New Zealand green-lipped mussel

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iNew Zealand green-lipped mussel

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Bivalvia
Subclass:	Pteriomorphia
Order:	Mytiloida
Family:	Mytilidae
Genus:	Perna
Species:	P. canaliculus

Binomial name

Perna canaliculus
Gmelin, 1791

The New Zealand green-lipped mussel, also known as the New Zealand mussel or the greenshell mussel is an economially important mussel species native to New Zealand. It is also an introduced pest in Australian waters. It differs from other mussel species in that it has a dark brown/green shell, a green lip around the edge of the shells and only has one abductor muscle. It is also one of the largest mussel species growing up to 240mm in length. The green-lipped mussel is found sub-tidally and inter-tidally throughout New Zealand.

Green-lipped mussels contain high levels of glycosaminoglycan which assist in the repair of damaged joint tissues. ^{[citation needed]}