Georgia once had a species of oyster that grew up to 20 inches long! The species is known as Crassostrea gigantissima.

This oyster, which lived 35 million years ago during late Eocene Age, was a true oyster like native present day Crassostrea virginica or Eastern oyster.

C. gigantissima shells can still be found along ancient shorelines in Georgia where creeks or rivers erode to expose these behemoths.

Shell Bluff, on the Savannah River, is one of the more popular locations where shells can be found. (SCDNR)