Pinctada

Pinctada margaritifera

Under the pearl oysters of the genus Pinctada are summarized. The genus belongs to the order of Pterioida within the class of shells. Some species of the genus Pinctada are more or less important for the production of pearls.

Characterization

The species of the genus are almost all grossly finned. The lock bar is straight with few teeth. The housings are attached to the substrate with byssus. The ligament is external.

System

The genus includes about 15 species, of which 6 species have a meaning for pearl farming. These are listed briefly here.

• Pinctada maxima ( Jameson, 1901): In the Pinctada maxima Perlmuschelart is an extraordinarily large shell. You can reach over 5 kg. It occurs to tropical western Pacific in the eastern Indian Ocean. The beads of this well suitable for mussel can grow up to 20 mm.

• Pinctada margaritifera (Linnaeus, 1758): This seashell is common on the east coast of Africa, the Red Sea, located in the Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean, the Western and Central Pacific. The type consists of several sub-species to which the Schwarzlippige pearl oyster ( Pinctada margaritifera cumingi ) is one of the Polynesian area. The most precious and most famous pearls of antiquity (such as the legendary pearl earrings Queen Cleopatra ) are likely to originate from this species of clam.

• Pinctada radiata ( Leach, 1814) is in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Indian Ocean and, in places, also located in the Mediterranean since the construction of the Suez Canal. Most pearls of antiquity may have been due to this species of clam. This type is grown only to a limited extent. Your natural pearls enjoy but still a high priority.

• Pinctada imbricata Röding, 1798: In the Pinctada imbricata kind are those pearl oyster, which was responsible for the first beads of the New World ( America). The world explorers Columbus had found this pearl mussel species at Indians on the coast of Venezuela. It is also referred to as " Atlantic pearl oyster " because it is located in the western Atlantic (Bermuda, Florida and northern South America). The natural populations of this mussel species are due to overfishing in many places as eradicated or very vulnerable, especially since it is not cultivated.

• Pinctada fucata ( Gould, 1857) could be considered the most important Perlmuschelart in the history of pearl cultivation. This Perlmuschelart the Japanese pearl farmers Mikimoto opened beginning of the 20th century the world market of cultured pearls. It is also known as the " Akoya pearl oyster ". The name Pinctada fucata is scientifically still somewhat unstable. It is native to the waters of Japan, China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Australia.

• Pinctada mazatlanica ( Hanley, 1855) is sometimes referred to as the " La Paz pearl oyster ". The most famous teardrop-shaped ( semi- baroque ) pearl of all time, La Peregrina is likely to come from this Perlmuschelart. The range of this East Pacific Perlmuschelart extends from the west coast of Mexico ( Baja California) to Peru. They may reach a size of about 20 cm. Natural pearls can be about 10 mm. Apart from white pearls this Perlmuschelart also produces dark-colored pearls.