California Mussel
Mytilus californianus
Shell description 3
The shell of this species is thick and is often 80 to 130 mm in length, sometimes larger still. The shell is blue on the outside with a heavy brown periostracum which is usually worn off except near the growing edge of the shell. The beaks of the shell are often eroded. The shell has coarse radial ribbing and irregular growth lines on the outer surface. The inner surface of the shell is blue and faintly pearly.
Like other mytilids, the animal is attached to the substrate with a very strong and elastic byssus.
Sources and Credits
- (c) tsoleau, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/23535767@N04/5028946214
- (c) faerthen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by faerthen
- (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_mussel
