| Mediterranean mussel | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Subclass: | Pteriomorphia |
| Order: | Mytiloida |
| Family: | Mytilidae |
| Genus: | Mytilus |
| Species: | M. galloprovincialis |
| Binomial name | |
| Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819 |
|
The Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, also known as the bay mussel, blue mussel or Mittelmeer-Miesmuschel [1] is a species of bivalve. It is a marine mollusc in the family Mytilidae.
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This species is found in the Mediterranean and around the southern African coast, from the Namibian border to Port Alfred, intertidally to just below the low tide border.[2] The mussels found in Southern California are similar to Mytilus galloprovincialis and are probably introduced accidentally.[3]
This animal grows up to 140 mm in length. It is a smooth-shelled mussel with a slightly broader base than that of the black mussel, with which it is often confused. Its shell is blue-violet[4] or black, but may shade to light brown.[5]
The Mediterranean mussel is a filter feeder. It is rare subtidally, which is an alternate means of distinguishing it from the black mussel. It was introduced from Europe in 1984 and is now the dominant low intertidal mussel on the West Coast. It is often found with the white dwarf barnacle, Notomegabalanus algicola growing on its shell. This barnacle gives the mussel protection against the spiny starfish, Marthasterias glacialis.