Blue Mussel
Mytilus edulis
Status
Physical
A common bivalve mussel, M. edulis possesses a smooth shell with pointed terminal beaks, edged with small fine teeth. The shell is glossy blue black, and the interior is a shade of violet. Average size is 2 to 4 inches in length.
Habitat
Blue Mussels range from the Arctic Circle to South Carolina in estuaries to several hundred feet offshore. Individuals form shoals by attaching themselves to any solid anchored structure.
Feeding
Blue Mussels are filter-feeders that consume plankton in the water column.