Live Cape river mussel with hand for size. The Walsingham Farm, Kowie River, Eastern Cape (2022). Previously called Cafferia caffer. Large robust brown mussels. Posterior end of adult shell angular in outline. Juveniles show zigzag sculpture over the shell, as well as growth lines. Adults retain growth lines, but not sculpture. 87.3 x 46.6 mm.… Continue reading Cape river mussel (Unio caffer)
Tag: mussel
African black oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini)
A couple of African black oystercatcher on mussel beds and worm reefs. Old Woman's River, Eastern Cape (2018) - iNaturalist A large dumpy, unmistakable wader with its jet-black body, short pink legs and bright orange-red bill and eyes.Birds occasionally have white patches on the belly or entire plumage dove-grey. Male's bill averages shorter and less… Continue reading African black oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini)
Brown mussel (Perna perna)
Eroded and less eroded brown mussels in a bed. Old Woman's River, Eastern Cape (2018). Shell smooth and yellow-brown, sometimes tinged with green or with a chevron pattern. Specimens from crowded intertidal beds often very elongated and almost rectangular in cross-section. Submerged, fast-growing specimens are taller and narrower. Up to 125 mm. The dominant mussel… Continue reading Brown mussel (Perna perna)
Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis)
Mediterranean mussel bed surrounded by algae of all sorts. Yzerfontein, Western Cape (2020). Shell smooth, typically black or blue, shading to brown on the lower surface, but rarely light brown. Broad in cross-section and usually widest at base. Distinguished from Choromytilus meridionalis by pits in the resilial ridge. Up to 140 mm. Thought to be… Continue reading Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis)
Ribbed mussel (Aulacomya atra)
Lone eroded mussel in a rock crevice. Hondeklipbaai, Northern Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Easily recognised by the strong wavy ridges running the length of the shell. Shell brown in juvenile, but becomes blue-black in larger individuals. Eroded areas are white. Up to 90 mm. Forms extensive beds low in the intertidal and on rocky reefs… Continue reading Ribbed mussel (Aulacomya atra)
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