Gulf+Oysters


 * __Common Name: __** Gulf Oyster [[image:oysterbed.jpg width="186" height="176" align="right"]]

**__Phyla: __** Molluska

**__Class:__** Pelecypoda

**__Scientific Name:__** //Crassostrea virginica//

**__Location:__** Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of North America

**__Size:__** Anywhere between 25mm and 75mm in length.

**__Habitat:__** Typically found in estuaries, sounds, bays, and tidal creeks from brackish water to full strength seawater. They're tolerant organisms and able to withstand wide variations in temperature, salinity, and concentrations of suspended sediments and dissolved oxygen. Oysters occur mostly in subtidal areas.

**__Life Cycle:__** Adult oysters begin reproduction when water temperatures become greater than 68F. Oysters release eggs and sperm into the water column. A fertilized egg develops into a planktonic larva in about 6 hours. A fully shelled larva is formed within 12 to 24 hours. The larva remains planktonic for about three weeks. Towards the end of this period it develops a foot and settles to the bottom of the water column where it seeks a hard substrate. When a suitable surface (ideally adult oyster shell) is located, the larva cements itself and metamorphoses to the adult form. A newly attached oyster is known as a "spat."

__**Male and Female Differences:** __ There is no way of telling male oysters from females by examining their shells. While oysters have separate sexes, they may change sex one or more times during their life span.

**__Human Impact:__** For starters, we eat oysters. Oysters are a bi-valve, filter-feeding animal. Water quality is a constant concern in areas where commercial oyster harvesting takes place. Harvester boat conditions and compliance is tightly regulated so as to reduce the chances of a contaminated product reaching the consumer.

**__Facts:__**
 * An oyster produces a pearl when a foreign object gets caught in the shell. The oyster responds to irritation and produces nacre that coats the foreign object making it into a pearl.
 * Oysters breathe like fish, withgills and a mantle.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Zookeeper: Kenzie Davidson **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">**__References:__** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">__ [] __ __<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">[] __ [|www.globalgourmet.com/food/egg/egg0298/oyfacts.html]