Eastern Oyster
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Scientific Name:
Crassostrea virginica Saltwater
Inshore
Native
Crustaceans
- Seasons and Regulations
- Licenses/Permits
Description
A bivalve mollusk with a hard calcium-carbonaceous shell. The two halves are attached by a natural hinge and protect the soft tissue inside. The shell can reach up to 8 inches in length. The shell is pale white to gray with rough ridges or bumps.
Range and Habitat
Found in sounds, bays, and estuaries from New Brunswick, Canada to the Gulf of America. After oyster larvae settle and attach to hard surfaces such as other oyster shells, concrete, or rock, they live the rest of their lives as sessile organisims, remaining in one place. Found in large groups called reefs in intertidal and subtidal zones. A true estuarine species, they tolerate a wide range of temperatures, salinities, and dissolved oxygen levels.
Behavior
Filter feeders, using their gills to strain food from the water. Feed mostly on plankton and decaying organic matter. Can filter up to 15 liters per hour. Changes in water temperature stimulate spawning. In the Gulf of America, spawn at or above 68°F, typically May to November. Release eggs and sperm into the water column; eggs are fertilized by chance. May spawn several times a season. Females release 10 to 20 million eggs per spawn and as many as 100 million eggs per spawning season.
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