Mytilus edulis Linnaeus, 1758 Blue Mussel

    Single valve only - Intertidal among debris, Vilano Beach, St. Johns County, Florida 3/12/2008 (52.7 mm.). This is the second single valve of this species that has been found at this location thus far during 2008. Abbott (1974) lists the range of the Blue Mussel from the Arctic Ocean to South Carolina and on the west coast of the U. S. from Alaska to California. This species was first recorded from northeast Florida in October, 1986 when a few  live specimen attached to driftwood was found washed ashore on Jacksonville Beach. The specimens cited above obviously reached northeast Florida by adventitious means. It is quite doubtful this vagrant species could survive summer here.