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Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Pelecypoda
Family: Ostreidae
Ostrea edulis is one of the most famous inhabitants of the Essex marine environment complete with its own festival held in Colchester every year. Growing up to 100mm in diameter and inhabiting productive estuarine environments down to 50m, O.edulis suffered a population crash in the 1930's due to a virus and has not yet recovered. Two invasive species may be partly or wholly responsible for this lack of success, the Portuguese oyster (Crassostrea gigas) and the prolifically producing Japweed (Sargassum muticum) both out compete the native oyster. O.edulis breeds between May and August and is inedible during this period.
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