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How do mussels use byssus threads to attach to rocks?
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mollusk
Mollusk shell classification chart, c. 1861.
Mussels anchor themselves to solid surfaces, such as rocks, through the use of byssus threads. These threads are composed of specialized proteins that are secreted by complex gland cells located within the mussel's body. By producing these proteinaceous strands, mussels are able to secure themselves firmly to substrates or to one another, often forming dense clusters in their environment.12