Mytilidae

Mytilidae is a family of small to large saltwater mussels, marine bivalve mollusks in the order Mytiloida. It is the only family in the order. This order and family contain 32 genera.

Species in the family Mytilidae are found world-wide, but they are more abundant in colder seas, where they often form uninterrupted beds on rocky shores in the intertidal zone and the shallow subtidal. The subfamily Bathymodiolinae is found in deep-sea habitats.

Mytilids include the well-known edible sea mussels.

A common feature of the shells of mussels is an asymmetrical shell which has a thick, adherent periostracum. The animals attached themselves to a solid substrate using a byssus.

Genera

Genera within the family Mytilidae include:^[1][2]

• Adipicola Dautzenberg, 1927
• Adula H. Adams & A. Adams, 1857
• Amygdalum Megerle von Muhlfeld, 1811
• Arcuatula Soot-Ryen, 1955
• Aulacomya Mörch, 1853
• Bathymodiolus Kenk & Wilson, 1985^[3]
• Botula Mörch, 1853
• Brachidontes Swainson, 1840
• Choromytilus Soot-Ryen, 1952^[4]
• Crenella T. Brown, 1827
• Dacrydium Torell, 1859
• Geukensia Van de Poel, 1959
• Gigantidas
• Gregariella Monterosato, 1884
• Idasola Iredale, 1939
• Ischadium Jukes-Browne, 1905
• Lioberus Dall, 1898
• Lithophaga Röding, 1798
• Megacrenella Habe & Ito, 1965
• Modiolula Sacco, 1898
• Modiolarca Gray, 1842
• Modiolus Lamarck, 1799
• Musculista Yamamoto & Habe, 1958
• Musculus Röding, 1798
• Mytilaster Monterosato, 1884
• Mytilus Linnaeus, 1758 - also known as Mytilis
• Perna Philipsson, 1788
• Rhomboidella Monterosato, 1884
• Septifer Recluz, 1848
• Solamen Iredale, 1924
• Stenolena Dall, Bartsch & Rehder, 1938
• Vilasina Bartsch, 1960
• Xenostrobus Wilson, 1967

References

External links