Higher Classification: > Kingdom Animalia > Subkingdom Eumetazoa > Phylum Mollusca > Class Bivalvia > Subclass Autobranchia > Infraclass Pteriomorphia > Order Mytilida > Superfamily Mytiloidea > Family Mytilidae > Subfamily Brachidontinae > Genus Brachidontes

Brachidontes variabilis (Krauss, 1848)

Rank: Species
Taxon Status: accepted

Relationships towards this taxon

Genus group names

*Brachidontes*	Swainson, 1840	accepted genus name
*Brachydontes*	[sic]	orthographic variant
*Mytilus (Brachidontes)*	Swainson, 1840	synonym

Species group names

*Mytilus variabilis var. semistriata*	Krauss, 1848	junior homonym
*Mytilus variabilis striata*	[sic]	orthographic variant
*Mytilus variabilis*	Krauss, 1848	synonym

Vernaculars (+) (-)

English: variable mussel

Literature

basis of record	Taylor, J. D. (1971). Intertidal Zonation at Aldabra Atoll. Phil. Trns. Roy. Soc. Lond. B. 260:173-213.
additional source	Tan, S. H. M.; Wells, F. E.; Lukehurst, S. S.; Strong, E. E.; Sanpanich, K.; Duangdee, T.; Ambarwati, R.; Tan, K. S. (2024). Unravelling the Brachidontes variabilis species complex (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) of the Indo-Pacific region. Journal of Molluscan Studies. 90(4): Published online 5 November.
additional source	Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). Checklist of marine biota of China seas. China Science Press. 1267 pp.
taxonomy source	Sirna Terranova M., Lo Brutto S., Arculeo M. & Mitton J.B. 2007. A mitochondrial phylogeography of Brachidontes variabilis (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) reveals three cryptic species. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, 45(4): 289–298.

Genbank

Citation

MolluscaBase eds. (2025). MolluscaBase. Brachidontes variabilis (Krauss, 1848). Via: Costello, M.J.; Bouchet, P.; Boxshall, G.; Arvantidis, C.; Appeltans, W. (2011) European Register of Marine Species, Accessed through PESI at http://www.eu-nomen.eu/portal/taxon.php?GUID=urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:216616