Question

The most precious Asian pearl is produced by:
A. Pinctada
B. Meleagrina
C. Union
D. All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Pearls which are hard, lustrous spherical masses, formed within the shell of a pearl oyster or other bivalve mollusks. Typically these pearls are white to bluish-grey in color. They are produced by mollusks and are highly prized as a gem.

Complete answer:
1. Pearls are hard, lustrous spherical masses that typically white to bluish-grey, formed within the shell of a pearl oyster or other bivalve mollusks. They are highly prized as a gem.
2. They are formed inside the shell of certain mollusks as a defense mechanism against potentially threatening irritants such as parasites inside the shell or an attack from the outside that injures the mantle tissue. They create a pearl sac to seal off the irritation to prevent further injuries.
3. Pinctada is a group of clams that are found in the saltwater habitat. These are marine bivalve mollusks (they have a laterally compressed body, a shell consisting of two hinged valves, and pairs of gills for respiration). These organisms belong to the family of Pteriidae. These are called the pearl oysters. Pinctada maxima are pearl oysters which have the maximum production of pearls. All species within this genus produce pearls. This is known as 'mother of pearls’

Additional Information:
1. Philobrya meleagrina is a small saltwater/ marine clam, it is a bivalve mollusk.
2. Unio is a genus of medium-sized freshwater mussels, it is also a bivalve mollusk.
3.Pinctada has an inner shell layer which is composed of tissue called nacre.
4. Pearls can be manufactured/ synthesized artificially. They can be made of glass, plastic, or fish-scale imitations. They are hence called faux, which are low quality and cheap.

So, the correct answer is “Option A Pinctada”.

Note: Pearls can also be cultured. They are considered as real pearls but they aren't formed without human intervention. Most of the pearls available on the market today are cultured.