Southwest Florida Shells

by José H. Leal

Family Mytilidae

Modiolus americanus

(Leach, 1815)

American Horse Mussel

Shell size to 100 mm; shell mussel-shaped, trigonal. Sculpture of fine growth lines. Umbones swollen, not terminal (away from end of shell). No hinge teeth. Periostracum heavy, sometimes hair-like. Color light-brown with blush of rose (concentrated on umbones) and purple streaks.