• Poll
  • Map
  • Words

Did it surprise you to learn how important mussels are to keeping our oceans clean and clear?

Play Sound
A - Oh boy did it ever!
B - No, I knew all that already
C - Um, what’s a mussel?
102 Likes 7525 Views
Autoplay on
Play Video
Like
Favourite

Does this important job surprise you?

Play again

Links


Activities

Mussel

 

A dark blue, black, or brown shellfish that has two long oval shells. You will find them on the rocky shore, clumped together and attached to rocks. Mussels are ‘filter feeders’ that play an important role in the health of our oceans.

Eagle ray

 

The eagle ray, or whai keo in Māori, is a large, diamond-shaped ocean creature with long pointed pectoral fins, a long tail, and a distinct head.

Orca

 

Orca, or maki and kākahi in Māori, are also known as ‘killer whale.' They are a large black and white 'toothed whales' that are actually the largest member of the dolphin family. Orca are apex predators, which means no other animal in the sea hunts and eats them. They have a large dorsal (back) fin and live in groups that hunt seals, fish, and penguin together. They can be found all over the world, including in New Zealand waters.

Harvesting

 

Taking food to be eaten. Usually harvesting takes place at a certain time of year, when that food is ripe or able to be taken without negative effects on an ecosystem.

Ecosystem

 

A group of plants, animals and other living things that live in the same place and help each other to survive.

Ray

 

A fish with a flattened diamond-shaped body, and a long, poisonous, barbed spine at the base of it's tail.

Click for more words!
Learn to Draw
Interviews with Experts
Hauraki Gulf
YOE adventures
Sea of Hope
SeaLegacy's Sea of Hope episode
Riley can't find the ocean here!
Does this important job surprise you?
Name this miracle bird
Crayfish Dad jokes
Snorkelled in a marine reserve?
Why did Kevin Iro set up a marine park?
Pāua, Kina & Rāhui
Māori name for Hauraki Gulf?
What sea animal eats like a cow?
Can you find the triplefin all over NZ?
Pepeha
Kauri & Tohorā
How many Māui dolphins?
Oceans full of plastic
Which fish's poo makes sand?
Learn to Draw - Orca
Why do we call this a meatball?
What is a gulf?
Seabirds and whales!
Where do most living things live?
What is in a name?
Fur Seals - A Story of Survival
Where do paddle crabs live?
Why get caught on a fishing line?
Learn to Draw - Māui Dolphin
Sharks - super fast swimmers
How fast does giant kelp grow?
Whose skull am I holding?
Turtle Dad jokes
Why do orca end up stuck on the beach?
What is it like to save an orca?
Kina - Rangatahi
Is a sharks skin made from teeth?
How far do little blue penguins swim?
What's so unique about Blue Duck Station?
Has it been too long?
Disappearing sea life?
What is a food chain?
What is a slow down zone?
Name the Māui dolphins cousin
Which is the easiest piece of rubbish to pick up?
Where did all the kelp go?
Does this important job surprise you?
Meet the largest dolphin in the sea
What's so special about turtle shells?
Riley talks to a world record holder!
What does a shark eat?
How Dad saved a dolphin!
Learn to Draw - Hutton's Shearwater