| Mytilidae (sea mussels) |
| 7 cm SHL (male/unsexed) |
|
benthic; marine |
| Eastern Central Pacific and Western Atlantic: Mexico and Southern Caribbean to southeast Brazil. |
|
Shell mussel-shaped, elongate, ventral region concave. Oblique ridge runs anterodorsal to posteroventral region of valve. Umbones subterminal. Posterior part of the mantle with branching tentacles. Colour: externally greenish on posterodorsal region (above ridge) and yellowish brown on anteroventral region (below ridge). |
| Intertidal in bays and protected areas, forming clumps attached to mangrove prop roots or other hard substrates (Ref. 344) via its byssus (Ref. 104222). Attached to mangrove roots, particularly on Rhizophorae mangle (Ref. 104222). Some found to be buried in substrate. Also occurs in a river estuary. Highly tolerant to salinity variations (Ref. 104223). Parasitic on this mussel are Rickettsia-like organisms, Apicomplexa and Platyhelminthes (Ref. 104222). In general, suspension feeding bivalves mainly depend on phytoplankton and detritus material for nutrition (Ref. 107088). |
|
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
|
| harmless |
|
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