Blue mussel

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Blue mussel
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Bivalvia
Subclass:	Heterodonta
Order:	Mytiloida
Family:	Mytilidae
Subfamily:	Mytilinae
Genus:	Mytilus
Species:	M. edulis
Binomial name
Mytilus edulis L., 1758

The blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, is a medium-sized edible marine bivalve mollusc in the family Mytilidae.

Contents 1 Distribution 2 Habitat 3 Description 4 Uses 5 Predators 5.1 Gallery 6 References

[edit] Distribution

Blue mussels are found on the North Atlantic coast of North America, Europe, and in other temperate and polar waters around the world.

[edit] Habitat

Blue mussels live in intertidal areas attached to rocks and other hard substrates by strong (and somewhat elastic) thread-like structures called byssal threads; these are secreted by byssal glands located in the foot of the mussel.

[edit] Description

The shell is smooth with a sculpturing of fine concentric growth lines but no radiating ribs. The shells of this species are purple, blue or sometimes brown in color, occasionally with radial stripes as shown here.

[edit] Uses

It is commonly harvested for food throughout the world, from both wild and farmed sources. Mussels are a staple of many seafood dishes in various cuisines including Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch, Belgian and Italian. They are also commonly used as lab animals.

[edit] Predators

Blue mussels are preyed upon by sea stars such as Asterias vulgaris. Small mussels are also eaten by the dog whelk, Nucella lapillus.^[1]

[edit] Gallery

Live blue mussels on a rocky substrate

Two empty blue mussel shells on a beach of the Baltic Sea

Numerous empty blue mussel shells on a beach in Iceland

[edit] References

• Department of Marine Resources
• Gilbertson, Lance. (1999). Zoology Laboratory Manual (4th ed.), pp. 11.1-11.4. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
• Sea Grant - The Blue Mussel