European Flat Oyster, Edible Oyster, Common Oyster – Ostrea edulis

, European Flat Oyster, Edible Oyster, Common Oyster - Ostrea edulis, Ostrea edulis
Depth: 125 - 500 m

Afghanistan, Alaska, Algeria, Andaman and Nicobar, Angola, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Arctic, Argentina, Ascension Island, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores Islands, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Islands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Cocos Islands, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Corsica Island, Crete Island, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, El Salvador, England, Equatorial Guinea, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, Galapagos Islands, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macedonia, Madagascar, Madeira Islands, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, North Korea, Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Saint Martin, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sardinia Island, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Sicily Island, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uruguay, US Minor Islands, USA, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wales, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Amvrakikos Gulf, Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Aral Sea, Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Barents Sea, Bay of Bengal, Bay of Biscay, Beaufort Sea, Bering Sea, Black Sea, Bohai Sea, Cantabrian Sea, Celtic Sea, Chukchi Sea, Coral Sea, Dead Sea, English Channel, German Bight, Great Barrier Reef, Greenland Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Fonseca, Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Halmahera Sea, Iberian Sea, Indian Ocean, Java Sea, Korinthiakos Gulf, Labrador Sea, Levantine Sea, Lingayan Gulf, Mediterranean Sea, Moro Gulf, Okhotsk Sea, Pacific Ocean, Pagassitikos Gulf, Salish Sea, Saronikos Gulf, Scotia Sea, Sea of Azov, Sea of Marmara, Siberian Sea, South China Sea, Southern Ocean, Thermaikos Gulf, Yellow Sea

The European Flat Oyster, Edible Oyster, Common Oyster (Ostrea edulis) is a bivalve mollusc that is widely distributed in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. This species has been a significant part of human diets for centuries and plays an important role in coastal ecosystems.

Description & Characteristics

The Ostrea edulis is a flat, irregularly shaped oyster, often with a rough and textured shell. Its upper shell, or valve, is generally smaller and flatter than the lower valve. This species can reach a maximum size of around 15 cm in length and 10 cm in width, although the average size is usually smaller. The color of the shell can vary from white to gray to brown, depending on the environment and the age of the oyster. The inside of the shell is typically pearly white and smooth.

Habitat and Occurrence

The European Flat Oyster, Edible Oyster, Common Oyster (Ostrea edulis) prefers to live in intertidal and subtidal zones with a firm substrate like rock, gravel, or shells. It is most commonly found in salinities between 20 and 35 ppt, and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures. The optimal growth range for this species is between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. This oyster typically inhabits the Neritic zone, which is the shallow water zone extending from the shoreline to the edge of the continental shelf. The species is particularly common in the North Sea, the English Channel, and the Atlantic coast of France.

Taxonomy

The species Ostrea edulis belongs to the Class: Bivalvia, Order: Ostreida, and Family: Ostreidae. This classification places it among a diverse group of marine molluscs that have two shells, commonly known as clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops. The Ostreida order is specifically characterized by the oyster’s ability to attach to surfaces and its unique shell shape.

Feeding

The European Flat Oyster, Edible Oyster, Common Oyster (Ostrea edulis) is a filter feeder, meaning it obtains its food by filtering water. It feeds on plankton, which are microscopic organisms that drift in the water column. Ostrea edulis draws water in through its gills, where tiny particles of food are captured and directed to its mouth. The water is then expelled through a different opening. This feeding strategy makes the Ostrea edulis a crucial part of its ecosystem by helping to filter and clarify the water column.

Associated Species

Image References

Leave a Comment