Mollusks

Oysters, perhaps the most common mollusk in Timucuan, line the shores of Fort George Island.

NPS

Oysters are one of the more common and iconic creatures spotted in the park. Their shells form the middens visitors hike through in the Theodore Roosevelt Area. Oyster shells were used in the building of the tabby cabins at Kingsley Plantation. You will see oyster shells along almost every trail, and hear them spitting up water on many shorelines. They were a large food source for the Timucua-speaking Mocama in this region and remain incredibly important to humans today.

As filter feeders, oysters are essential to keeping waters clean. An single adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons a day, cleaning out nitrogen and other pollutants. Oyster beds absorb more than just water, they absorb force from boats waves and help to slow erosion on our shores. Studies on the oyster population on Fort George Island are helping us understand the benefits of a living shoreline.

 

The preferred host of the impressed odostome ectoparasite is the eastern oyster.

G.W. Tryon, Manual of Conchology vol. VIII pl. 78 # 34

Among the oyster beds can be found more members of the mollusk family. The impressed odostome (Boonea impressa) is often attached to oyster shells. Timucuan Preserve is also home to marine predatory sea snails such as baby ear (Sinum perspectivum) of the moon snail family. They bore holes in other bivalves by secreting acid and using their radula, a tongue-like structure lined with tiny teeth. They can then rasp away at the soft tissue of their prey. This is why we find seashells on the beach with perfect holes drilled into them.

Periwinkle snails are common in the salt marsh, gemma gemma are found there too. Shells of many marine bivalve mollusks can be found both on land and in water throughout the Preserve.