Gold-lip pearl oyster [Pinctada maxima]
Description
Pinctada maxima, also known as the gold-lip pearl oyster, is another species in the Pteriidae family. It is found in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, from Japan to northern Australia. This species is the largest pearl oyster, with individuals sometimes exceeding 12 inches in diameter. Pinctada maxima produces the highly prized South Sea pearls, which range in color from white to gold. The species prefers to inhabit deeper, offshore waters and is known to attach itself to hard substrates. Like its cousin, the black-lipped pearl oyster, Pinctada maxima is a filter feeder, mostly consuming phytoplankton.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Mollusks
Mollusca
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Clams, Oysters, and Scallops
Bivalvia
|
| Order |
Pearl Oysters and Relatives
Pteriida
|
| Family |
Tree Oysters
Malleidae
|
| Genus |
Black-Lipped Pearl Oysters
Pinctada
|