Gastropoda |
Ostreida |
Margaritidae
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Benthic; depth range 0 - 20 m (Ref. 348). Tropical
Indo-Pacific and North Atlantic: from Cocos (Keeling) Islands to eastern Polynesia; north to Japan and south to northern New South Wales, Kermadec, Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm Max length : 6.0 cm ShL male/unsexed; (Ref. 348); common length : 5.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 348)
Shell rather thin and small, subquadrate in outline, with a short and ill-defined posterior ear which is not drawn out into a wing-like process. Anterior margin protruding only slightly or not at all beyond the tip of the anterior ear. Outer surface of shell, when not worn, covered with numerous, flattened and brittle, imbricating concentric scales bearing slender, radially projecting spines, especially toward the margins. Hinge lines with 2 small teeth on each valve; 1 rounded anterior tubercle just in front of the umbo, and 1 slightly slanting posterior ridge behind the ligamental area. Parallel accessory ridges sometimes developed on both valves, so that the posterior teeth appear double. Colour: outside of shell with a variable coloration, usually white to tan with a number of purple, or brown to black radiating bands and sometimes a superimposed pattern of finely wavy concentric lines of reddish brown. Internal nacreous area with pale yellow to deep orange-gold tint. Non-nacreous margin with white porcelaneous patches, generally alternating with irregular, dark purplish brown or black blotches.
Found in intertidal rock pools, to immediate subtidal depths on reefs (Ref. 377). Byssally attached to rocks, the underside of stones or coral pieces. Littoral and sublittoral to a depth of about 20 m. Extremely common in shallow water Polynesian lagoons. Produces regular but rather small yellow pearls. Locally exploited for its edible meat, golden nacreous shell and, sometimes, for pearls (Ref. 348).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Members of the class Bivalvia are mostly gonochoric, some are protandric hermaphrodites. Life cycle: Embryos develop into free-swimming trocophore larvae, succeeded by the bivalve veliger, resembling a miniature clam.
Poutiers, J.M. 1998 Bivalves. Acephala, Lamellibranchia, Pelecypoda. p. 123-362. In Carpenter, K. E. and V. H. Niem. 1998. FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 1. Seaweeds, corals, bivalves, and gastropods. Rome, FAO. (Ref. 348)
IUCN Red List Status
(Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
CITES status (Ref. 108899)
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
| FishSource |
Tools
More information
Trophic EcologyFood items (preys)
Diet composition
Food consumption
Predators
Population dynamicsGrowthMax. ages / sizesLength-weight rel.Length-length rel.Length-frequenciesMass conversionAbundance Life cycleReproductionMaturityFecunditySpawningEggsEgg developmentLarvae PhysiologyOxygen consumption
Human RelatedStamps, coins, misc.
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature
(Ref.
115969): 23.6 - 29.3, mean 28.3 (based on 3476 cells).
Fishing Vulnerability
Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
Price category
Unknown.
