Blue Mussel
Mytilus edulis
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.
Breeding: M. edulis reproduces sexually by releasing male and female gametes into the water. Fertilized larvae are planktonic and mature to settle onto benthic structures. Mussels live 15 years or longer.
Sign up for email or connect through social media.