# Blue mussel (*Mytilus edulis*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/mytilus-edulis  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) is a mollusc of the class Bivalvia, order Mytilida and family Mytilidae. Its scientific name was given by Linnaeus, 1758, and it is placed in the subfamily Mytilinae and genus Mytilus. The blue mussel lives in marine habitats and is a living, not extinct, species according to the Catalogue of Life. Other English names for it are bay mussel, common mussel, common blue mussel and edible blue mussel.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | marine |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Lifestyle | Marine |
| Conservation status | Not recorded |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Mollusca
- class: Bivalvia
- order: Mytilida
- family: Mytilidae
- genus: Mytilus
- species: *Mytilus edulis* Linnaeus, 1758

Synonyms: *Mytilus abbreviatus*, *Mytilus angulatus*, *Mytilus borealis*, *Mytilus edilis*, *Mytilus edulis*, *Mytilus edulis edulis*, *Mytilus edulis pusillus*, *Mytilus elegans*, *Mytilus grunerianus*, *Mytilus minganensis*, *Mytilus notatus*, *Mytilus notatus*, *Mytilus pellucidus*, *Mytilus petasunculinus*, *Mytilus retusus*, *Mytilus retusus var. acrocyrta*, *Mytilus solitarius*, *Mytilus spathulinus*, *Mytilus subsaxatilis*, *Mytilus trigonus*, *Mytilus ungulatus*, *Mytilus variabilis*, *Mytilus vulgaris*, *Perna ungulina*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the blue mussel?

The blue mussel is a mollusc. It belongs to the class Bivalvia, order Mytilida and family Mytilidae.

### What is the scientific name of the blue mussel?

The scientific name of the blue mussel is Mytilus edulis, in the genus Mytilus.

### Who named the blue mussel and when?

The blue mussel was named by Linnaeus, 1758.

### What habitat does the blue mussel live in?

The blue mussel lives in marine habitats.

### What are other names for the blue mussel?

Other English names for the blue mussel are bay mussel, common mussel, common blue mussel and edible blue mussel.

### Is the blue mussel extinct?

No, the blue mussel is a living species, not extinct, according to the Catalogue of Life.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Blue mussel (Mytilus edulis). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/mytilus-edulis