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National Invasive Species Information Center
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Home / Aquatic Invasives / Aquatic Invertebrates / Golden Mussel

Golden Mussel

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Golden mussel
Golden mussel - Photo by Gustavo A. Darrigran; Professor of National University of La Plata, Argentina
Scientific Name: 

Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857) (CABI)

Common Name: 

Golden mussel

Native To: 

China and Southeastern Asia

Date of U.S. Introduction: 

Not introduced

Means of Introduction: 

Has invaded South America through ballast water, and could be introduced to North America through ballast water (Global Invasive Species Database 2005)

Impact: 

Threatens native biodiversity, suffocate and starve out native bivalves and produce macrofouling in water systems (Global Invasive Species Database 2005)

Current U.S. Distribution: 
Not currently established

Images

Google Images - Golden Mussel
Google.

Selected Resources

The section below contains highly relevant resources for this species, organized by source. Or, to display all related content view all resources for Golden Mussel.

Council or Task Force
Fact Sheet: Golden Mussel (Feb 2018) (PDF | 1.5 MB)
Alberta Invasive Species Council (Canada).
See also: Fact Sheets for more information about individual invasive species, including those listed as "Prohibited Noxious" and "Noxious" under the Alberta Weed Control Act
Partnership
GLANSIS - Golden Mussel
DOC. NOAA. Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory; DOI. USGS. Wetland and Aquatic Research Center.
Global Invasive Species Database - Limnoperna fortunei (mollusc)
World Conservation Union. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Invaders Factsheet: Golden Mussel
Ontario's Invading Species Awareness Program (Canada).
Invasive Species Compendium - Limnoperna fortunei
CAB International.
Federal Government
Golden Mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) Ecological Risk Screening Summary (Jul 2014) (PDF | 321 KB)

DOI. Fish and Wildlife Service.

See also: Ecological Risk Screening Summaries for more species summaries

State and Local Government
Michigan Invasive Species - Golden Mussel
Michigan.gov.
Academic
Invasive Clams, Mussels, Snails, etc. - Golden Mussel

University of California. Agriculture and Natural Resources. California Aquatic Invasive Species.

Invasive Species Guide - Golden Mussel
University of Wisconsin Sea Grant.
Professional
Golden Mussel
Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council (Michigan).

Citations

  • CABI. Invasive Species Compendium. Limnoperna fortunei. CAB International. [Accessed Mar 5, 2015].

  • Global Invasive Species Database. 2005. Limnoperna fortunei (mollusc). Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission.