there has been a substantial stranding of Horse Mussel shells at the beach at Waikanae, near the estuary mouth during the last week or so. There were hundreds and hundreds along the water's edge for about 1 km.This may be related to some severe storms a couple of weeks ago but it certainly the most I have ever seen at this site. This impressive bivalve, Atrina zelandica (or A. pectinata zelandica) is one of the pinnids, known as horse mussels (here in NZ) or fan mussels (as in the UK). When I was shell-collecting in the UK it was quite a prize (Pinna fragilis) as they were quite scarce or local, probably affected by habitat-loss, disturbance and pollution.
Almost all the specimens are translucent and fresh.
Cheers,
GrahamB
