Mussel's Beard (hydroid)

Description:

" Mussel’s beard is the light-brown hairy growth on mussels or tidal rocks and seaweeds. It is a colonial organism known as a hydroid, made up of chains of tiny polyps. Some people confuse mussel’s beard with the threads (byssus threads) that attach mussels to rocks. These [byssus] threads are darker, feel like plastic, and grow from the interior of the mussel."from The NZ Te Ara Encyclopedia via --http://rushleigh-the-at-home-chronicle.blogspot.co.nz/

Notes:

Mussel beard growing on mussels in the inter-tidal zone.