New Zealand green-lipped mussel

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New 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, Perna canaliculus, is a species of bivalve mollusc in the family Mytilidae.

[edit] Distribution

This species of mussel is endemic to New Zealand, and is also an introduced pest in Australian waters.

[edit] Habitat

The green-lipped mussel is found sub-tidally and intertidally throughout New Zealand.

[edit] Description

This shellfish is economically important to New Zealand. 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 adductor muscle. It is also one of the largest mussel species reaching 240 mm in length.

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