Question

Pearl producing Indian species is
(a) Pinctada vulgaris
(b) Pinctada indica
(c) Ostrea indica
(d) Ostrea Vulgaris

Answer 1

Hint Phylum Mollusca consists of class Pelecypoda which represents bivalve species. Pearl is secreted by a bivalve like oyster which is known as Pearl oyster. Different types of pearl obtain from different types of species that are commonly found in marine water.

Complete answer:
Oysters come under the phylum Mollusca which has a soft body under a shell that is secreted by a mantle and made up of calcium carbonate. Pearl oysters are scientifically known as Pinctada which belong to the family Pteriidae of class Pelecypoda. Pearl is found inside an oyster which is made up of a calcareous shell. Oyster is bivalved and joined dorsally. The Indian species of the pearl-producing oyster is Pinctada Vulgaris which is commonly found in marine water and sedentary in living or dead form. Pearl is formed between the mantle and shell after the deposition of fine silica, the color and lustre of pearl depend upon the light penetration. In India, pearl fisheries are commonly famous in the Gulf of Kutch and the Gulf of Mannar.

Additional information:
Genus Ostrea belongs to the family Ostreidae which is also known as an edible oyster. It consists of different types of species found in marine water. The shell of Ostrea is rough and scaly with delicate foliation. The hollow surface inside the shell consists of yellow to grey color meat. Ostrea is mostly found in Europe.

So, the correct answer is Pinctada Vulgaris.

Note: Pearl formation was first introduced in japan in 1893 by Kokichi Mikimoto and he was also known as pearl king and father of the pearl culture industry. Later the cultivation and production of pearls also got started in other countries. In India, pearl culture was achieved by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute in 1973.