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Mytilus californianus (California mussel)
Copyright ©
2005 Mary Jo Adams
The
blue-black valves of the California mussel grow to a length of about
10 inches and unless worn down, display heavy radial ribs.
The flesh of this animal is orange. It lives in aggregations
along outer coast beaches with heavy surf and attaches to rocks
and other hard surfaces with byssal threads. Predators include
sea stars, predatory snails, crabs, gulls, and sea otters.
Other common names for Mytilus californianus are surf
mussel, sea mussel, and ribbed mussel.
This page was created by Mary Jo Adams on 1/24/06.
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