Saccostrea echinata | |
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Shell of Saccostrea echinata (syntype at MNHN, Paris) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Bivalvia |
Order: | Ostreida |
Family: | Ostreidae |
Genus: | Saccostrea |
Species: | S. echinata
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Binomial name | |
Saccostrea echinata | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Saccostrea echinata, commonly known as the tropical black-lip rock oyster, blacklip rock oyster,[2] blacklip oyster,[3] and spiny rock oyster,[4] is one of several tropical rock oyster species, occurring in tropical seas across the Indo-Pacific, including coastal waters across northern Australia to Noumea.[2]
The history of Indigenous Australians' harvesting of the oysters goes back many generations, as evidenced by the numerous shell middens along Australia's northern coastline. More recently, the wild oysters have been collected off the rocks and bottled for sale.[3]