Frond Oyster

Frond Oyster, Juvenile

The Frond Oyster has an oval or elongated shell with a flattened shape and a zigzag edge where the two valves meet tightly. The outer surface is often mottled in purplish-brown, gray, or grayish-white, and may appear smooth or textured with ridges. The shell is frequently covered by small organisms, which can obscure its true color and texture. The inside of the shell is smooth and pearly white, often with a hint of purple near the hinge.

This Oyster lives attached to hard surfaces such as rocks, dead Coral, and Gorgonians. Once an individual settles, it does not move again. As a filter feeder, it draws water through its shell and filters out Plankton and other tiny organic particles. Its shell provides a stable surface for other organisms, like Sponges, Hydroids, and Algae, to grow on.