Oyster Facts

How is an Oyster Created

Firstly the oysters all start off as a male oyster, however they have the ability to change their sex as they have gonads, which makes it possible that they can produce both eggs and sperm. During breeding season, when two male oysters are next to each other the one will change their sex to female to assist in the reproductive stage.

What then happens is the male oyster releases millions of sperm and the female oyster releases millions of eggs into the sea, not all fuse but the ones that do form a larvae which then move within the currents of the water for three weeks. They then fall to the bottom of the sea bed and grow a temporary foot, it then walks along the sea bed looking for a clean substrate to fuse with like a rock for instance, once it finds a suitable home it then releases calcium carbonate and protein which is the formation of the shell. That in short is how an oyster is formed.

Wild Oysters vs Cultivated Oysters

Cultivated oysters are grown in a designated area in the sea, and all look pretty similar in shape and size. Their shell is much softer than a wild oyster as they don’t need to protect themselves from predators Wild oysters are grown in the sea, on the rocks, they are all different shapes and sizes. Their shells are extremely hard and most people wouldn’t even see them on the rocks as they look like they are part of the rocks. Both wild and cultivated oysters are salty in taste, but the wild oyster has a slightly firmer texture

Other Interesting Facts

  • Oysters are molluscs that are found mainly in the ocean. There are over fifty species of oysters, of which some are edible. Their shells are made of calcium, and this protects their soft bodies.
  • Oysters have the ability to change their sex—they can change from male to female as they have gonads that generate eggs as well as sperm. Oyster larvae (baby oysters) are called “spats”.
  • Oysters have hearts that pump translucent blood as well as oxygen through their bodies. They also have intestines, and their kidneys clean any impurities from their blood.
  • Oysters breathe like fish as they have both gills and mantle. As the water passes through them, oxygen is removed and carbon monoxide is disposed of
  • By eating four medium oysters per day, you will get the daily recommended allowance of calcium, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, copper, phosphorous and zinc. Oysters are also rich in vitamin A, C, D , B-12 and omega-3 fatty acids.
  • Oysters feed mainly on plankton and decayed plants, and can filter up to 120 litres of water per day
  • Oysters can be eaten in a variety of ways - raw, roasted, steamed, baked, boiled, braaied, poached or smoked. The most common way in South Africa is raw with tabasco sauce, ground black pepper and fresh lemon. People with low immune systems should not eat raw oysters as they do contain bacteria.
  • Once the oysters are eaten, their shells can be finely crushed to provide extra calcium in feed for ostriches and certain other bird species.
  • Pearls are formed when a foreign substance (like a grain of sand or piece of shell) gets trapped within the shell. The oyster then covers the foreign matter with layers of calcium and protein, and with time, a pearl is created
  • The ancient Romans believed that oysters enhanced ones love life. Although they do contain high amounts of zinc - a deficiency of which has been linked to male impotency, there has been no scientific proof to support this belief. High amounts of zinc are also known to increase energy levels.
  • When someone says “I am going to shuck an oyster” it means they are going to open an oyster. The verb “to shuck”, meaning to remove the shell from the flesh, was first recorded in 188