British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Marine Species Glossary - Fan Mussel - definition

Translation:

The photograph you can see here is of a Fan Mussel. The shell is in the shape of a fan, which is where it gets its name from and this shape changes depending on the area it lives in. Most Fan Mussels measure from between 30-50cm, but can occasionally grow up to 120cm in length, which is about 4ft! Found mostly in the Mediterranean Sea, Fan Mussels are increasingly rare and unique within the species. It anchors itself in an upright position using silk like threads, called 'Byssus', which can grow up to 6cm in length. Fan Mussels are incredibly good for the ecosystem - they clean the water by filtering out particles. With increasingly declining numbers, Fan Mussels are in danger of disappearing altogether, which is why they are now protected by a European law that bans harvesting in the hope that this will help restore numbers. Another interesting thing about Fan Mussels is that when they die, the shell opens to reveal a tiny pearl inside.