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Class: Bivalvia. 2 specimens. Both have both valves still attached at the hinge. Large, tear-drop shaped and thick. A blue periostracum with the shell beneath paler blue or purplish. Inner surface in white and glossy. Both have evidence of barnacle epibionts (Balanus balanus). This species is found burrowed into muddy gravels to a depth of approx. 150m. Horse mussels are currently a declining species and 12 locations that contain beds of this species around Scotland are protected by law as they are 'biodiversity hotspots'.