Gebogen traliemossel Ischadium recurvum (Rafinesque, 1820) leeft mogelijk al sinds 2012 in het Noordzeekanaal

The discovery and road to identification of a bivalve species new to the Netherlands is described. The species turned out to be the Bent mussel Ischadium recurvum (Rafinesque, 1820). Large specimen (> 45 mm) collected later in 2018 showed five to seven growth stops, suggesting introduction of the species had occurred before 2012. Most likely hulls of ships may have served as carriers for the specimens. Data on salinity of the Noordzeekanaal demonstrate a biotope suitable for the Bent mussel, which indeed currently seems to spread rapidly there.