The Pink Mucket

Nutrition

The Pink Mucket mussel, like most other mussels is a filter feeder.  It feeds on bacteria, diatoms, and other organic particles. The Pink Mucket draws water in through its incurrent siphon. The water is then brought into the branchial chamber by the actions of the cilia located on the gills. The wastewater exits through the excurrent siphon. The labial palps funnel the food into the mouth, where digestion begins.



Once food particles enter the mouth, they pass through the esophagus into the stomach where a combination of mechanical and chemical digestion breaks them into smaller particles. The stomach is a thin-walled sac, lined with a gastric shield around which the crystalline style revolves.  After food is digested, it is turned into waste and excreted through the excurrent siphon.
 



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