Perna viridis, known as the Asian green mussel, is an economically important mussel, a bivalve belonging to the family Mytilidae. It is harvested for food but is also known to harbor toxins and cause damage to submerged structures such as drainage pipes. It is native in the Asia-Pacific region but has been introduced in the Caribbean, and in the waters around Japan, North America, and South America.
Perna viridis ranges from 80 to 100 millimetres (3 to 4 in) in length and may occasionally reach 165 millimetres (6 in). Its shell ends in a downward-pointing beak. The smooth periostracum is dark green, becoming increasingly brownish towards its point of attachment (umbo), where it is lighter. Younger mussels are bright green and that becomes darker as it ages. The shell's interior has a pale-blue sheen.The mussel has a large mobile foot which it uses to climb vertically should it be covered by sediments. It also produces byssus to help it attach to its substrate.
Perna canaliculus and Perna perna are two similar species, native to the waters of New Zealand and Africa respectively.
The Asian green mussel is found in the coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific region. However the mussels are introduced to other areas as an invasive species via boat hulls and water ballasts.
The mussel inhabits estuarine habitats and is found in densities as high as 35,000 individuals per square meter on any submerged marine object. Although vivid green in appearance, the mussels are shrouded with overgrowth and are often hard to find. The mussels live in waters that are 11–32 °C (52–90 °F) with a wide-ranging salinity of about 18-33 ppt. P. viridis grows fastest at 2 metres (2 yards) below the surface, in high salinity and a high concentration of phytoplankton, although it can tolerate a range of salinity and turbid water.
The Asian green mussel has separate sexes and fertilizes externally. There are a very few functional hermaphrodites (<0.1%). The mussel's sexual development was shown to be affected by temperature. Spawning ordinarily occurs twice a year between early spring and late autumn; however, the mussels found in the Philippines and Thailand are known to spawn all year round.The zygote transforms to a larva 7–8 hours after fertilization. The larvae stay in the water column for 10–12 days before undergoing metamorphosis into a juvenile and settling onto a surface. The juveniles become sexually mature when they are 15–30 millimetres (1⁄2–1+1⁄4 in) in length, a size reached within 2–3 months. Growth is influenced by the availability of food, temperature, water movement, the mussel's age, and caging. Cage culturing can prevent entry of predators and barnacles increases marketability but slows down the mussel's growth rate. The adult can live to up 2–3 years. Due to its fast growth, it can outcompete other fouling organisms and cause changes in marine ecological relationships.
This mussel is a filter feeder that feeds on phytoplankton, zooplankton and suspended organic materials. They are eaten by fishes, crustaceans, seastars, octopuses and humans.
