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| bivalves text index | photo index |
| Phylum Mollusca > Class Bivalvia > Family Mytilidae |
| Nest
mussel Musculista senhousia Family Mytilidae updated Jan 09 Where seen? This tiny mussel is sometimes very common on our Northern shores, forming spongy carpets over vast areas of the shore near the low water mark, as well as on large boulders. Features: 1-2cm long. The two-part shell is thin, fragile and smooth. These tiny mussels build communal 'nests' out of byssal threads incorporating sediments, bits of broken shells and other debris. Large areas can be covered in such 'nests', pockmarked with little slits, each housing one mussel. Sometimes, small Green mussels (Perna viridis) are seen growing among the tinier nest mussels. Sometimes, Drills are seen grouped on a 'nest', possibly eating them? Human uses: These mussels are considered pests where they establish themselves outside their natural range, e.g., in New Zealand and California. They probably arrived as larvae carried in the ballast water of ocean-going ships. |
 These tiny mussels formed vast beds on Chek Jawa in 2007 Chek Jawa, Aug 07  Pulau Sekudu, Jul 07 |
 Pulau Sekudu, Dec 07 |
 Coating boulders and the ground. |
 With small Green mussels growing among the tinier nest mussels. |
Nest mussels on Singapore shores
 Pasir Ris, Feb 09 |
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 Pulau Sekudu, Jul 08 |
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 Chek Jawa, Jan 08  |
 Changi, Jun 07  |
 Pulau Ubin, Jun 08  |
more photos of nest mussels on Singapore shores
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