Mytilopsis africana

Mytilopsis africana
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Bivalvia
Order:	Myida
Superfamily:	Dreissenoidea
Family:	Dreissenidae
Genus:	Mytilopsis
Species:	M. africana
Binomial name
Mytilopsis africana (van Beneden, 1835)
Synonyms [2]
Dreissena africanavan Beneden, 1835

Mytilopsis africana is a species of bivalve mollusc in the false mussel family, Dreissenidae. It is widespread along the brackish water environments of coastal West and Central Africa. ^[1] It may represent a lineage of Mytilopsis sallei , a Caribbean species, that invaded the western coast of Africa during the period of slave trade. ^{[3] [4]}

Habitat

Mytilopsis africana is a brackish water species that is widespread along lagoons, mangroves, and associated habitats. It grows attached to hard surfaces such as rocks, shells, and branches. ^[1]

References

1. Van Damme, D. (2020). "Mytilopsis africana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020 e.T184686A158395483. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T184686A158395483.en . Retrieved 8 November 2021.
2. Bieler R, Bouchet P, Gofas S, Marshall B, Rosenberg G, La Perna R, Neubauer TA, Sartori AF, Schneider S, Vos C, ter Poorten JJ, Taylor J, Dijkstra H, Finn J, Bank R, Neubert E, Moretzsohn F, Faber M, Houart R, Picton B, Garcia-Alvarez O, eds. (2021). "Mytilopsis africana (Van Beneden, 1835)". MolluscaBase. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 8 November 2021.
3. Fernandes, Maurício R.; Salgueiro, Fabiano; Miyahira, Igor C.; Caetano, Carlos Henrique S. (2018). "mtDNA analysis of Mytilopsis (Bivalvia, Dreissenidae) invasion in Brazil reveals the existence of two species". Hydrobiologia. 817 (1): 97–110. doi:10.1007/s10750-018-3602-3.
4. Tan, Koh Siang; Tay, Teresa (2018). "The invasive Caribbean Mytilopsis sallei (Bivalvia: Dreissenidae): A short review". ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development. 35 (1–2): 133–139. doi: 10.29037/ajstd.483 .