1. Mytilus is found at a depth of 4 to 6 meters at low tide, attached to rocks or wooden structures by its byssus threads. It is a sedentary bivalve mollusc. It is a filter feeder, filtering planktons from incurrent waters.
2. It has cosmopolitan distribution specially found in India, Europe, U.S.A. (California, San Francisco).
3. Commonly called as sea mussel.
4. Hinge toothless but may bear crenulations.
5. Shell is elongated equivalved with umbo and marked by lines of growth.
6. Postero-ventrally papillated edges of mantle and postero-dorsally lamelliform gills are seen. Foot cylindrical with byssus.
7. Postero-ventrally papillated edges of mantle are seen and postero-dorsally is exhalent siphon.
8. Shell is marked with lines of growth.
9. Byssal filaments found in a byssal cavity are formed by byssal gland or byssogenous apparatus.
10. After removing the shell internal structures such as lamelliform gills, foot, kidney, heart and alimentary canal enclosed by mantle lobes are visible
11. Gills are lamelliform, i.e., the filaments are plate-like and united by ciliary junctions.
12. Sexes are separate, Gonads extend into the mantle. Used for food in Europe. In India also they are relished as food by poor people living at seacoasts.
Source:
1. Practical Zoology Invertebrates by S.S.Lal. 2. A Manual of Practical Zoology Chordates by Dr. P.S. Verma.
