 They grow, break free from the host, and drop to the bottom of the water to begin an independent life.Marine mussels are eaten by humans, starfish, seabirds, and by numerous species of predatory marine gastropods in the family Muricidae, such as the dog whelk, "Nucella lapillus".Freshwater mussels are eaten by muskrats, otters, raccoons, ducks, baboons, humans, and geese.