Mytilidae: Gregariella barbata (Reeve, 1858) (‘hairy mussel’)

Synonym(s): barbata Reeve, 1858.

Typical shell-length 9.0 mm. Periostracum is persistent and bears long, coarse bristles towards anterior and lateral margins. Lives subtidally in mud. Native. Occurs in southeastern Australia (NSW, TAS and VIC); also elsewhere in the western Pacific Ocean and Japan. In Tasmanian waters, this is a widespread and common species.