Oyster

Introduction

The Arabian Sea Oyster refers to the several different families of salt-water bivalve mollusks that live in marine or brackish habitats. In some species, the valves are highly calcified, and many are somewhat irregular in shape.

Oysters have been collected for human consumption since the Stone Age, and oysters were also brought on voyages as a supply of fresh food. Hence oysters have been transported across natural biological barriers for hundreds and maybe thousands of years.

Oysters contain a variety of vitamins and nutrients including zinc, calcium, magnesium, protein, selenium, and vitamin A. They also contain especially high levels of vitamin B12, iron, and monounsaturated fat – the “healthy” kind of fat that you also find in olive oil

Flavor Profile

Like other shellfish, oysters shouldn’t taste overly fishy. Rather, they have a very subtle fish flavor, and taste like the ocean, with mineral notes that vary depending on the type. While raw oysters themselves don’t have a strong flavor, they are usually served with lemon or sauce that adds flavor.

Nomenclature

English Name: Oyster, Slipper Cupped Oyster, Leaf Oyster
Local Name: Khappo, Kadda, Khar Kunt
Scientific Name: Ostreidae

Habitat

The Arabian Sea oysters live in salty or brackish coastal waters, clustering on older shells, rock, piers, or any hard, submerged surface. They fuse as they grow, forming rock-like reefs that provide habitat for other marine animals and plants.

Catching Method

Wild oysters are caught by watermen who employ a few methods to harvest them, mainly dredges (triangular rakes with nets dragged behind oystering boats) or tongs (scissor-like rakes used by hand or with a mechanized system to harvest oysters)

Physical Attributes

Oysters are bivalves, which is the name for several marine and freshwater mollusks that have long, flat bodies made up of a shell consisting of two hinged parts. Oysters use their gills and cilia to process water and feed. Oysters have a small heart and internal organs, but no central nervous system.

Appearance

Oyster shells are usually oval or pear-shaped, but will vary widely in form depending on what they attach to. They are generally whitish-gray in outer shell color, and their inside shell is usually a porcelain white. They have extremely strong adductor muscles to close their shells when threatened.

Size

On average, the oyster size range is 3 to 5 inches. However, other sizes are also occasionally available.