Species profile
Atlantic Ribbed Mussel
Geukensia demissa
Identify Atlantic Ribbed Mussel (Geukensia demissa) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 1 jurisdiction.
At a glance
Atlantic Ribbed Mussel (Geukensia demissa) is a bivalve mollusk with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 6,436 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Survives exposed on marsh flats for many hours during low tide by sealing its shell tightly shut.
- Lives half-buried in salt marsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) beds along the Atlantic coast.
- Can grow to about 10 cm (4 inches) and live more than 15 years.
- A filter feeder that removes bacteria and suspended particles from the surrounding water.
- Their waste products fertilize Spartina grass with nitrogen, measurably boosting marsh productivity.
Where Atlantic Ribbed Mussel are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Atlantic Ribbed Mussel
Background
Geukensia demissa is a species of mussel, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Mytilidae, the true mussels. This species is native to the Atlantic coast of North America. The common names for this species include ribbed mussel, Atlantic ribbed marsh mussel and ribbed horsemussel. However, the common name ribbed mussel is also used for the Southern Hemisphere mussel Aulacomya atra. The…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Atlantic Ribbed Mussel article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other clams/oysters/mussels on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Atlantic Ribbed Mussel?
Atlantic Ribbed Mussel (Geukensia demissa) is a bivalve mollusk with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
What is the scientific name for Atlantic Ribbed Mussel?
Atlantic Ribbed Mussel is Geukensia demissa.
Is Atlantic Ribbed Mussel regulated for fishing?
Yes — Atlantic Ribbed Mussel has fishing regulations in 1 U.S. state and/or Canadian province tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Atlantic Ribbed Mussel?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Atlantic Ribbed Mussel along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.