Malacology
Malacology is the study of mollusks. This includes animals like octopus, snails, slugs, and clams. It is the second largest phylum of animals, making them one of the most successful groups on the planet. There are over 80,000 described species of mollusks with many more left to be discovered. Mullusca is composed of 8 recognized classes including Cephalopoda, Gastropoda, Polyplacophora, Scaphapoda, Monoplacophorans, the Aplacophorans, Caudofoveata and Solenogastres, and Bivalvia.
Asian Green Mussel
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Perna viridis
Class:
Bivalvia
Order:
Mytilida
Family:
Mytilidae
Misc. Facts
The Asian Green Mussel is originally from the Indian and Pacific Oceans but was introduced to the Gulf of Mexico in the 1990s. The Asian Green Mussel has outcompeted many native species for space to attach their shells.
Citations
MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Perna viridis (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=367822 on 2021-07-20
Mikkelsen, P. M., & Bieler, R. (28). Seashells of southern Florida: Living marine mollusks of the Florida keys and Adjacent REGIONS, bivalves. Princeton: Princeton University Press.