The Mytilidae Family includes 413 species comprising 13 subfamilies (Bathymodiolinae (9 genus), Mytilinae (7), Modiolinae (7), ...)
and 55 genus (Modiolus (40 species), Leiosolenus (35), Musculus (30), ...)

Phylum      : Mollusca
 Class       : Bivalvia 
  Subclass    : Autobranchia 
   Infraclass  : Pteriomorphia 
    Order       : Mytilida 
     Superfamily : Mytiloidea 
      Family      : Mytilidae

Common name : mussels

Aspect : smooth shell of more or less triangular shape, pearly white on the inside, bluish black on the outside with fine concentric streaks. Hinge without teeth. Presence of filaments for attachment to the substrate.

Feeding : filtration of phytoplankton and zooplankton

Environment : shallow wild benches or culture on bouchots

Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819 (Subfamily Mytilinae)