Species profile
Atlantic Ribbed Mussel
Geukensia demissa
Identify Atlantic Ribbed Mussel (Geukensia demissa) from a photo: try it free in your browser, or get unlimited IDs, no sign-up, with the CatchRules app.
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
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.
Are there fishing rules for Atlantic Ribbed Mussel?
Atlantic Ribbed Mussel does not currently have published fishing rules in CatchRules' curated jurisdictions. Identification, range, and habitat are still tracked above.
How can I identify Atlantic Ribbed Mussel?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules app for iPhone or Android — 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.