<smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"><smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"> Oyster species of the sub tropical coast of Pakistan (northern Arabian Sea) </smarttagtype></smarttagtype>

Abstract

<smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"><smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"> In the present study 9 species of oysters belonging to three genera (<i>Crassostrea</i>, <i>Saccostrea </i>and <i>Ostrea</i>) were identified on the basis of their conchological and malacological features. These included <i>Crassostrea gryphoides, C. madrasensis, C. belcheri, C. glomerata, Saccostrea cucullata, S echinata</i>,<i> Ostrea nomades, O. folium </i>and <i>O. cristagalli. </i>Two species<i> Ostrea nomades </i>and <i>O. cristagalli </i>which are being reported for the first time from Pakistan. <i>Crassostrea gryphoides </i>and <i>C. rivularis</i> from Hub River Delta were earlier treated as separate species have been assigned to a single species <i>C. gryphoides. Crassostrea gryphoides </i>and <i>C. madrasensis, </i>which occur in the same habitat and show marked similarity in their external shell morphology, but differ in the colouration of their adductor muscle scar, are treated here as separate species. </smarttagtype></smarttagtype>