Mytilidae: Mytilus planulatus Lamarck, 1819 (‘native blue mussel’)

Synonym(s): planulatus Lamarck, 1819.
Typical shell-length 100 mm. Shell is typically blue-black, but can be pale brown, especially when young. Lives intertidally amongst rocks and seaweed, usually in aggregations, especially on moderately exposed shores. Native. Endemic to southeastern and southwestern Australia (NSW, TAS, VIC, SA and WA). In Tasmanian waters, this species was widespread along open coasts but has largely now interbred with the very closely related introduced European blue mussel.