Black-Striped Mussel

 

Characteristics

The Black-striped Mussel is sheltered in a shell that is often brown, white or grey with black stripes running across it. Its shell stretches up to 2.5cm in length. Its size compared to humans is remarkably small; 2.5cm compared to an average 161.8 cm adult. It takes up to six full months to grow into an adult.

 

Diet 

Black-striped Mussel get their food by filtering water to consume microscopic food particles. Their diet also consists of algae and plankton. They are herbivores so they don't eat meat.

 

Predators

There are several marine predators that prey on Black-striped Mussels, but the exact species are not known. Humans are a big predator for Black-striped Mussels.

 

Behaviour

Black-striped Mussels reproduce when the male mussels release sperm directly into the water which then enters the female’s incurrent siphon, fertilising the eggs. They are ambi-sexual, meaning they change gender once in their lives. The mussels protect themselves by living in a firm shell that works as their defence against other organisms. They often travel in large groups rather than individually.

 

Distribution and Abundance

The Black-striped Mussel is native to South America, Atlantic Ocean, Central America, Guatemala, and United States but was introduced to Australia, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan by travelling on the bottoms of ships' anchors. In Australia they are found in Darwin Harbour and in tropical and sub-tropical waters. 

 

The abundance of this species is unknown but there is known to be a large population.

 

Habitat

Their habitats are often sheltered, inshore as well as on solid surfaces or in crevices. 

 

 

Impacts

Black-Striped Mussels cause major impacts on the environment and on other organisms because they are fast growing and can replace native species.

 

 

 

Management

Australia’s management of Black-striped Mussels hasn't been examined much because they  are viewed as a marine pest and also a pest to other marine animals. Australia manages them by closing the marine gates and chlorine is poured into the water to try and kill the mussels.