Limnoperna fortunei, the golden mussel, is a medium-sized freshwater bivalve mollusc of the family Mytilidae. The native range of the species is China, but it has been introduced accidentally to several East Asian countries and South America, as well as the U.S. state of California, where it has become an invasive species. It is considered to be an ecosystem engineer because it alters the nature of the water and the bottom habitats of lakes and rivers and modifies the associated invertebrate communities.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Golden Mussel being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Xenostrobus securis
- Mytilopsis leucophaeata
- Mytella strigata
- Dreissena polymorpha
- Mytilaster lineatus
- Arcuatula senhousia
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Mollusca
- Class
- Bivalvia
- Order
- Mytilida
- Family
- Modiolidae
- Genus
- Limnoperna
- Species
- Limnoperna fortunei
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