Black-Lipped Pearl Oysters [Pinctada]

Description

Pinctada is a genus of saltwater oysters in the family Malleidae, widely known as the black-lipped pearl oysters. These bivalves are famous for producing pearls of high quality, making them significant in the pearl industry. Pinctada species have thick, rounded shells with a lustrous interior, where the pearls form. They inhabit a range of marine environments, from shallow waters to depths exceeding 100 meters. The health of Pinctada populations is crucial for natural pearl formation and thus, they are often farmed in pearl aquaculture.

Species

Black-lipped pearl oyster [Pinctada margaritifera]

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Gold-lip pearl oyster [Pinctada maxima]

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White-lip pearl oyster [Pinctada albina]

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Taxonomy