Question 2 of 21

Oysters are related to:

... Oysters are distant relatives to scallops and mussels. Oysters are considered a edible bivalve mollusk.

Question 3 of 21

Where do oysters live?

... Oysters live at the bottom of the ocean in hard-surface areas, either in deep or shallow water.

Question 4 of 21

Humans have been eating oysters since:

... Oysters are an ancient delicacy. Humans have been eating oysters since prehistory times and oysters have been cultivated for more than 2,000 years.

Question 5 of 21

When do oysters lose their taste?

... During their reproductive season, from May to August, oysters have thin shells and lose some of their taste.

Question 6 of 21

What color are oyster shells?

... Oyster shells typically have a gray or white texture. Some oyster shells have purple or red markings.

Question 7 of 21

Oyster shells are made out of:

... Oyster shells are primarily made out of calcium carbonate, similar to limestone.

Question 8 of 21

What keeps an oyster shell closed?

... When the abductor muscle contracts, the two pieces of the oyster shell close. When the abductor muscle relaxes, the shell opens up.

Question 9 of 21

What is the purpose of an oyster's gills?

... An oyster's gills are found under the mantle. The gills are used for collecting food and breathing.

Question 10 of 21

What does an oyster lack?

... An oyster doesn't have a head or a brain. Instead, it has two nerve centers that control the mouth, mantle and internal organs.

Question 11 of 21

Which of the following is a predator for the oyster?

... Marine snails make holes in the oyster's shell to gain access to the nutritious contents.

Question 12 of 21

Overfishing and water pollution has resulted in:

... Overfishing and water pollution has partially destroyed the ocean floor where oysters make their home, also known as oyster beds.

Question 13 of 21

What do oysters eat?

... Oysters eat plankton and organic debris by creating a current in the water. Water enters the oyster's gills and food particles are caught.

Question 14 of 21

How do oysters reproduce?

... Oysters are known as alternating hermaphrodites, as they can change sex several times in their lifetime. Oysters reproduce by releasing sperm or eggs into the water.

Question 15 of 21

How old are oysters when they are harvested by fisherman?

... Oysters only become large enough for harvesting after three to five years of life.

Question 16 of 21

What type of oysters have deep-cupped shells?

... Crassostrea oysters have deep-cupped shells and include: the American Atlantic coast oyster, the Portuguese oyster and the Japanese oyster.

Question 17 of 21

How can you tell the age of an oyster?

... Each ring on an oyster indicates one year of growth.

Question 18 of 21

What happens as an oyster's body grows?

... An oyster doesn't shed its shell. Instead, the shell grows with the oyster's body at about one inch (2.5 cm) per year.

Question 19 of 21

Where in the world are oysters cultivated?

... Oysters are cultivated all over the world, including: the Atlantic waters of the Americas and Europe; the Pacific waters of the Americas, Australia, and Asia; and along the eastern coast of Africa.

Question 20 of 21

What happens when an oyster is shucked?

... After the oyster is harvested, the oyster may be shucked before packaging and selling. This involves removing one side of the shell with a special knife.

Question 21 of 21

How are canned oysters cooked?

... Canned oysters are steamed and packed in sterilized cans.