Oyster Unique

Animals Unique | Oyster Unique | The oyster is a sessile (Immobile) That is commonly found mollusc clinging onto shipwrecks, debris and harbor walls around the world. Oysters are bivalve molluscs That meaning They are closely related to other animals Such as scallops, clams and mussels.

 

Oysters are found in salt water environments all around the world but are more commonly found in more temperate regions where the shallows are Richer in Nutrients. Oysters are thought to be Among the oldest animals on the planet although exact evolutionary path Their Remains unclear .As with other molluscs, oysters filter water in and out of Their protective shells so vulnerable 

 

 

That Their bodies inside are never put in danger. The hard shell of the oyster is primarily made up from calcium.Despite there being Numerous different species of oyster, oysters are split up into four Generally distinct groups, the which are true oysters (the ones eaten by Humans), pearl oysters (pearls Produce), Thorny oysters (also known as spiny oysters) and saddle oysters (have very thin shells). Oysters are filter-feeders, so collect Their Nutrients by taking in water and Their gills filter and collect food Digests That the stomach then, dispersing the remaining water out of it's shell. 

 

 

Oysters are thought to be Able to process up to 10 litres of water an hour so can Vary in quality depending on the quality of the water.Due to Their small size and the fact That They Do not move once They are adults, oysters are preyed upon by Numerous different predators both in the sea and on the land. Humans, birds, marine Mammals, sea turtles and Various species of fish all prey upon the oyster.Oysters have varying methods of reproduction. as some oyster species are hermaphrodites and some have separate sexes. Millions of female oysters release eggs into the water, where fertilization Occurs externally. 

 

 

The oyster larvae develop within a matter of hours, and spend Their first few weeks swimming around until They finally settle and attach Themselves to objects, where They REMAIN for the rest of Their lives.Today, although now commercially farmed, wild oysters are Becoming rarer Mainly due to Increasing levels of pollution. Although many oysters have adapted to life in poor water quality, They are not as healthy as Those That oysters are filtering water That is chemical-free.

Oyster Unique Facts
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: bivalves
Order: Ostreoida
Family: Ostreidae
Common Name: Oyster
Scientific Name: Ostreidae
Found: Worldwide
Diet: omnivore
Size (L): 3cm - 15cm (1.2in - 6in)
Weight: 50g - 200g (1.7oz - 7oz)
Number of Species: 150
Average Lifespan: 1-3 years
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Colour: Black. Brown, Yellow, Tan, Silver, White
Skin Type: Shell
Favourite Food: Plankton
Habitat: Reefs and rocky shores
Average Litter Size: 1,000,000
Main Prey: Plankton and Nutrients in Water
Predators: Fish, Birds, Humans
Distinctive Features: Filter water through Their hard shell