Hyotissa hyotis
Honeycomb Oyster
©Anne Hoggett: Honeycomb Oyster at Lizard Island
©Anne Hoggett: Two individuals of Hyotissa hyotis spawning at Eyrie Reef at 11.07 am on 23 Dec 2015. Photo taken from surface. Spawn is white from the individual at left, yellowish from the individual at right. Current is moving from top right to bottom left of the image, roughly south to north along the reef edge.
©Anne Hoggett: The left-hand individual of Hyotissa hyotis in the image above, spawning at Eyrie Reef on 23 Dec 2015.
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Bivalvia
Order
Ostreoida
Family
Gryphaeidae
Genus
Hyotissa
Species
Hyotissa hyotis
Colours
Distinguishing features
Distinguishing features still need to be specified.
Size
- Size data has not been obtained.
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Behaviour
Two adjacent individuals were observed spawning at 11.07 am on 23 Dec 2015 on the western side of Eyrie Reef. This was mid-way through the tidal cycle with a change in amplitude of about 1.8 metres. There was some current but it was not running strongly at this location.
Initiation of spawning was not observed. A consistent stream of spawn was ejected by each individual for 2 to 3 minutes after spawning was first noticed. The quantity of spawn was extensive. It was white from one and yellow from the other suggesting that one may have been spawning eggs and the other sperm. However, eggs could not be distinguished.
Web resources
References
References that assist with identification
- Humann, P. and N. Deloach (2010). Reef Creature Identification: Tropical Pacific New World Publications Inc., Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
Other references
- Burdon-Jones, C. and G.R.W. Denton (1981). Metals in marine organisms from the Great Barrier Reef Province. Part 1. Base line survey,Interim Progress Report, James Cook University, Townsville.. LIRS catalog number 69.
- Dight, I.J. and W. Gladstone (1993). Torres Strait Baseline Study: Pilot study final report, June 1993. Trace metal concentrations in sediments and selected marine biota as indicator organisms and food items in the diet of Torres Strait Islanders and coastal Papuans, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Research Publication 29, . LIRS catalog number 417.
- View all references