Common Name:
American oyster
Scientific Name:
Crassostrea virginica
Unique Qualities:
It likes to stay put! An oyster can only move in its early stages of life. Once it attaches itself on a suitable spot it can't move. One oyster can produce up to 100 million eggs at one time when it reproduces!
Can be Seen:
Around New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and the South Atlantic coast.
Likes to Hang Out:
Attached to rocks or any hard surface along the coastline.
Likes to Eat:
Plankton (microscopic plants and animals that float in the water).
Status:
There has been a long term decline in American oysters probably caused by over harvesting and pollution. However, they do not have a conservation listing.