Home - Species of the Month Archive - February 2007.
Species of the Month February 2007
Common name: Pacific oyster
Latin name: Crassostrea gigas
A type of shellfish (Mollusca)
Key Features
- Frilly oval shell up to 18 cm long.
- Shell may have dark purple patches.
- Attached permanently to rocks/hard surfaces.
Where to look:
Found on the lower shore.
Origin:
The Pacific, to Portugal and then the UK. Deliberately introduced for human consumption.
Effects of warming sea:
Will become more widespread
Effects on the environment:
May form large beds, covering other animals.
More information:
Click here find out more about this species on the MarLIN website
