# Native oyster (*Ostrea edulis*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/native-oyster  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The native oyster (Ostrea edulis) is a mollusc in the class Bivalvia, order Ostreida and family Ostreidae. Its other English names are Flat oyster, Common oyster, Edible oyster, European oyster and European flat oyster. The species was named by Linnaeus, 1758, and is placed in the genus Ostrea, subfamily Ostreinae and superfamily Ostreoidea. The Catalogue of Life lists the native oyster as living, not extinct.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | Not recorded |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Not recorded |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Mollusca
- class: Bivalvia
- order: Ostreida
- family: Ostreidae
- genus: Ostrea
- species: *Ostrea edulis* Linnaeus, 1758

Synonyms: *Monoeciostrea europa*, *Ostrea adriatica*, *Ostrea boblayei*, *Ostrea corbuloides*, *Ostrea cristata*, *Ostrea cumana*, *Ostrea cyrnusii*, *Ostrea depressa*, *Ostrea edulis var. crassa*, *Ostrea edulis var. obtusa*, *Ostrea edulis var. purpurea*, *Ostrea edulis var. rutupina*, *Ostrea edulis var. tarentina*, *Ostrea edulis var. tincta*, *Ostrea edulis var. venetiana*, *Ostrea exalbida*, *Ostrea hippopus*, *Ostrea lamellosa*, *Ostrea leonica*, *Ostrea parasitica*, *Ostrea rostralis*, *Ostrea rostrata*, *Ostrea rostrata*, *Ostrea saxatilis*, *Ostrea scaeva*, *Ostrea striatum*, *Ostrea sublamellosa*, *Ostrea taurica*, *Ostrea taurica*, *Ostrea vulgare*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the native oyster?

The native oyster is a mollusc in the class Bivalvia and the family Ostreidae.

### What is the scientific name of the native oyster?

The scientific name of the native oyster is Ostrea edulis, in the genus Ostrea.

### Who named Ostrea edulis and when?

Ostrea edulis was named by Linnaeus, 1758.

### What other names does the native oyster have?

The native oyster is also called the Flat oyster, Common oyster, Edible oyster, European oyster and European flat oyster.

### Is the native oyster extinct?

No. The Catalogue of Life lists the native oyster as living, not extinct.

### What order does the native oyster belong to?

The native oyster belongs to the order Ostreida, within the superfamily Ostreoidea.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Native oyster (Ostrea edulis). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/native-oyster