Photo 3119432, (c) memopob, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by memopob

Attribution © memopob
some rights reserved
Uploaded by memopob memopob
Source iNaturalist NZ
Associated observations

Photos / Sounds

What

New Zealand Hairy Mussel (Modiolus areolatus)

Observer

memopob

Date

March 7, 2016

Place

Ruby Bay (Google, OSM)

Description

Hairy or Brown Mussel.

Shells quite fragile. Periostracum with it's hairy 'beard' is rapidly lost in the sun on shore, under which is a chalky white shell often with hints of pink.

I have posted a comparative shot of the 4 smaller mussels .
From left to right are the Ribbed mussel, greenlip mussel, Brown hairy mussel and the introduced blue mussel.

Associated taxa
Sizes