We explain how mussels are able to cling to rocks without coming unstuck <\/p>
Wondering how mussels stick to rocks. Mussels are a type of bivalve mollusc<\/a> and the secret to this vice-like grip is the numerous fine, sticky threads created in the byssal gland located in the foot. <\/p> To produce a fibre, a mussel extends part of its foot. It rolls it into a tube then fills it with a concoction of proteins and other substances that subsequently harden into a slender thread.<\/p> Byssal threads are strong yet flexible, and help a mussel move around too: it extends and attaches them, then hauls itself forwards. <\/p> Scientists hope to create new adhesives by studying their amazing ability to stick underwater, on uneven surfaces and in both fresh and salt water.<\/p> How to identify rockpool wildlife<\/a><\/p> Mussels \u00a9 Celia Russell<\/em><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n We explain how mussels are able to cling to rocks without coming unstuck <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":42105,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"< 1"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/09\/how-do-mussels-cling-to-rocks.jpg",623,464,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/09\/how-do-mussels-cling-to-rocks-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/09\/how-do-mussels-cling-to-rocks-300x223.jpg",300,223,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/09\/how-do-mussels-cling-to-rocks.jpg",623,464,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/09\/how-do-mussels-cling-to-rocks.jpg",623,464,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/09\/how-do-mussels-cling-to-rocks.jpg",623,464,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/09\/how-do-mussels-cling-to-rocks.jpg",623,464,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"We explain how mussels are able to cling to rocks without coming unstuck","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/42104"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42105"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42104"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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