Mytilus coruscus facts for kids

The Mytilus coruscus is a special type of mussel known as the Korean mussel. You might also hear it called the hard-shelled mussel. This creature is a species of mussel, which means it's a specific kind of animal. It lives in the sea and is a bivalve mollusc.

Being a bivalve means it has a shell made of two parts that can open and close, like a clam or an oyster. It belongs to the family Mytilidae, which is a group of similar mussels. In countries like Korea and China, this mussel is very important. People grow it on special farms in the sea, a process called mariculture, to be used as food.

Where the Korean Mussel Lives

The Korean mussel makes its home along the coasts of the western Pacific Ocean. This area is known for its warm, subtropical waters. You can find these mussels in places like the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan.

They also live further north, reaching as far as the Peter the Great Gulf. These mussels usually prefer to live in the upper part of the sublittoral zone. This is the area of the ocean floor that is always covered by water, even at low tide.