The Anatomy of the Pacific Oyster, Crassostrea gigas (Thurnberg)(Bivalvia : Ostreidae)

Abstract

The anatomy of the soft body parts of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas is presented. Anatomical features of mantles, gills, labial palps, pericardia! cavity, heart, oesophagus, stomach, gastric shield, crystalline style sac and intestine are described in detail. These structure in C. gigas are compared with those in closely related species. We suggest that some anatomical features provide taxonomic charac-teristics that may be used to distinguish C. gigas from morphologically similar species within and between genera.