---
title: "Blue Mussel"
description: "Mytilus edulis — Altri animali. The blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), also known as the common mussel, is a medium-sized edible marine bivalve mollusc in the family Mytilidae, the only extant family in the order Mytilida, known as \"true mussels\"."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/it/animal/blue-mussel
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Blue Mussel

> Mytilus edulis — Altri animali. The blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), also known as the common mussel, is a medium-sized edible marine bivalve mollusc in the family Mytilidae, the only extant family in the order Mytilida, known as "true mussels".

- Scientific name: *Mytilus edulis*
- Category: `other` (Altri animali)
- Habitats: `sea` (Mare e costa)
- iNaturalist observations: 14185
- Wikidata: [Q27855](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q27855)
- iNaturalist taxon: [117650](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/117650)

## Names

- en: Blue Mussel
- de: Gemeine Miesmuschel
- es: Mejillón azul del Atlántico Norte
- fr: Moule commune
- nl: Mossel
- pt: Mexilhão
- pl: Omułek jadalny

## Countries with the most observations

US (4179), GB (1377), CA (798), DK (727), DE (491), NO (293), IE (268), NL (250), FR (163), SE (88), BE (82), RU (76)

## Summary

The blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), also known as the common mussel, is a medium-sized edible marine bivalve mollusc in the family Mytilidae, the only extant family in the order Mytilida, known as "true mussels". Blue mussels are subject to commercial use and intensive aquaculture. A species with a large range, the blue mussel leaves empty shells that are commonly found on beaches around the world.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_mussel

## Photo

![Blue Mussel](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/blue-mussel/medium.jpg)

Photo: dinomariobob · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/314839443

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/blue-mussel?lang=it` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).