New Zealand Seashore

DSC_4749 Horse mussel, or hururoa (Atrina zelandica) empty shells among drift. This is NZ's largest bivalve. The lines of hollow spines radiating out towards the posterior end of the shell help anchor it in mud or sand. Spring low intertidal to subtidal, where it lives buried for most of its length. Victory Beach, Otago Peninsula

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DSC_4749 Horse mussel, or hururoa (Atrina zelandica) empty shells among drift. This is NZ's largest bivalve. The lines of hollow spines radiating out towards the posterior end of the shell help anchor it in mud or sand. Spring low intertidal to subtidal, where it lives buried for most of its length. Victory Beach, Otago Peninsula

DSC 4749 Horse mussel Atrina zelandica hururoa empty shells beach drift largest bivalve Victory Beach Otago Peninsula