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Related FAQs:  Bivalves, Bivalves 2, & Bivalve Identification, Bivalve Behavior, Bivalve Compatibility, Bivalve Selection, Bivalve Systems, Bivalve Feeding, Bivalve Disease, Bivalve Reproduction, Tridacnids, Tridacnid Clam BusinessTridacnid Identification, Tridacnid Selection, Tridacnid Compatibility, Tridacnid Systems, Tridacnid Lighting, Tridacnid Placement, Tridacnid Feeding, Tridacnid Disease, Tridacnid Reproduction, Flame Scallops,

Related Articles: Mollusks, Giant Clams/Tridacnids

/The Conscientious Marine Aquarist

Bivalves: Clams, Oysters, Mussels... Class Bivalvia, Pt. 2 

To: Pt. 1, Pt. 3

 

By Bob Fenner

 

Pearl Oysters, Family Pteriidae

Lopha cristagalli (Linnaeus 1758), the Cock's Comb Oyster. Indo-West Pacific; including the Red Sea. Characteristic even opening "zig zag" shells, and less calcification than Hyotissa above. Can be kept in aquariums lacking predatory starfishes. Filter feeders that can be serviced by utilizing timers to shut off filter pumps temporarily. Attach to hard substrates. Fiji 2017 by RobB

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Genus Pinctada:  

Pinctada margaritifera (Linnaeus 1758), the Common or Black-Lipped Pearl Oyster. THE pearl oyster of the South Pacific. Indo-Pacific all the way to the Eastern Pacific, South Africa and the Red Sea. To almost a foot in length. Hawai'i pic.  

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Pinctada maxima, the Gold-Lipped Pearl Oyster. West Pacific. To a foot in length. Bali 2014  

Genus Pteria:

Pteria aegyptica (Chemnitz 1782), Egyptian Wing-Oyster. Indo-Pacific; including Red Sea. Found attached to gorgonians (as here), stony corals, soft corals, hydrozoans. Needs strong current, moderate light and very small (less than 15 millimicron diameter) for food. To 8 cm. in length. Red Sea pic.

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Pteria brunnea (Pease 1863), the Winged Pearl Oyster. Usually found in clusters on whip corals (Cirrhipathes, Stichopathes spp.) or black coral (Antipathes spp.), with Bryozoans et al. in turn growing on their shells. Hawai'i pic. (this may be an endemic)

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Pteria colymbus, Atlantic Wing-Oyster. Tropical West Atlantic. 2-3 inches. Found attached to Gorgonians, mostly Sea Plumes. Often overgrown in turn by other organisms. Turks photo.

Interested in these verticals for publication? Please identify by page #, row, column placement and write to fennerrobert@hotmail.com

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Bigger PIX:  Pteria tortirostris, Sipadan 08
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To: Pt. 1, Pt. 3
 

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