Ostrea lurida

The Olympia Oyster

Phylum Mollusca
Class Bivalvia
Order Pterioida
Family Ostreidae
Genus Ostrea
Species lurida

Description: 6 to 8 cm long, 4 to 6 cm wide; whitish-gray, sometimes with dark splotches; valves are usually irregular and oval; upper valve flattened, usually same size as lower valve.

Habitat: Found growing on docks, pilings, floats, rocks and on other oyster shells near low-tide in quiet bays and estuaries.

Natural History: It is the native oyster in this region. It was an important commercial shellfish in South Puget Sound and Hood Canal but disease, introduced predators, cold weather during extremely low-tides, and competition with C. gigas has depleted populations of this bivalve to very low tides. When a few hidden beds were found, the oysters were used to reseed areas, and due to cultivation and natural reseeding it seems to be making a comeback.