The Oyster
Creatures of the South Louisiana Estuary: The Oyster
©2010 Wetland Books – May not be copied in any way without permission
My name is Meau, (moe), and I am an oyster. Would you like me to tell you the story of my life?
Many years ago, the mighty Mississippi River flooded south Louisiana. Every spring, the water overflowed the banks of the bayous and left behind lots of mud. The mud formed rich new land called a delta.
Along that delta is the very special place where the sweet water of the bayous meets up with the salty water of the Gulf of Mexico, and it is called an estuary. This is where my life story begins.
The estuary is a magical place where lots of water creatures are born and raised–sort of like you and your town. The water here is the perfect balance of freshwater and saltwater for us oysters.
My neighborhood, on the bottom of the estuary, is called a reef. My reef is made up of oyster shells and sometimes limestone, which was put there by humans to help me grow my strong shell.
In the warm summer months, my mother oyster released her eggs into the perfect estuary water at the same time my father oyster released his fertilizer. The egg and fertilizer joined together and formed a very tiny living thing called a larva.
In my larva stage, I floated around in the water current for about a day until I grew a tiny shell around myself. After floating for about three weeks like that, I grew a foot and then sank to the bottom. My little foot helped me scoot along the reef until I found just the right spot as my home.
I attached to a smooth piece of limestone, and then I was called a spat. To eat, I opened up and let the water flow in. I took the stuff I liked and spit out the rest, and I even helped filter the water, too.
When the water levels drop low, I close up tight so I won’t dry out. Pretty neat, huh?
We oysters are amazing marine animals of the estuary, and oyster reefs are amazing estuary neighborhoods.
My “artistic” images have dried up on Meau. At first I’m thinking muscular arms (those little boogers are hard to shuck sometimes) then I continued to read. Meau goes through so many changes before he makes it to 350 degree cooking oil and my plate.
Who’s next? Just give us a name. Maybe we can we figure out the next creature. BTW, put me down for 3 autographed books once it’s published.
Okay, Steffi, the next one’s name is “Beaux”!
Bw you are on a roll! I want an autographed copy too.God Bless.
I learned a lot from this post! Goes to show you what I know about oysters!
I am really enjoying this! Keep it up.
And thank the Lord that spill has stopped for now and may he keep that lid on!
Now I can’t wait for the first frost and oyster eating time.
Do you do that in Florida? If so, when is first frost? We don’t wait! LOL!
Most of us who grew up around here wait until the water cools off in the fall before we eat oysters unless they are fried or in a good stew,just now fat enough in the summer for me and I like em raw with just a splash of Crystal the best.
I’m enjoying this. Lifestyles of the Shrimp and Oysters.
You could be writing about our marshlands here in SC. Basically the same environments and critturs.
And again, I would LOVE to visit them one day in the medium future!
Great Article!
The Best Chesapeake Bay Oysters are grown on our family farm!
Quality & Sustainability
http://www.deltavilleoystercompany.com
Terrabonne or go home….
I splashed the Crystal tonight.
I got a serious itch to fish the bayou.