Black-lip pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Pinctada margaritifera
- Common name
- Black-lip pearl oyster
- Category
- Molluscs
- Family
- Margaritidae
- Genus
- Pinctada
- Size
- 10–25 cm
- Depth
- 2–40 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- reef, rocky
- Behaviours
- sessile, filter-feeder
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, East Atlantic, Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Pinctada margaritifera reaches 25 cm. Large oyster with a flattened circular shell, characteristic dark nacre interior (black, green, grey, peacock blue) source of the famous Tahitian pearls. Attached to substrate by a byssus. Filter feeder. Intensively cultured in French Polynesia, Cook Islands, Fiji. Keystone species of the pearl industry. In the wild, from 2 to 40 m on Indo-Pacific reefs. Not to be confused with the Mediterranean pearl oyster Pinctada radiata.
Photo of Black-lip pearl oyster
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Black-lip pearl oyster?
- Black-lip pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera) reaches 10–25 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Black-lip pearl oyster?
- Black-lip pearl oyster is found between 2–40 m deep.
- Is the Black-lip pearl oyster dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Black-lip pearl oyster?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Black-lip pearl oyster?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, East Atlantic, Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the genus Pinctada
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 207899)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2285337)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia