# European Flat Oyster (*ostrea edulis*) The European Flat Oyster is a fascinating sea creature that lives in the ocean. These oysters can create beautiful pearls and are often found in sandy or muddy seabeds! - **Category:** [Invertebrate](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/invertebrate) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Coastal waters and shallow sea beds in Europe. - **Also known as:** common oyster, edible oyster, flat oyster ![European Flat Oyster](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ostrea_edulis.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jan Johan ter Poorten, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ostrea_edulis.jpg) ## Appearance The European Flat Oyster has a distinctive flattened, round-to-oval shell, typically rough and often grey, green, or brown, sometimes with purple flecks. Its lower valve is flat, while the upper one is slightly cupped and irregular, differentiating it from cupped oysters. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Mollusca - **Class:** Bivalvia - **Order:** Ostreida - **Family:** Ostreidae - **Genus:** Ostrea ## Interesting facts - Ancient Romans loved eating European Flat Oysters, bringing them from afar for feasts! - Each oyster has a powerful muscle to keep its shell tightly closed, protecting itself! - Oysters breathe underwater by extracting oxygen directly from the water using their gills! - They don't make the famous round pearls, but can create tiny, irregular ones! ## Special abilities - **Water Purifier:** European Flat Oyster can filter many liters of water daily because they feed by drawing water through their gills, cleaning the environment. - **Gender Bender:** European Flat Oyster has the ability to change its sex from male to female and back again, which helps them reproduce successfully. - **Self-Cementer:** European Flat Oyster can permanently attach to hard surfaces like rocks or other shells using a natural cement, anchoring them securely. - **Reef Builder:** European Flat Oyster can form dense aggregations over time, creating living oyster reefs that provide homes for other marine life. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 8 cm - **Weight:** 75 g - **Lifespan:** 20 years ## Diet & Feeding They slurp up tiny algae and other bits suspended in the water, helping keep it clean. - **Primary Foods:** Phytoplankton, Microalgae, Detritus, Suspended organic matter - **Foraging Method:** Filter feeding ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Common Starfish (*Asterias rubens*) — Starfish can pry open and eat oysters. - **Eaten by:** Green Crab (*Carcinus maenas*) — Crabs use strong claws to crush or open shells. - **Eats:** Harmful Algae (*Alexandrium catenella*) — Oysters filter and consume these microscopic algae. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Invertebrates](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/invertebrates) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify European Flat Oyster? Compare the overall shape, opening, spiral, ribs, hinge and surface sculpture. Beach shells often lose the colors and sharp edges they had on the living animal, so shape does most of the work. Seashell Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is European Flat Oyster? 8 cm ### How much does European Flat Oyster weigh? 75 g ### How long does European Flat Oyster live? 20 years ### What does European Flat Oyster eat? They slurp up tiny algae and other bits suspended in the water, helping keep it clean. ### Where is European Flat Oyster usually found? Coastal waters and shallow sea beds in Europe. ### How does European Flat Oyster hunt? Filter feeding ## Where to spot - [Chestnut Street District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chestnut-street-district) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District - [Fort Revere Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-revere-park) — US · State Park - [Zoo am Meer](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-am-meer) — Bremen, DE · Zoo - [Spectacle Island](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/spectacle-island) — Massachusetts, US · Natural Landmark [View all places to see European Flat Oyster](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/european-flat-oyster) ## More Invertebrate - [Coral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coral) - [Crab Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crab-spider) (*Mecaphesa asperata*) - [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Araneus diadematus*) - [Brown Recluse Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-recluse-spider) (*Loxosceles reclusa*) --- Source: [European Flat Oyster: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-flat-oyster)