Palmate Oyster Shell, Saccostrea palmula

Palmate Oyster Shell, Saccostrea palmula. Shell collected in the greater Los Cabos area, Baja California Sur, March 2016. Size: 7.5 cm (3.0 inches) x 5.5 cm (2.2 inches).

The Palmate Oyster, Saccostrea palmula (Carpenter, 1857),  is a bivalve mollusk that is a member of the Ostreidae Family of True Oysters. They are known in Mexico as ostra palmeada. The Shell is oval and often has scalloped margins. The left valve is deeper than the right valve. The exterior of the shell is rough in texture. They are gray to brown in color, sometimes with a purplish or greenish tinge with white interiors that have a noticeable muscle scar. The Palmate Oyster Shell reach a maximum length of 7.5 cm (3.0 inches) x 5.5 cm (2.2 inches).

Palmate Oysters are found on hard surfaces in the intertidal zone to depths up to 3 m (10 feet). They range from San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur to Peru, including the Cocos and Galapagos Islands. They are found throughout the Sea of Cortez.

Synonyms include Dendostrea amara, Ostrea amara, Ostrea conchaphila, Ostrea dalli, Ostrea frons, Ostrea mexicana, Ostrea tubulifora, and Saccostrea tubulifora.