Perna viridis
| Asian green mussel | |
|---|---|
| Perna viridis showing the byssus, the downward-pointing beak, and the dark green color that becomes brownish towards the umbo | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Order: | Mytilida |
| Family: | Mytilidae |
| Genus: | Perna |
| Species: | P. viridis |
| Binomial name | |
| Perna viridis | |
| Synonyms | |
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Perna viridis, known as the Asian green mussel, is an economically important species of mussel, a bivalve belonging to the family Mytilidae, or the "true mussels". It is harvested for food but is also known to harbor toxins and cause damage to submerged structures such as drainage pipes. It is native in the Asia-Pacific region but has been introduced in the Caribbean, and in the waters around Japan, North America, and South America.