Eastern Oyster

Crassostrea Virginica

 

http://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/fishfacts/image/eastern_oysters.jpg

 

• Distinguishing characteristics:

 

In the Wild

• Habitat:  Brackish and salty waters commonly on oyster reefs.
• Diet:  Plankton via water filtration.
• Predators:  Parasites MSX and Dermo.  Blue crabs, Atlantic oyster drill, American oystercatcher, veined rapa whelk
• Size:  Up to 8 inches
• Breeding:  Spawn in early summer and females can release 100 million eggs.

 

 

In the Aquatics Lab

• Diet:
• Size:
• Quantity:

 

 

Other information

• Virginia Regulations:  Oysters have to be 3 inches long to be kept.  There are also lots of regulations about when and where they can be caught.
• Commercial Uses:  Oysters are harvested and sold for human consumption.