Description
Large oyster from Europe.
The Fossil Exogyra is an extinct genus of oysters, they are known as foam oysters or honeycomb oysters.
This large Fossil Oyster is a bivalve, with a closed shell, has an oval left valve, ornamented by scales and ribs. And with this valve they were fixed to the surface substrate, while its right valve was smaller and flattened and served as a cover. That “cover” is still in place and can be seen in the details of this animal.
Because they were marine animals they lived and thrived in oceans of the world. Most oysters have an irregular body shape. They are easily recognized as being different that brachiopods and pelecypods.
Individuals of the genus Exogyra lived on hard substrata in warm seas (mainly in Europe) at shallow depths.
This Large Fossil Oyster is 2 1/8 inches long by 1 7/8 wide and 1 1/4 high. It exhibits outstanding detail from the rib lines to the underside shell cover. This one comes from Estoril, Portugal.
Oyster is a common name for these bivalves and for a number of families that occupy salt water environments. But these creatures also lived in brackish habitats. The shells are highly calcified. In some fossil species pearls have also been identified.
