Choromytilus chorus

Choromytilus chorus, commonly known as the Choro mussel or Giant mussel, is a species of mussel, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Mytilidae.^[1]

Choromytilus chorus
A view of valves of Choromytilus chorus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Bivalvia
Order:	Mytilida
Family:	Mytilidae
Genus:	Choromytilus
Species:	C. chorus
Binomial name
Choromytilus chorus (Molina, 1782)
Synonyms
Mytilus albus Molina, 1782 Mytilus chorus Molina, 1782 Mytilus compressus Reeve, 1858 Mytilus latus Lamarck, 1819 Mytilus ungulatus Lamarck, 1819

Description

A particularly large species of mussel, shells of Choromytilus chorus can reach a length of 18 cm (7 inches) and a height of 9 cm (3.5 inches).,^[2] one specimen found in April 2024 weighed 816 grams.^[3]

Distribution

This species is present in Peru^[2] and in Chile.^[4][5][6]

References

1. WoRMS
2. Allan Hancock Pacific expeditions - Soot-Ryen – The family Mytilidae Vol. 20 (1955) p. 31
3. (in Italian) In Cile un sub trova una cozza gigante: pesa 816 grammi
4. Conchology
5. Sealife Base
6. Discover Life

• Huber, M. (2010). Compendium of bivalves. A full-color guide to 3,300 of the world’s marine bivalves. A status on Bivalvia after 250 years of research. Hackenheim: ConchBooks. 901 pp.
• Toro, B.; Navarro, J.M.; Palma-Fleming, H. (2003). Relationship between bioenergetics responses and organic pollutants in the giant mussel, Choromytilus chorus (Mollusca: Mytilidae) Aquat. Toxicol. 63(3): 257-269