False Mussel
(Mytilopsis leucophaeata)

These small dark-colored striped mussels reach about 1/2" (12 mm) in length. They have a small internal shelf at the beaks which helps distinguish them from zebra mussels. False mussels can be abundant on rocks in brackish water. They are native in the southern United States and have spread to New England via ballast water or ship fouling. They are now found from Boston to the Hudson River.

Return to Invasive Species