Shark Bay pearl oyster facts for kids
Pinctada albina is a type of pearl oyster often called the Shark Bay pearl oyster. It is also known as the Arafura shell and "Amami gai" in Japan. This small sea creature is famous for its beautiful inner shell layer, which is used to make mother of pearl.
What is a Pearl Oyster?
The Shark Bay pearl oyster belongs to a group called Pinctada. These are saltwater oysters. They are a type of mollusk that lives in the ocean and has two shells, like a clam. Their shells have a strong inner layer called nacre, which is also known as mother of pearl.
It's important to know that pearl oysters are different from the oysters people eat. They are also different from freshwater mussels that make pearls. Many types of Pinctada oysters can grow large pearls. Because of this, people have tried to collect pearls from them for a long time.
Appearance and Features
The Shark Bay pearl oyster is quite small. Its shell is usually only about three to four inches wide. The shells can be grayish or greenish-yellow. They often have faint brownish-green stripes.
Inside, the mother of pearl layer looks yellowish-green. It has a light yellow edge and brown marks. The shell is round, with its height and width being almost the same.
Oyster shells can be oval or shaped like a pear. Their exact shape can change depending on what they attach to in the ocean. These oysters are amazing filters. One oyster can clean about 1.3 gallons of water every hour!
Where They Live
The Shark Bay pearl oyster mostly lives in Shark Bay, Western Australia. You can also find them along the northern coast of Australia, all the way up to the Great Barrier Reef. They live in shallow waters, which made them easy to find.
When people first started collecting pearl oysters in Australia, they found P. albina because it was easy to reach by wading or swimming. These oysters are found in many places. Their home stretches from Indonesia through the Philippines and up to Micronesia. You can also find them in China, Korea, and Vietnam.
Commercial Use
Pearls are not often found in the Shark Bay pearl oyster. When they are found, they are usually small and yellow. The mother of pearl layer is thin, and the shells are small. This means they are not worth much for their pearls alone.
However, these shells were very important in the 1800s. Their perfect shape made them great for making buttons! Today, this oyster is used to grow special pearls called blister pearls, also known as Mabe pearls.
