(Courtesy of Molecular Ecology Research Group, http://www.soton.ac.uk/~merg/)
European Oyster
(Ostrea edulis)

The shell of this oyster is off-white, yellow or cream colored with light brown or light blue concentric bands. They grow up to 4" (11 cm) long and are often found on hard muddy bottoms, rocks, muddy gravel, or shell bottoms. These oysters are native to Europe and were intentionally released in Maine. They have spread (either naturally or by oyster-seeding) south to Rhode Island.

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