Mytilus Temporal range:
| |
---|---|
Mytilus edulis in the intertidal zone in Cornwall, England | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
Subclass: | Pteriomorphia
|
Order: | Mytiloida
|
Family: | Mytilidae
|
Genus: | Mytilus Linnaeus, 1798
|
Mytilus is a common genus of medium to large-sized marine mussels. They are bivalve molluscs of the family Mytilidae.[1] Mussels are edible, and are used in various stews and soups. In life, they are attached to the substrate (rocks etc) by byssus threads.
Species within the genus Mytilus include:
Mytilus mussels are widely used as food. In California they were eaten by coastal Native American people for almost 12,000 years.[2]