Black striped false mussel

Scientific name

Mytilopsis sallei

Key features

Key features of Black striped false mussel include:

• shells unequal in size - one side overlaps the other
• small and easily crushed
• shell sometimes has zig-zagged or striped pattern
• forms dense clusters
• grows up to 2.5cm long.

Habitat

The Black striped false mussel:

• shallow waters to a few metres deep
• estuaries to open marine waters
• attaches to hard surfaces like vessels, wharves, aquaculture equipment, buoys, intake pipes etc.

Impacts

The Black striped false mussel:

• fast-growing, displaces native species
• causes major fouling of wharf pylons, marinas, vessel water intakes, aquaculture equipment etc.

Known established populations

The Black striped false mussel is currently not present in Victoria.