British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Marine Species Glossary - Common (blue) Mussel - definition

Translation:

These are Mussels - the sign is Mussel. They have a wedge-shaped shell which is mostly blue/purple in colour, or black like this one here, but they can also be brown. Mussels have growth rings that give an indication of their age; the shells measure between 5-10cm but can sometimes reach up to 20cm in length. Mussels help clean sea water by filtering out particles. People eat mussels and they are also a food source for other animals like birds that break their hard shells by carrying them into the air and dropping them to get at the food inside. In the sea starfish eat mussels, prising the shells open with their powerful arms.

You find lots of shells like these by the sea which are from Mussels that have been opened. This one is clamped shut and still alive. We'll put it back in the water where it will open up to feed.