Species profile
Atlantic Ribbed Mussel
Geukensia demissa
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
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.