Filter feeder in the shallow infralittoral, attached on rocks, mangrove trunks and roots. The species is often farmed for food. In Mediterranean, it occurs at depths of 1 to 15m.
Above and below: 6m deep, attached on rocky substrate, southern coast of Évvia island, Central Greece. 112mm.
« Shell solid, inequivalve, inequilateral. Shape oyster-like, very variable, depending on the substratum and biotope with outline irregular, almost circular to oval. Sculpture smooth or with strong radial ribs or even with spines. Lower valve larger and sometimes prominently convex, having a large area with no sculpture at the umbo (area of attachment); its margin with plications. Upper valve almost flat with plicated margin to fit the plications of the lower valve. Hinge without teeth, Ligament internal. Muscle scar close to the pallial line, very prominent, kidney shaped. Interior shell margin of upper valve with prominent denticles which fit into the corresponding pits in the lower valve margin. » – CIESM.
Detail of the chomata in the right valve. These minute bumps call to mind the ctelonium of the Pectinids. In the genus Saccostrea, the chomata are widely spread along the margins, while they are concentrated around the resilifer in Ostrea.