Pinctada maxima

Pinctada maxima
Pinctada maxima
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Bivalvia
Order:	Pterioida
Family:	Pteriidae
Genus:	Pinctada
Species:	P. maxima
Binomial name
Pinctada maxima (Jameson, 1901)

Pinctada maxima is a species of pearl oyster, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Pteriidae, the pearl oysters. There are two different color varieties: the White-lipped oyster and the Gold-lipped oyster.

These bivalves are the largest pearl oysters in the world. They have a very strong inner shell layer composed of nacre, also known as "mother of pearl". They are important in the cultured pearl industry as they are used to produce South Sea pearls.

Known also as the South Sea Pearl or Philippine Pearl, it was declared by Philippine President Fidel Ramos as the national gem in 1996 through Proclamation No. 905. This is also featured at the reverse side of the PHP 1000 bill.

Distribution

valve with pearls

This species occurs in Australia, Fiji, Tahiti, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Description

Pinctada maxima oysters grow very large, up to 12 inches in diameter. The two color varieties have different coloration in the outer edge of the interior. This mother of pearl or nacre is responsible for the color of the pearls that the oyster can produce. Water temperature, plankton and sediments determine which color variety is more common in a given area.

Pearl farming

Pinctada maxima is the only species that produces South Sea pearls. Currently south sea pearls are cultured primarily in Australia and Tahiti. Because these pearl oysters are so large, a much larger nucleus than usual can be used in culturing.

External links

Media related to Pinctada maxima at Wikimedia Commons