The largest oyster in the world

An American found an oyster with 80 years of age and a length of 40cm, surpassing the oyster named in the current world record book.

Former pilot Richard Mesce and giant oyster
which he discovered. (Photo: Eureka Times-Standard)

Richard Mesce - a former pilot living in northern California, USA - spotted an oyster at the bottom of Humboldt Bay. He then took it to Humboldt University for experts to measure the size of the animal. Its length is 40cm, and width is about 18cm. Because the oyster is located under a mud layer of up to 20cm thick, experts say it has lived for about 80 years, reported Eureka Times-Standard.

The former pilot began searching for giant oysters since 2006 after he accidentally saw a large oyster in Humboldt Bay. He often went out to sea with a kayak whenever the waves were calm.

According to Guinness World Records, the world's largest oyster has a length of 36cm and a width of more than 15cm.

If this oyster was recognized as the biggest oyster by the Guinness Book of World Records, Humboldt University would have asked Mesce to leave it in the school's marine park to continue its growth.