Trichomya

Hairy mussel
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Bivalvia
Order:	Mytilida
Family:	Mytilidae
Genus:	Trichomya ; Ihering, 1900
Species:	T. hirsuta
Binomial name
	Trichomya hirsuta; (Lamarck, 1819)
Synonyms
	Mytilus hirsuta Lamarck, 1819

Last updated March 04, 2021

Trichomya is a monotypic genus of marine bivalve molluscs in the family Mytilidae, the mussels. The only species is Trichomya hirsuta which is endemic to southern and eastern Australia. Its common names include the hairy mussel, the greenling and the kelp greenling.

Description

The hairy mussel grows to a length of about 55 millimetres (2.2 in). The lower valve of the shell has a dense covering of short hairs.^[3]

Distribution and habitat

The hairy mussel is found around the coasts of Tasmania and southern and eastern Australia as far north as Cairns. It lives on exposed reefs and among rocks and seaweed in the intertidal and subtidal zone, attaching itself to hard surfaces using its byssus threads.^[4] It is an important constituent of the seabed fauna where it forms dense beds of tangled material providing a habitat for other species.^[5]

Research

The hairy mussel is a major part of the megafauna of Lake Macquarie, in New South Wales, Australia. Its dense growth tends to block condenser pipes and encrusts other submerged structures. It is tolerant of low oxygen levels in the water and its temperature tolerance range has been researched in connection with using the waters of the lake for cooling power stations. It was found to be much less tolerant to changes of water temperature than the mussel Mytilus edulis and the clam Mya arenaria .^[5]

Bivalve molluscs tend to accumulate in their tissues any pollutants found in the surrounding waters and can be used as bioindicators. In a study of nine different species of mollusc found in tropical marine waters, it was concluded that the hairy mussel was the most suitable to monitor pollution.^[6] It reflected in its tissues the level of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Co, Ni, and Ag) in its environment and there was a linear relationship between the sedimentary levels and the tissue concentration of all the metals except zinc.^[6]

Related Research Articles

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Lithophaga, the date mussels, are a genus of medium-sized marine bivalve molluscs in the family Mytilidae. Some of the earliest fossil Lithophaga shells have been found in Mesozoic rocks from the Alps and from Vancouver Island.

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Perna perna, the brown mussel, is an economically important mussel, a bivalve mollusc belonging to the family Mytilidae. It is harvested as a food source but is also known to harbor toxins and cause damage to marine structures. It is native to the waters of Africa, Europe, and South America and was introduced in the waters of North America.

<i>Mytilus</i> (bivalve) Genus of bivalves

Mytilus is a cosmopolitan genus of medium to large-sized edible, mainly saltwater mussels, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Mytilidae.

Modiolus, the horsemussels, are a genus of medium-sized marine bivalve molluscs in the family Mytilidae.

The Mediterranean mussel is a species of bivalve, a marine mollusc in the family Mytilidae. It is an invasive species in many parts of the world, and also an object of aquaculture.

Perna is a genus of mussels, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Mytilidae.

Bathymodiolus thermophilus is a species of large, deep water mussel, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Mytilidae, the true mussels. The species was discovered at abyssal depths when submersible vehicles such as DSV Alvin began exploring the deep ocean. It occurs on the sea bed, often in great numbers, close to hydrothermal vents where hot, sulphur-rich water wells up through the floor of the Pacific Ocean.

Mytilus coruscus, common name the Korean mussel or the hard-shelled mussel, is a species of mussel, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Mytilidae. This species is heavily exploited as a food item via mariculture in Korea and in China.

Modiolus albicostus is a species of "horse mussel", a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Mytilidae, the mussels.

Neotrigonia margaritacea, common name the pearly brooch-shell, is a species of saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Trigoniidae. This species is known from sandy substrates in shallow seas in southeastern and southwestern Australia. This species was the first member of the family to be discovered alive; previous to its discovery, trigoniids were only known from fossils.

Mytella is a genus of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Mytilidae, the mussels.

Mytella guyanensis is a species of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Mytilidae, the mussels.

Choromytilus is a genus of mussel, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Mytilidae.

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Modiolus americanus, or the bearded horse-mussel a species of bivalve mollusc in the family Mytilidae. It is found in New Zealand. Its shell typically is 90 millimetres (3.5 in).

<i>Adipicola pelagica</i> Species of bivalve

Adipicola pelagica is a species of saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Mytilidae, the mussels. It is a deepwater species and is found attached to the bones and tissues of whales that have died and sunk to the seabed, and sometimes to fragments of decomposing carcases which have sloughed off and floated to the surface.

Septifer is a genus of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Mytilidae, the mussels.

References

↑ Tran, Bastien (2010). "Trichomya Ihering, 1900". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 2012-05-21.
1 2 Huber, Markus (2010). "Trichomya hirsuta (Lamarck, 1819)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 2012-05-21.
↑ Hairy mussel: Trichomya hirsuta NSW Government: Fishing and Aquaculture. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
↑ Mytilidae: Trichomya hirsuta (Lamarck, 1819) ('hairy mussel') Molluscs of Tasmania. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
1 2 Wallis, R. L. (1977). "Some aspects of the thermal tolerance of Trichomya hirsuta (Mollusca: Bivalvia) of Eastern Australia". Marine Biology. 43 (3): 217–223. doi:10.1007/BF00402314.
1 2 Klumpp, D. W.; Burdon-Jones, C. (1982). "Investigations of the potential of bivalve molluscs as indicators of heavy metal levels in tropical marine waters". Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research. 32 (2): 285–300. doi:10.1071/MF9820285.

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[1] Tran, Bastien (2010). "Trichomya Ihering, 1900". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 2012-05-21.

[WoRMS-2] 1 2 Huber, Markus (2010). "Trichomya hirsuta (Lamarck, 1819)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 2012-05-21.

[3] Hairy mussel: Trichomya hirsuta NSW Government: Fishing and Aquaculture. Retrieved 2012-05-21.

[4] Mytilidae: Trichomya hirsuta (Lamarck, 1819) ('hairy mussel') Molluscs of Tasmania. Retrieved 2012-05-21.

[Wallis-5] 1 2 Wallis, R. L. (1977). "Some aspects of the thermal tolerance of Trichomya hirsuta (Mollusca: Bivalvia) of Eastern Australia". Marine Biology. 43 (3): 217–223. doi:10.1007/BF00402314.

[Klumpp-6] 1 2 Klumpp, D. W.; Burdon-Jones, C. (1982). "Investigations of the potential of bivalve molluscs as indicators of heavy metal levels in tropical marine waters". Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research. 32 (2): 285–300. doi:10.1071/MF9820285.

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