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Interesting Facts About Mussels

Mussels might seem like an uneventful organism in the animal kingdom,but they have been used culturally for thousands of years. Their shells have even been found at ancient sites as tools and jewelry. Unfortunately, many species are threatened with extinction, especially the ones living in North America.

Ecology
- Rivers, creeks and backwaters are some places where mussels live.
  
  Most species of freshwater mussels are found in creeks and rivers in North America. They are bottom-feeders that filter their environments of pollutants and toxins. Ducks, otters and raccoons are a few animals that feed on mussels. Biologists often use mussel tissue to record the pollutant history of a body of water.
Lives of Mussels
- Females tend to have pinkish-orange coloring, while males are white.
  
  Mussels tend to live in large clumps, called beds, which can stretch for a mile or more. They reproduce when the male releases his sperm out into the water and it lands on females. After maturing a while, the larvae are picked up by other fish that carry them until they drop down to the river bed and grow. Unharmed, they can live up to 50 years.
World Cuisine
- Many Mediterranean countries enjoy mussel dishes as well.
  
  North America began to cultivate mussels in the early 20th century along the Mississippi River. Mussel harvesting has been popular in Europe for over 800 years. In countries like France and Belgium, they are eaten with fries, mayonnaise and beer. Many Pacific Ocean countries, such as Japan and New Zealand, cultivate this seafood on farms and harvest them at 24 months.

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