Pearl Guide

Naming Problems

Ever since Shohei Shirai's book "Pearls and Pearl Oysters of the World" (1994) came out, many species that were once believed to be different have been confirmed as actually belonging to one species. Such is the case for the Pinctada imbricata species, that now encompasses species that were once considered unique to one area. Under this name we now have the former species of "Akoya" pearl oysters: P. fucata, P. martensii, P. radiata, P. anomioides, P. vulgaris, and several...

Scallop Pearls Defined
A scallop pearl is a non-nacreous calcareous concretion produced by any member of the Pectinidae (scallop) family. Pectinids are known for their uniquely blue colored "eyes" (actually, known as simple-eyes) found in their mantle and for their ability to "swim" using their shells and mantle to create stong "jet-streams".


Scallop Pearls, the Pacific "Lion's Paw"
Unlike other non-nacreous pearls such as the melo-melo and conch pearls, the scallop pearl comes from a...

Pinctada nigra (Gould, 1850)


Common Synonyms
P. atropurpurea (Dunker, 1852)
P. flexuosa (Reeve, 1857)
P. sheepmakeri (Dunker, 1872)
P. reentsii (Dunker, 1872)
P. tristis (Dunker, 1872)
P. natalensis (Jameson, 1901)

















P. nigra pearls are rare and generally inferior. They were used historically for traditional medicine and inexpensive decoration. This species is found in South Africa, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Borneo and Madagascar.


Related Articles:

Pearl...

The Pinctada fucata/martensii/radiata/imbricata species complex

Naming Problems

Ever since Shohei Shirahi's book "Pearls and Pearl Oysters of the World" (1994) came out, many species that were once believed to be different have been confirmed as actually belonging to one species. Such is the case for the Pinctada imbricata species, that now encompasses species that were once considered unique to one area.
Under this name we now have the former species of "Akoya" pearl oysters: P. fucata...

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 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.

A "Pipi" shell with a natural blister in it. Notice the characteristic golden color of the inner shell.
Ecology and Habitat
P. chemnitzii is found on the Northern...

Pinctada chemnitzii (Phillippi, 1849)

Distinguishing Characteristics
P. chemnitzii is often confused with the "Akoya Complex" or Pinctada imbricata species.

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. chemnitzii in Pearls
For over forty years, P. chemnitzii has been used in China for pearl culture. The Japanese use this Chinese species for pearl culture as well...