In what sea creatures are pearls found?
It is most commonly accepted that ‘Oysters’ produce pearls. Edible oysters, also known as Ostrea edulis are NOT actually used in pearl production. It is actually a mollusk, not an oyster, and more importantly, it is a bivalve mollusk. There are approximately 20,000 species of bivalve mollusks and each is capable of producing a pearl, but nearly all pearls come from one family; the family pteriidae. Of this family it is the genus Pinctada that produces most pearls. Pinctada fucata chimnitzii – akoya pearls Pinctada margaritifera – Tahitian pearls Pinctada maxima – South Sea pearls Freshwater mussels (again, not oysters) are also known for producing natural and cultured pearls. These mussels also belong to the bivalvia class and the two families moft often producing pearls are Margaritifera and Unionidae. Gastropods can and do also produce non-nacreous pearls also known as calcareous concretions. This includes the abalone, conch, melo melo, and many others.
