Common name : mussels

Aspect : inequilateral and asymmetrical and roughly triangular; smooth surface with visible concentric growth lines; shell colors are commonly dark, such as blue-black or brownish; common marine mussels like Mytilus edulis reaching up to 10-15 cm in length; hinge lacks teeth, characteristic of mussels

Feeding : filtration of microorganisms in suspension (phytoplankton, zooplankton, detritus, and organic particles)

Environment : inhabiting intertidal and shallow subtidal zones (though subfamily Bathymodiolinae thrives at depths exceeding 1,000 meters) worldwide, with higher abundance in cooler seas; a few, like Limnoperna, are found in freshwater environments such as rivers and lakes; on hard substrates (rocks, piers, docks, ship hulls or mangrove roots)