gastropod · cephalopod · octopus · squid · abalone · whelk · conch · chiton
valve
Fluid flow controller
- nacreIridescent shell coating
- nacreousResembling pearl's iridescence
- calciumElement twenty, builds bones
exoskeleton · seashell · iridescence · hinge · adductor · beard · blue-black · oblong
steamed
Heated by vapor
- bouillabaisseMarseille fish and shellfish stew
- paellaSaffron rice with shellfish
- cioppinoItalian-American seafood stew
chowder · gumbo · escabeche · garlic butter · white wine sauce · shallots · broth · crusty bread · frutti di mare · umami
filter feeder
Animal straining waterborne nutrients
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- planktonDrifting marine microlife
- algaePrimitive aquatic photosynthesizers
water quality · bioindicator · invasive · quagga · ecosystem · biodiversity · bioaccumulation · aquaculture · colony
freshwater pearl
Non-marine nacre sphere
- nacreIridescent shell coating
- lusterSoft reflected light
- iridescenceColor shift from interference
cultured · gem · pearl farming
intertidal
Zone between high and low watermarks
- estuaryTidal mixing zone
- tidal poolCoastal depression holding seawater
- brackishMildly salty water
saltwater · coastal · kelp · seagrass · rocky shore · pier · wharf · sandbank · subtidal · benthic
- bivalvesclams, clam, scallops, cockles, oyster
- California Sea Lifesea otter, sea lion, harbor seal, gray whale, great white shark
- coastal wildlifepelican, grey seal, seagull, gull, sandpiper
- mollusksclams, mollusk, mollusks, snail, snails
- North Atlantic lifeAtlantic cod, Atlantic salmon, cod, herring, haddock
- shelled animalssnail, clam, oyster, scallop, turtle
- steamed musselsCooked marine bivalves
- zebra musselInvasive striped freshwater mollusk
- mussel shellMollusk's protective enclosure
- freshwater musselsBivalves inhabiting rivers and lakes
- blue musselsMarine bivalves with dark shells
- mussel bedsDense bivalve colonies