Description:-

Shell irregular in shape. Marginal denticles absent. Single, kidney shaped, dark purple, sub centrally placed adductor muscle scar. Iner surface of the shell white with purplish black border. It attaches to the substratum by cup shaped lower left valve. Right valve concave and flat lid like. Narrow, elongated and toothless hinge. The shape of the shell is highly variable depending on the substrate. Irregular forms arises due to overcrowding. Sexes are separate. Feeds largely on organic detritus and phytoplankton. This rich seafood resource is being cultured in India.

Threats:-

Remark:-

Habitat:-

Euryhaline species found in estuaries, backwaters, lagoons, coastal bays.

Synonyms:-

Crassostrea iredalei (Faustino, 1932)
Crassostrea madrasensis (Preston, 1916)
Ostrea angulata G. B. Sowerby II, 1871
Ostrea bilineata Röding, 1798
Ostrea iredalei Faustino, 1932
Ostrea lischkei Löbbecke, 1882
Ostrea lugubris G. B. Sowerby II, 1871
Ostrea madrasensis Preston, 1916
Ostrea orientalis Dillwyn, 1817
Ostrea pennigera Jousseaume in Lamy, 1925
Ostrea radiata Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1827
Ostrea radiata (Valenciennes MS) Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1824

References:-

Bijukumar, A. 2012. Keralatheerathe Kadal Jeevikal (Marine Animals of Kerala Coast- A Field Guide). Kerala State Biodiversity Board, Thiruvananthapauram, Kerala 304pp. (in Malayalam)
Kripa, V. 2005. Biodiversity of bivalves (Invertebrata: Mollusca) In: State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Kerala, KFRI, Peechi, 144-148.
Laxmilatha, P., M.P. Sivadasan, and V.G. Surendranathan. 2007. Bivalve resources and its exploitation in Malabar. Marine Fisheries Information Service Technical and Extension Series, 192: 6-10.
Laxmilatha, P., Sujatha Thomas, V.G. Surendranathan, M.P. Sivadasan and N.P. Ramachandran. Marine Fisheries Information Service T & E Ser., No. 207: 24-25.
Rao. K.S. 1987. Taxonomy of Indian Oysters. CMFRI Bulletin 25:59-62.