Perna virdis (Linnaeus, 1758) Asian Green Mussel

Perna viridis (Linnaeus, 1758) Asian Green Mussel

   During early 2003, Dr. W. Henry McCullagh found a moderate number of living adult Perna viridis (Linnaeus, 1758) stranded along with benthic green algae, to which the mytilids were attached, at Crescent Beach, St. Johns Co., Florida.  The illustrated specimen, from that lot, measures about 74 mm.  Subsequently during the third week or March, an additional stranding of live specimens was discovered by Ms. Betty DeMarco on Atlantic Beach, Duval Co., Florida - some 50 miles north of the initial discovery by Dr. McCullagh. This strongly suggests the species is well established in northeast Florida.