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Oyster Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.
Oyster facts for kids
Crassostrea gigas from the Marennes-Oléron basin in France
Oysters served on ice and with a piece of lemon on the side
Oysters are a family of bivalves with rough, thick shells, the Ostreidae, plus some other types which are called 'oyster'. Many species are edible, and are usually served raw. They are also good when cooked. In history, they were an important food source, especially in France and Britain. They used to grow in huge oyster beds, but were "overfished" in the 19th century. Nowadays they are more expensive, so eaten less often.
Some of the unrelated 'oysters' are the pearl oyster, Pinctada, which is a clam, and a few mussels which look a bit like oysters when they are taken out of their shells.
Images for kids
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Removing a pearl from a pearl oyster
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Rocks in intertidal zone covered by oysters, at Bangchuidao Scenic Area, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
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Still-Life with Oysters by Alexander Adriaenssen
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Oyster culture in Riec-sur-Belon, France
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Giant oyster in southern Angola
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Special knives for opening live oysters, such as this one, have short and stout blades.
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Crassostrea gigas
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Crassostrea gigas, opened