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How to Identify Mussel Sea Shells

You can find mussel sea shells washed up on the beach, and they are easy to identify because their color and shape is distinctive. It is possible you have already come across this type of shell because it is a common type of seafood sold in supermarkets and served in restaurants. Since the 1900s, mussels have often been farmed and harvested for consumption in North America. Identifying the shell is easy, simply by looking for particular characteristics.

Instructions

- 1
  Look at the texture of the outside of the shell before you wash it. Brush it gently with your finger. A mussel shell is rough or abrasive to the touch before you wash it because algae or fibers will be attached to it.
- 2
  Wash the shell thoroughly and then touch the surface. Although it is still slightly abrasive on the outside, the inner surface will feel smooth. The outside does not have ridges or any distinctive pattern.
- 3
  Identify the color of the outer shell. This is the convex side. If it is a mussel, the shell will be an inky black. Hold it up to the light and the shell will have a blueish tinge.
- 4
  Turn the shell over and look at the color of the concave surface. A mussel shell has white shading at the tapered edge and has an inky black gradient of color moving away from this white patch.
- 5
  Observe the size of the mussel shell. Size varies depending on the age and species of mussel, however a mussel is no larger than 3 to 4 inches long. More commonly, it measures about 1.5 to 3 inches long.

Sea Shell Collecting