What is found in a oyster shell?

* The oyster itself: This is the main attraction! The oyster is a soft-bodied mollusc with a fleshy, edible mantle.

* Pearl (sometimes): Pearls are formed when a foreign object, like a grain of sand, gets trapped inside the oyster. The oyster then coats the irritant with layers of nacre, which is the iridescent substance that makes up the shell.

* Nacre: This is the iridescent material that makes up the inner layer of the oyster shell, known for its beautiful shine.

* Mantle: This is the fleshy, outer layer of the oyster that secretes the shell.

* Gills: These are organs that filter food and oxygen from the water.

* Muscles: These allow the oyster to open and close its shell.

* Other organisms: Tiny organisms like algae, bacteria, and parasites may also be present inside the shell.

Interestingly, the pearl is not always found in the shell. It can be found inside the oyster's soft tissues.