The black-striped mussel, scientific name Mytilopsis sallei, is a small marine bivalve mollusc in the family Dreissenidae

Dreissenidae

The Dreissenidae are a family of small freshwater mussels, aquatic bivalve mollusks. They attach themselves to stones or to any other hard surface using a byssus.-Genera:Genera within the family Dreissenidae include:* Congeria...

, the false mussels.

It is closely related and ecologically similar to the zebra mussel

Zebra mussel

The zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, is a small freshwater mussel. This species was originally native to the lakes of southeast Russia being first described in 1769 by a German zoologist Peter Simon Pallas in the Ural, Volga and Dnieper rivers. They are still found nearby, as Pontic and Caspian...

, Dreissena polymorpha.

Distribution

The native range for this species is Central

Central America

Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...

 and South America

South America

South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

.

Like the zebra mussel, the black-striped mussel is a significant pest in many countries outside its original range.

Habitat

Mytilopsis is typically found in brackish water, unlike Dreissena, which inhabits fresh water. Mytilopsis can tolerate wide fluctuations in salinity as adults.

Nomenclature

Significant doubt exists regarding the specific name sallei for this mussel. It is more likely to be Mytilopsis adamsi Morrison, 1946 as reported by Marelli & Gray, 1985.