Mytilidae

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The Mytilidae are a family of small to large marine and brackish-water bivalve molluscs in the order Mytilida. One of the genera, Limnoperna, even inhabits freshwater environments. Mytilidae, which contains some 52 genera, is the only extant family within the order Mytilida.[1]

Species in the family Mytilidae are found worldwide, but they are more abundant in colder seas, where they often form uninterrupted beds on rocky shores in the intertidal zone and the shallow subtidal. The subfamily Bathymodiolinae is found in deep-sea habitats.

Mytilids include the well-known, edible sea mussels.

A common feature of the shells of mussels is an asymmetrical shell, which has a thick, adherent periostracum. The animals attach themselves to a solid substrate using a byssus.

A 2020 study of the phylogeny of the Mytilidae recovered two main clades derived from an epifaunal ancestor, with subsequent lineages shifting to other lifestyles, and correlating convergent evolution of siphon traits.[2]

Subfamilies and genera

File:Mytilus californianus (California mussel) 01.jpg
A bed of the edible California mussel, Mytilus californianus
File:CornishMussels.JPG
Mussels and attached barnacles on the Cornish coast near Newquay
File:Mytilus (Falcimytilus) jurensis.jpg
Mytilus (Falcimytilus) jurensis from the Middle Jurassic (Callovian) Matmor Formation of southern Israel

since March 2025Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., the World Register of Marine Species accepts 32 genera split into eight subfamilies.[1]

Subfamily Brachidontinae

Subfamily Crenellinae

Subfamily Dacrydiinae

Subfamily Lithophaginae

Subfamily Mytilinae

Subfamily Mytiliseptinae

Subfamily Septiferinae

†Subfamily Xenomytilinae

Incertae sedis

References

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  1. a b Template:Cite WoRMS
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External links

Template:Edible molluscs Template:Taxonbar Template:Authority control