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Pearl oyster
 
 
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Pinctada is a genus
Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
 of pearl oysters. These are saltwater clams, marine
Marine (ocean)

Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology....
 bivalve mollusks of the genus
Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
 Pinctada in the family
Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is a taxonomic rank. Exact details of formal nomenclature depend on the Nomenclature Codes which applies....
 Pteriidae
Pteriidae

Pteriidae is a family of medium-sized to large saltwater clams. They are pearl oysters, Marine bivalve mollusks in the order Pterioida.Some of the species in this family are important economically as the source of saltwater pearls....
. They have a strong inner shell layer composed of nacre
Nacre

Nacre, also known as mother of pearl, is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some mollusks as an inner seashell layer. It is strong, resilient, and Iridescence....
, also known as mother of pearl.

Pearl oysters are not closely related to the edible oyster
Oyster

The common name oyster is used for a number of different groups of bivalve mollusks, most of which live in marine habitats or brackish water....
s of family Ostreidae
Ostreidae

The members of the family Ostreidae are the true oysters, and include all the species that are commonly eaten under the title "oyster". They do not include the pearl oysters; these species are only distantly related to the true oysters, since although they are also bivalves, they are members of the family Pteriidae, in the order Pterio...
, and they are also not closely related to the freshwater pearl mussel
Mussel

The common name mussel is used for members of several different families of clams or bivalve molluscs, from both saltwater and freshwater habitats....
s of the families Unionidae
Unionidae

Unionidae is a Family of freshwater mussels, aquatic animal bivalve mollusks which are sometimes known as river mussels, naiads or simply as unionids....
 and Margaritiferidae
Margaritiferidae

Margaritiferidae is a Family of medium-sized freshwater mussels, aquatic animal bivalve mollusks in the order Unionoida. They are known as freshwater pearl mussels, because they are capable of producing pearls....
.

All species within the genus Pinctada share the physiological properties that can lead to the production of large pearl
Pearl

A pearl is a hard, roundish object produced within the soft tissue of a living animal shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of mollusks, a pearl is made up of of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers....
s of commercial value, and therefore attempts have been made to harvest pearls commercially from many different Pinctada species
Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring....
.






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Pinctada is a genus
Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
 of pearl oysters. These are saltwater clams, marine
Marine (ocean)

Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology....
 bivalve mollusks of the genus
Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
 Pinctada in the family
Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is a taxonomic rank. Exact details of formal nomenclature depend on the Nomenclature Codes which applies....
 Pteriidae
Pteriidae

Pteriidae is a family of medium-sized to large saltwater clams. They are pearl oysters, Marine bivalve mollusks in the order Pterioida.Some of the species in this family are important economically as the source of saltwater pearls....
. They have a strong inner shell layer composed of nacre
Nacre

Nacre, also known as mother of pearl, is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some mollusks as an inner seashell layer. It is strong, resilient, and Iridescence....
, also known as mother of pearl.

Pearl oysters are not closely related to the edible oyster
Oyster

The common name oyster is used for a number of different groups of bivalve mollusks, most of which live in marine habitats or brackish water....
s of family Ostreidae
Ostreidae

The members of the family Ostreidae are the true oysters, and include all the species that are commonly eaten under the title "oyster". They do not include the pearl oysters; these species are only distantly related to the true oysters, since although they are also bivalves, they are members of the family Pteriidae, in the order Pterio...
, and they are also not closely related to the freshwater pearl mussel
Mussel

The common name mussel is used for members of several different families of clams or bivalve molluscs, from both saltwater and freshwater habitats....
s of the families Unionidae
Unionidae

Unionidae is a Family of freshwater mussels, aquatic animal bivalve mollusks which are sometimes known as river mussels, naiads or simply as unionids....
 and Margaritiferidae
Margaritiferidae

Margaritiferidae is a Family of medium-sized freshwater mussels, aquatic animal bivalve mollusks in the order Unionoida. They are known as freshwater pearl mussels, because they are capable of producing pearls....
.

All species within the genus Pinctada share the physiological properties that can lead to the production of large pearl
Pearl

A pearl is a hard, roundish object produced within the soft tissue of a living animal shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of mollusks, a pearl is made up of of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers....
s of commercial value, and therefore attempts have been made to harvest pearls commercially from many different Pinctada species
Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring....
. However the only species that are currently of significant commercial interest are:
  • Persian Gulf pearl oyster, Pinctada radiata; Persian Gulf
    Persian Gulf

    The Persian Gulf, in the Southwest Asian region, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. Historically and commonly known as the Persian Gulf, this body of water is sometimes Persian Gulf naming dispute referred to as the Arabian Gulf by certain Arab countries or simply The Gulf, although nei...
    , Red Sea
    Red Sea

    The Red Sea is a salt water inlet of the Indian Ocean between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb sound and the Gulf of Aden....
    , Mediterranean Sea
    Mediterranean Sea

    The Mediterranean Sea is a sea or Ocean off the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Europe, on the south by Africa, and on the east by Asia....
  • Black-lip oyster, Pinctada margaritifera; Persian Gulf
    Persian Gulf

    The Persian Gulf, in the Southwest Asian region, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. Historically and commonly known as the Persian Gulf, this body of water is sometimes Persian Gulf naming dispute referred to as the Arabian Gulf by certain Arab countries or simply The Gulf, although nei...
     and southwestern part of Indian Ocean
    Indian Ocean

    The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering about 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by Asia ; on the west by Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and Australia; and on the south by the Southern Ocean ....
    ; Australia
    Australia

    Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
    ; Fiji
    Fiji

    Fiji , officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands , is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean east of Vanuatu, west of Tonga and south of Tuvalu....
    ; Tahiti
    Tahiti

    O Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward Islands group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean....
    ; Myanmar
    Myanmar

    Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar, is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia, or Indochina. The country is bordered by the People's Republic of China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, and the Bay of Bengal to the southwest with...
    ; Baja California
    Baja California

    Baja California is the northernmost States of Mexico of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North Territory of Baja California....
    ; Gulf of Mexico
    Gulf of Mexico

    The Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest body of water in the world. Considered a smaller part of the Atlantic Ocean, it is an oceanic basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba....
  • White-lip oyster or gold-lip oyster, Pinctada maxima; Australia; Fiji; Tahiti; Myanmar; Philippines
    Philippines

    The Philippines, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a country in Southeast Asia with Manila as its capital city. It comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean....
  • Akoya pearl oyster or Akoya pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata (also called P. imbricata), Red Sea; Sri Lanka
    Sri Lanka

    Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia, located about off the southern coast of India....
    ; Persian Gulf
    Persian Gulf

    The Persian Gulf, in the Southwest Asian region, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. Historically and commonly known as the Persian Gulf, this body of water is sometimes Persian Gulf naming dispute referred to as the Arabian Gulf by certain Arab countries or simply The Gulf, although nei...
    ; Indian Ocean
    Indian Ocean

    The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering about 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by Asia ; on the west by Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and Australia; and on the south by the Southern Ocean ....
    ; Western Pacific Ocean
    Pacific Ocean

    The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. Its name is derived from the Latin name Mare Pacificum, "peaceful sea", bestowed upon it by the Portugal explorer Ferdinand Magellan....
    ; Australia; China
    China

    China is a Culture of China, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
    ;
  • Shark Bay pearl oyster Pinctada albina; Australia


Pearl Oysters
The different species of Pinctada produce different maximum sizes and colors of pearls, depending on the size of the species and the natural color of the nacre
Nacre

Nacre, also known as mother of pearl, is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some mollusks as an inner seashell layer. It is strong, resilient, and Iridescence....
 inside the shell. Black South Sea pearls, or Tahitian pearls come from the black-lip oyster; white and golden South Sea pearls from the white-lip and golden-lip oysters; and Akoya cultured pearls from Pinctada fucata martensii, the Akoya pearl oyster.

Pearls are also obtained in commercial quantities from some species of the closely-related winged oyster genus Pteria.

Pearls are also produced from freshwater mussel
Mussel

The common name mussel is used for members of several different families of clams or bivalve molluscs, from both saltwater and freshwater habitats....
 species unrelated to pearl oysters. These freshwater species include Hyriopsis cumingii, Hyriopsis schlegelii, and a hybrid of the two species.

Also see: pearl diving.

Species list

  • Shark Bay pearl oyster, Pinctada albina
  • Pinctada atropurpurea
  • Pinctada chemnitzi
  • Japanese pearl oyster or Akoya pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata
  • Pinctada laosensis
  • Pinctada maculata
  • Black-lip oyster, Pinctada margaritifera
  • Pinctada martensi
  • White-lip oyster or gold-lip oyster, Pinctada maxima
  • Pinctada nigra
  • Gulf pearl oyster, Pinctada radiata
  • Pinctada virens


External links