Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Ostreidae
Order: Ostreoida
Oysters attach themselves to hard substratum or else they rest on the sea bottom. They are sessile but sometimes can be removed by predators or strong waves.
Oysters filter feed on microoranisms that are brought into the shell with the current. The food is sorted out by the labial palps before reaching the mouth.
* The Generalized Anatomy of an Oyster
"Enclosed within a thick sturdy shell, the soft body of an oyster is adapted for filtering minute planktonic organisms from the surrounding water. The gills filter and collect food that the stomach ten digests. The mantle is a thin membrane that covers the body and lines the inside of the shell. The adductor muscles and the hinge between the two halves of the external shell help keep the shell closed." (1)
(1) "Generalized anatomy of an oyster," Microsoft Encarta 96 Encyclopedia. 1993-1995 Microsoft Co.
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