Mediterranean mussel [Mytilus galloprovincialis]
Description
The Mediterranean mussel is a species of bivalve, a marine mollusk, that can reach a length of 140 mm. Native to the Mediterranean Sea, it has spread worldwide and is now found in parts of North America, South America, Australia, and New Zealand. It is a filter feeder, consuming plankton and other tiny organisms. The shell is blackish-blue and is often heavily encrusted with epibionts.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Mollusks
Mollusca
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Clams, Oysters, and Scallops
Bivalvia
|
| Order |
Mussels
Mytilida
|
| Family |
True Mussels
Mytilidae
|
| Genus |
Blue Mussels
Mytilus
|