Pinctada radiata

Pinctada radiata, commonly known as the Atlantic pearl-oyster[2] or the Gulf pearl oyster[1] is a species of pearl oyster distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific.[3][4] Its range extends as far north as Japan and as far south as the Australian state of Victoria.[5]

Pinctada radiata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Pteriida
Family: Pteriidae
Genus: Pinctada
Species:
P. radiata
Binomial name
Pinctada radiata
(Leach, 1814)
Synonyms[1]
  • Avicula radiata Leach, 1814
  • Meleagrina conomenosi (Monterosato, 1884)
  • Meleagrina savignyi (Monterosato, 1884)
  • Avicula albina var. vaillanti (Vassel, 1897)

Description

P. radiata is generally between 50 and 65 millimetres (2.0 and 2.6 in) in length, though it can reach 106 millimetres (4.2 in). The shell is, thin, compressed, and square-like,[6] with growth rings and ribs on the top surface.[2] Its colouration varies, though it usually displays a brown or red exterior with a pearly interior and a light brown edge.[3] More rarely, the shell may display a green or bronze exterior. Darker brown or red rays may mark the shell, creating darker areas at the margin.[6] The shell's shape and structure also show much variation, hence its many synonyms; it has been described as "very similar to Pinctada margaritifera", and has been misidentified on occasion as P. margaritifera. P. radiata is hermaphroditic, with reproductive maturity being influenced by temperature.[3]

Distribution

Pinctada radiata occurs throughout the Indo-Pacific and Mediterranean Sea at all depths, though it is generally found between 5 and 25 metres (16 and 82 ft).[6] It attaches itself to various hard substrata, including rocks and wrecks.[2] P. radiata is common throughout its range, possibly because of its adaptation to subtropical environments and ability to survive in polluted water.[3] It was originally distributed only in the Indo-Pacific, but has been introduced into the Mediterranean unintentionally through the Suez Canal and intentionally for aquaculture.[1][5]

Human uses

Pinctada radiata is harvested for pearls, especially in Qatari waters, where it may constitute up to 95% of the oyster catch.[7] It is also caught for its edible flesh and lustrous shell.[6] P. radiata has also been investigated for possible use as a bioindicator of heavy metals in Persian Gulf waters.[8]

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References
  1. "Pinctada radiata" (PDF). Delivering Alien Invasive Species In Europe. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  2. "Atlantic pearl-oyster (Pinctada radiata)". Marine Species Identification Portal. ETI BioInformatics. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  3. "Pinctada radiata". Mediterranean Science Commission. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  4. Rajaei M., Farahmand H., Poorbagher H., Mortazavi M.S. and Farhadi A. (2015). "Sympatric morphological and genetic differentiation of the pearl oyster Pinctada radiata (Bivalvia: Pterioida) in the northern Persian Gulf". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Volume 95, Issue 3: 537–543. doi:10.1017/S0025315414001611.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  5. Doğan, Alper; Vedrana Nerlović (2008). "On the occurrence of Pinctada radiata (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Pteriidae), an alien species in Croatian waters". Acta Adriatica. 49 (2): 155–158. ISSN 0001-5113.
  6. "Pinctada radiata". SeaLifeBase. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  7. Mohammed, Saad Zakaria; Mohamed Hamed Yassien (2003). "Population Parameters of the Pearl Oyster Pinctada radiata (Leach) in Qatari Waters" (PDF). Turkish Journal of Zoology. 27: 339–343. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  8. Al-Madfa, H; M. A. R. Abdel-Moati; F. H. Al-Gimaly (1998). "Pinctada radiata (Pearl Oyster): A Bioindicator for Metal Pollution Monitoring in the Qatari Waters" (PDF). Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Springer-Verlag New York. 60 (2): 245–251. doi:10.1007/s001289900617. PMID 9470985. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
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