New Zealand Seashore

DSC_7872 Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) growing on mangrove roots. Shells are large, heavy and sharp edged, becoming elongated as they grow. Valves can have variable amounts of purple splashed across them. Will establish on soft substrates such as mud, and has aggressively colonised intertidal, and subtidal mudflats since it first appeared in NZ around 1971. Orakei Basin, Auckland *

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DSC_7872 Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) growing on mangrove roots. Shells are large, heavy and sharp edged, becoming elongated as they grow. Valves can have variable amounts of purple splashed across them. Will establish on soft substrates such as mud, and has aggressively colonised intertidal, and subtidal mudflats since it first appeared in NZ around 1971. Orakei Basin, Auckland *

DSC 7872 Pacific rock oyster Crassostrea gigas mangroves roots mud intertidal mudflats Orakei Basin Auckland