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Story: Shellfish

Oyster spat

Video file

In this video clip an oyster releases its spat (sperm) into the water. Nearby female oysters draw in the sperm cells in water currents and fertilisation occurs within her body. There the eggs develop and hatch as tiny larvae, which spend two to four weeks within her mantle cavity before crawling away to settle nearby.

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How to cite this page

Maggy Wassilieff, Shellfish – Dredge oysters, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/8028/oyster-spat (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 2 March 2009.

Comments

enviromog
07 July 2011
The video clip appears to contradict the text below. Perhaps an oyster expert can double check?