Pearl oyster 429122 210303496 2008-05-05T11:40:18Z Invertzoo 4863204 add a comma {{Taxobox | name = Pearl oyster | image = Pinctada margaritifera.jpg | image_caption = [[Black-lip oyster]], ''Pinctada margaritifera'' | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Mollusk|Mollusca]] | classis = [[Bivalvia]] | ordo = [[Pterioida]] | familia = [[Pteriidae]] | genus = '''''Pinctada''''' | genus_authority = Roding, 1798 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = See text. }} '''Pinctada''' is a [[genus]] of '''pearl oysters'''. These are saltwater clams, [[Marine (ocean)|marine]] [[bivalve]] [[mollusc]]s of the [[genus]] ''Pinctada'' in the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Pteriidae]]. It is worth noting that the pearl oysters are not closely related to the edible [[oyster]]s of family [[Ostreidae]], and they are also not closely related to the freshwater pearl [[mussel]]s of the families [[Unionidae]] and [[Margaritiferidae]]. All species within the genus ''Pinctada'' share the physiological properties that lead to the production of large [[pearl]]s of commercial value, and therefore attempts have been made to harvest pearls commercially from many of different ''Pinctada'' [[species]]. However the only species that are currently of significant commercial interest are: * [[Gulf pearl oyster]], ''Pinctada radiata''; [[Persian Gulf]], [[Red Sea]], [[Mediterranean Sea]] * [[Black-lip oyster]], ''Pinctada margaritifera''; [[Persian Gulf]] and southwestern part of [[Indian Ocean]]; [[Australia]]; [[Fiji]]; [[Tahiti]]; [[Myanmar]]; [[Baja California]]; [[Gulf of Mexico]] * [[White-lip oyster]] or gold-lip oyster, ''P. maxima''; Australia; Fiji; Tahiti; Myanmar; [[Philippines]] * [[Akoya pearl oyster]] or Akoya Pearl Oyster, ''P. fucata'' (also called ''P. imbricata''), Red Sea; [[Sri Lanka]]; [[Persian Gulf]]; [[Indian Ocean]]; Western [[Pacific Ocean]]; Australia; [[China]]; * [[Shark Bay pearl oyster]] ''P. albina''; Australia 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]] 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 (genus)|Pteria]]''. However pearls are also produced from freshwater [[mussel]] species including ''[[Hyriopsis cumingii]]'', ''[[Hyriopsis schlegelii]]'', and a hybrid of the two species. ==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== * [http://www.pearl-guide.com/pearl-producing-mollusks.shtml Scientific classification of pearl-producing molluscs] * [http://data.acnatsci.org/obis/search.php/19651 OBIS Indo-Pacific molluscan database entry for ''Pinctada''] [[Category:Pteriidae]] [[de:Perlmuscheln]] [[fr:Pinctada]] [[ja:アコヤガイ]] [[fi:Helmisimpukat]]