Ostrea compressirostra

Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Ostreida
Family: Ostreidae
Genus: Ostrea
Species: Ostrea compressirostra (Say, 1824)

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Geological Range

Miocene to Early Pleistocene; Extinct.

Paleogeographic Distribution

Southern Florida to Virginia.

Remarks

Original Description (from Say, 1824, p. 132-133):

"Shell sinistral, subovate: inferior valve convex, with numerous convex ribs interrupted by fornicated scales at the lines of increment: hinge curving a little upward, very much contracted and short: superior valve flat, wrinkled concentrically, without any appearance of longitudinal lines: hinge more dilated than that of the superior valve, and oblique with respect to the thickness of the shell.

Length of the specimen four inches and four fifths; breadth four inches and a quarter. A large superior valve is five inches and three quarters long, and five inches and a quarter broad.

Like many species of this genus, it varies much in form, and in the prominence of the ribs on its convex valve; but these ribs are very obvious on the nine specimens under examination. Externally some varieties have a striking resemblance to O. bellovacina, Lam. but the hinge is much more contracted.

Besides those obtained by Mr. Finch, Mr. Z. Collins presented a fine specimen to the Academy, found on the west branch of the Potomac, about fifteen miles below Alexandria."

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Stratigraphic Occurrences

Early Pleistocene: Bear Bluff Formation (SC); Caloosahatchee Formation (S. FL); Chowan River Formation (VA); Nashua Formation (N. FL); Waccamaw Formation (SC, NC)
Late Pliocene: Duplin Formation (NC); Duplin / Raysor formations (GA); Jackson Bluff Formation (N. FL); Raysor Formation (GA, SC, NC); Tamiami Formation (S. FL); Tamiami Formation (Buckingham Limestone) (S. FL); Tamiami Formation (Murdock Station Member) (S. FL); Tamiami Formation (Lower) (S. FL); Tamiami Formation (Ochopee Limestone) (S. FL); Tamiami Formation (Pinecrest Beds) (S. FL); Yorktown Formation (NC, VA); Yorktown Formation (Mogarts Beach Clay) (VA)
Early Pliocene: Goose Creek Limestone (SC)
Late Miocene: Eastover Formation (VA)
Middle Miocene: St. Marys Formation (VA) (Age not resolved beyond "Miocene")