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Pinctada maculata - pipi pearls

Pinctada maculata (Gould, 1850)

Distinguishing Characteristics

P. maculata is the smallest of the Pinctada genus. The shell measures barely over 5 cm in length, and the pearls are generally at most 8 mm in diameter. Nacre color ranges from white to golden and brown. The pipi shell is used in Polynesia as a delectable source of food.

Ecology and Habitat

P. chemnitzii is found on the Northern coast of Australia and in the South and East China Sea. It is also native to the Japanese owned Ryukyu Islands.

P. maculata in Pearls

Known locally in the Cook Islands as “pipi”, which means “small” or “baby.” These tiny pearls are some of the only natural pearls still used today. They are often incorporated with black pearls (Pinctada margaritifera) from the Cook Islands into jewelry pieces that showcase the unique local treasures of the region. Deeper golden body color commands higher prices in the pearl market. Pearls are generally light golden, however, with a range from champagne to deep yellow-gold.

Common Synonyms	P. pica (Gould 1852) P. radula (Reeve 1857) P. pitcarnensis (Jameson 1901) P. panasesae (Jameson 1901) P. mauritii (Jameson 1901)
Popular Names	Polynesia: pipi
Primary Source	Abundant in Cook Islands and French Polynesia
Other geographical locations	Indo-pacific zone: Polynesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Torres Strait, Melanesia
P. maculata in pearls	Tiny golden pipi pearls from the Cook Islands are used as natural pearls