Shark Bay pearl oyster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shark Bay pearl oyster |
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_-_Pteriidae_-_Mollusc_shell.jpeg) |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Pinctada
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| Species: |
albina
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The Pinctada albina is a special type of pearl oyster. It's often called the Shark Bay pearl oyster or the Arafura shell. In Japan, people know it as the "Amami gai." This amazing sea creature is famous for its ability to create beautiful pearls.
Contents
What is a Pearl Oyster?
Pinctada albina belongs to a group of sea animals called Pinctada. These are saltwater oysters, which means they live in the ocean. They are a type of mollusk, which is a soft-bodied animal often protected by a hard shell.
Pearl oysters are different from the oysters people eat. They also aren't related to freshwater mussels that make pearls. What makes Pinctada oysters special is their inner shell. It's covered in a shiny layer called mother of pearl, also known as nacre. This is the same material that pearls are made of!
Cool Facts About This Oyster
How to Spot a Shark Bay Pearl Oyster
The Shark Bay pearl oyster is quite small. It usually grows to be only about three to four inches wide. Its shell can be grayish or yellowish-green. You might also see faint brownish-green stripes on it.
The inside of the shell, the nacre, looks yellowish-green. It has a light yellow edge and some brown marks. The shell itself is usually round, almost as tall as it is wide. Oyster shells can look different depending on where they attach. They are often oval or shaped like a pear.
How Oysters Help the Ocean
Oysters are like natural filters for the ocean. A single oyster can clean about 1.3 gallons of water every hour! They help keep the water clear and healthy for other sea creatures.
Where Do They Live?
Finding Them in Australia
The Pinctada albina oyster lives mostly in Shark Bay, Western Australia. This area is famous for its unique marine life. You can also find these oysters along the northern coast of Australia, all the way up to the Great Barrier Reef.
These oysters like to live in shallow water. This made them easy to find when people first started looking for pearl oysters in Australia. Early adventurers worked with Aboriginal people to collect them. They could simply wade or swim a short distance from shore to find them.
Their Wide Ocean Home
The Shark Bay pearl oyster is found in many places across the ocean. Its home stretches from Indonesia and the Philippines all the way to Micronesia. You can also find them in countries like China, Korea, and Vietnam. This wide distribution is similar to another large pearl oyster, P. maxima.
Pearls and People
Why They Are Important
While Pinctada albina can make pearls, these pearls are usually small and yellow. The mother of pearl layer in their shells is also thin. This means they aren't worth much for making traditional pearls.
However, these oysters were once very important! In the 1800s, their shells were perfect for making buttons. They were a big part of the "Mother of Pearl Industry" until other materials became popular. Today, these oysters are sometimes used to grow special pearls called blister pearls, also known as Mabe pearls. These pearls grow attached to the inside of the shell.
