Mussel

Mussel
Mussels
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Bivalvia
Subclasses
Pteriomorpha (marine mussels) Palaeoheterodonta (freshwater mussels) Heterodonta (zebra mussels)

Mussels are several families of bivalve molluscs. Mussels live in lakes, rivers, and creeks. They sometimes also live in intertidal areas along coastlines worldwide. The freshwater mussels (several allied families, the largest being the Unionidae) and saltwater mussels (family Mytilidae) are not closely related, despite the fact that they may look similar. They are grouped in different subclasses. The freshwater Zebra mussels and their relatives (family Dreissenidae) live attached to rocks in a manner similar to marine mussels, but are classified with the Heterodonta, the taxonomic group including most bivalves referred to as "clams".

From archeology, it is known that humans have been eating mussels for thousands of years. They can be cooked or eaten raw. Care must be taken however as mussels quickly become poisonous after they die.

Other websites

• Freshwater Mussel Genera Archived 2007-02-02 at the Wayback Machine
• Methods of mussel farming Archived 2008-07-06 at the Wayback Machine
• Photo of bouchot pilings for growing mussels Archived 2007-02-06 at the Wayback Machine
• Gilbertson, Lance. (1999). Zoology Laboratory Manual (4th ed.), pp. 11.1-11.4. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
• Mississippi River Mussels Archived 2006-06-13 at the Wayback Machine
• Marine Ecology Station Archived 2008-07-23 at the Wayback Machine