Flex those mussels!
Mussels, like the one above, can live up to 50 years. They are all over the world, in all water. Over 1000 species are known, they live in cool seas, ponds and pretty much anywhere there is water. The mussel is usually wedge shaped, about 2-6 inches long. The mussel's shell is made up of two half shells joins together by a very strong ligament. The shell is very hard, the inside of the mussel is soft. The inside contains a posterior adductor muscle which allows the mussel to open and close the shell. Only freshwater mussels have a foot, the foot is a very strong and is used to push the animal through the dirt or sand it is resting in. It is also used as an anchor when the mussel is not moving.
The video above is a perfect example of how the mussel slowly pulls itself in one direction where the foot is planted.