Wholesale pearls beads : Pearl producing mollusc descriptions and definitions

For the purposes of these CIBJO Standard/rules, the following terms and definitions apply;

6.1. Abalone
ear-shaped marine gastropod (6.21) of the genus Haliotis (6.24), with nacre in multi-hues of blue, green, cream, red and purple; the meat is edible; produces distinctive natural pearls (5.118), blisters (5.117) and cultured blisters (5.1) are produced in several regions (e.g., California, New Zealand); also known as paua (New Zealand) and awabi (Japan). (Mikkelsen, 2003). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.2. Actinonaias pectorosa
Actinonaias pectorosa (Conrad, 1834) is a natural pearl producing freshwater bivalve mollusc found in the USA, otherwise known the Pheasant shell and the Cumberland Mucket. It is a large roughly elliptical, thick-shelled mussel. The periostracum is golden brown with broken green rays; older individuals may become brown or black. The nacre may be bluish to creamy or silvery white with iridescence along the margins. This species is found in the Tennessee and Cumberland River basins, and lives in sand and gravel in fast river currents. (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.3. Akoya pearl oyster
Pinctada fucata (martensii) (6.45) is used extensively for pearl culture in Japan, China and other areas. Akoya is the Japanese name for this pearl oyster (Mikkelsen, 2003). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.4. Amblema plicata
Amblema plicata (Say, 1817) is a natural pearl producing freshwater bivalve mollusc found in the USA, otherwise known as the three ridge mussel, Blue-point, purple-tip, or fluter. The shell is elongated or rounded shell with ridges or folds on the posterior half. No sculpturing on the anterior end. Nacre pearly white, frequently stained, iridescent. Some individuals have a purple tint. Amblema plicata live in small to large rivers and impoundments in mud, sand, or gravel (2005a, 2005b). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.5. Argopecten purpuratus
the pectinid bivalve Argopecten purpuratus (Lamarck, 1819) or Chilean scallop, inhabits the Pacific Ocean, between the northern coast of Peru and central Chile, and has become an important commercial species. It is distributed along the Pacific coast between Arica (18°25″S) and Valparaiso. This species lives on sedimentary grounds in sheltered areas (Moragat, 2001). Produces scallop pearls similar to those from the Lion‘s Paw (6.31) (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.6. Atlantic Pearl Oyster
Pinctada imbricata (6.46); the pearl oyster native to the Caribbean and southeastern North America, which was exploited by Spanish pearl gatherers in the 16th and 17th centuries (Mikkelsen, 2003).

6.7. Black-lipped Pearl Oyster
Pinctada margaritifera (6.49), used extensively for pearl culturing in French Polynesia. The widest-ranging pearl oyster, it has a history of natural pearl gathering in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, throughout the Indo-Pacific islands, Mexico and Japan (Okinawa). Also Pinctada mazatlanica (6.51), Mexico and Panama.

6.8. Cassis madagascarensis
of the family Cassidae, Cassis madagascarensis also known as the Emperor Helmet (6.18), is a large species with an almost flat spire, the body whorl has three rows of spiral blunted knobs and fine rounded axial ridges. The underside is peachy orange – reflecting the colour of some pearls produced by this mollusc. The lip bears about 10 strong denticles and the columella bears strong white spiral ribs and folds, tinged between the dark brown or black. (Wye, 1991). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.9. Ceylon Pearl Oyster
Pinctada radiata (6.52), the pearl oyster with the longest history of sustained harvesting, native to the Gulf of Mannar, the Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea (Mikkelsen, 2003). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.10. Chambered nautilus
a native of the tropical Pacific, a cousin of the octopus and is a living link with the past—little changed for more than 150 million years. The nautilus has more than 90 tentacles. These tentacles have grooves and ridges that grip food and pass it into the nautilus‘s mouth. A nautilus swims using jet propulsion—it expels water from its mantle cavity through a siphon located near its head. By adjusting the direction of the siphon, a nautilus can swim forward, backward or sideways. See also Coque de perle (5.45). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.11. Conch
common name applied to some species of marine snails (i.e., gastropods 6.21) including the Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) (6.67), Horse Conch (Pleuroploca gigantea) (6.54), and the Emperor Helmet (Cassis madagasgerensis) (6.8) (see also 6.18). (Wye, 1991, Kamat, 2000). Note: see Clause 2 Normative References; Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.12. Cristaria plicata
or Cockscomb Pearl Mussel; the freshwater pearl mussel originally used for pearl culturing in both Japan and China. In Chinese, the name is zhou wen guan bang; in Japan, it is known as the Karasu mussel (Mikkelsen, 2003).

6.13. Cumberlandia monodonta
Cumberlandia monodonta (Say, 1829) is a natural pearl producing freshwater bivalve mollusc found in the USA, otherwise known Spectaclecase. It is an elongate shell, usually pinched in the middle, dark brown to black, with poorly developed teeth. Nacre is white, iridescent. Length to 8 inches (20.3 cm). It lives in large rivers with swiftly flowing water, among boulders in patches of sand, cobble, or gravel in areas where current is reduced. (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.14. Cyclonaias tuberculata
Cyclonaias tuberculata (Rafinesque, 1820) is a natural pearl producing freshwater bivalve mollusc found in the USA, otherwise known as the Purple Wartyback, Missouri mapleleaf, purple pimpleback, or deerhorn. It has a rounded shell with a fairly prominent wing, beak covered with fine wavy sculpturing, no green stripe on the umbo, purple nacre and a deep and compressed beak cavity. The nacre is usually deep purple, or occasionally white with a purple tinge. Cyclonaias tuberculata lives in medium to large rivers in gravel or mixed sand and gravel. (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.15. Cyrtonaias tampicoensis
Cyrtonaias tampicoensis or the Tampico pearly mussel has no significant external shell sculpturing and may reach over 130mm in shell length. Colouration varies from yellowish-brown to dark brown and black. Internally, nacre is typically purple, but may be multi coloured. Pearls are the same colours as the nacre. Their habitat ranges from relatively small streams to large reservoirs in waters less than 20 feet deep in Texas USA (Howells, 2005). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.16. Ellipsaria lineolata
Ellipsaria lineolata (Rafinesque, 1820) is a natural pearl producing freshwater bivalve mollusc found in the USA, otherwise known as the Butterfly. It has a triangular, flattened shell, sharply angled posterior ridge, yellowish brown, with broken brown rays, the nacre is white and iridescent. Ellipsaria lineolata live in large rivers in sand or gravel. Length to 4 inches (10.2 cm). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.17. Elliptio crassidens
Elliptio crassidens (Lamarck, 1819) is a natural pearl producing freshwater bivalve mollusc found in the USA, otherwise known as the Elephant-ear, Mule’s ear, or blue ham. It is a heavy, solid, and triangular shell with dark brown to black periostracum. The nacre colour is variable, usually purple or occasionally pink or white. Elliptio crassidens live in large rivers in mud, sand, or fine gravel. Length to 6 inches (15.2 cm). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.18. Emperor Helmet
see Cassis madagasgarensis (6.8) (Wye, 1991).

6.19. Fusconaia ebena
Fusconaia ebena (Lea, 1831) is a natural pearl producing freshwater bivalve mollusc found in the USA, otherwise known as Ebonyshell; It is a round, heavy, thick, brown or black shell without rays or pustules its beak cavity is very deep. Fusconaia ebena live in large rivers in sand and gravel, the nacre is pearly white and iridescent. Length to 10.2 cm (4 inches). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.20. Fusconaia flava
Fusconaia flava (Rafinesque, 1820) is a natural pearl producing freshwater bivalve mollusc found in the USA, otherwise known as the Wabash Pigtoe or just Pigtoe; it is a triangular shell with a shallow sulcus usually present on the side with rough clothlike periostracum, and deep beak cavity. The nacre is white or tinged with salmon and iridescent. Fusconaia flava lives in creeks to large rivers in mud, sand, or gravel. (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.21. Gastropod
a univalve mollusc that often has a head with eyes; Gastropods includes land and sea snails. (See e.g., 5.43 and 5.104) (Wye, 1991).

6.22. Giant Clam
see 6.69
Note: see Clause 2 Normative References; Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

6.23. Gold-lipped Pearl Oyster
a variety of Pinctada maxima (6.50), used extensively for pearl culturing in Australia, Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand; see also Silver-lipped Pearl Oyster (6.66). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

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6.24. Haliotis
Haliotidae or abalones (6.1) are a large family of gastropods that are also known as ormers or sea ears in various localities. The shape is consistently flat with little evidence of a spire; they are either oval or round and possess a series of holes on the body whorl. The interiors are iridescent and can be very colourful, their habitat ranges from low tide zones to some hundreds of feet depth (Wye, 1991). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.25. Horse Conch
see Pleuroploca gigantea (6.54) (Wye, 1991).

6.26. Hyriopsis cumingii
Hyriopsis cumingii (Lea, 1852) or triangleshell pearl mussel ranges naturally in China. It has a thicker shell than the Cockscomb (Cristaria plicata 6.12), with pink to peach-coloured nacre. Both natural and cultured Triangleshell pearls occur in a wide range of colours, from white to pink, lavender and deep rose. (Mikkelsen, 2003, Akamatsu, 2001). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.27. Hyriopsis schlegeli
or Biwa pearly mussel used to produce non-beaded cultured pearls in Lake Biwa Japan, (Farn, 1986).

6.28. La Paz Pearl Oyster
Pinctada mazatlanica (6.51), from the eastern Pacific Ocean, presently cultured in the Gulf of California for blister and cultured pearls (5.48).

6.29. Lasmigona complanata
Lasmigona complanata (Barnes, 1823) is a natural pearl producing freshwater bivalve mollusc found in the USA, otherwise known as the White Heelsplitter, the Pancake, razorback, elephant-ear, or hackle-back. It is a large, rounded, compressed, relatively thin shell, bluntly pointed at the posterior end; dark brown or black periostracum, double-looped beak sculpture. The nacre is bluish white or white and iridescent. Lasmigona complanata lives in pools or sluggish streams with a mud, sand, or fine gravel bottom. (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.30. Ligumia recta
Ligumia recta (Lamarck, 1819) is a natural pearl producing freshwater bivalve mollusc found in the USA, otherwise known as the Black sandshell, Black sand mussel, long John, honest John, sow’s ear, or lady’s slipper. It is an elongated shell, pointed on the posterior end, smooth surface, usually dark brown to black. The nacre is variable from white, pink, and salmon to deep purple and iridescent. Length to 8 inches (20.3 cm). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.31. Lion‟s Paw
of the many scallops there are three bearing the common name Lion‘s Paw, one of these is the exceedingly rare Nodipecten magnificus (Sowerby, 1835) which is largely restricted to the Galapagos Islands. The other two are Nodipecten (Lyropecten) Nodosus (Atlantic Lion‘s Paw) L. 1758 and Nodipecten (Lyropecten) subnodosus (Pacific Lion‘s Paw also known as Mano de Leon) Sowerby 1835, the largest pectinid in tropical waters. N. nodosus is found in the seas of South-eastern USA to Brazil and N. subnodosus in the seas of Western Central America at depths that vary from 25 to 150 meters. Together the shell colours are exceptional in both their variety and depth. The outer surface of the shell may be several shades of brown, sometimes described as chocolate brown and yellow to orange while the interior varies from pearly white to shades of purple and brown. The outer surface of the N. nodosus shell most often displays several rows of rounded nodular protuberances running down about eight rounded ribs (although many from the southern Caribbean are smooth, potentially differentiating it from N. subnodosus which have no such protuberances). Both the Atlantic and Pacific Lion‘s Paws have fan-shaped (typical of scallops in general) equal valves with unequal ears. Lion‘s Paw scallops may produce distinctive natural non-nacreous pearls (Scarratt, 2004). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.32. Mabe pearl oyster
See Pteria penguin (6.58)

6.33. Margaritifera
the taxonomic name applied to one of two entities: (1) the current genus-name applied to one group of freshwater pearl mussels, including the common pearl-producing mussel of Europe and North America, Margaritifera margaritifera (6.34); (2) as a species-name, that for the Black-lipped Pearl Oyster (Pinctada margaritifera) (6.49). Margarita is the Latin term for pearl, it derives from the Greek margaros pearl oyster. (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.34. Margaritifera margaritifera
the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera grows to 140 mm in length, and burrows into sandy substrates, often between boulders and pebbles, in fast-flowing rivers and streams. It requires cool, well-oxygenated soft water free of pollution or turbidity. The mussel spends its larval, or glochidial, stage attached to the gills of salmonid fishes. The larvae attach themselves during mid to late summer and drop off the following spring to settle in the riverbed gravel where they grow to adulthood. Margaritifera margaritifera can be found throughout Europe and North America. (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.35. Megalonaias nervosa
Megalonaias nervosa (Rafinesque, 1820) is a natural pearl producing freshwater bivalve mollusc found in the USA, otherwise known as the Washboard, Bald-pate, or board. It is a large, black shell, heavily sculptured with V-shaped ridges in the front and large folds on the sides and back, particularly in smaller shells. The nacre is white, often with purple or copper-coloured blotches and iridescent. Megalonaias nervosa lives primarily in large rivers with a good current, and occasionally in medium-sized streams in mud, sand, or gravel. Megalonaias nervosa has been used for the manufacture of shell beads that form the nucleus of beaded cultured pearls (5.15). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.36. Melo aethiopica
a marine gastropod (5.101) and one of the melo volutes; this species lives principally in Indonesian waters but is generally distributed from Java in the west to Papua New Guinea in the east. Their habitat is reportedly thick volcanic sand in shallow waters. Dimensions are between 200 and 250mm in length, with a largest reported size of 348mm. The protoconch is usually bright yellow in colour, but generally the shell is a light brown or mahogany it has 14 to 18 subsutural spines per whorl and three columella plaits. Sometimes Melo aethiopica have a creamy yellow spiral band in the middle of the whorls, and young shells may have a pattern of small dark blotches. There is no regular fishing. Melo aethiopica is the bailer shell used in Papua New Guinea to make the traditional jewellery. See also Melo pearl (5.104). (Poppe G.T., 1992). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.37. Melo amphora
a marine gastropod (5.101) and one of the melo volutes; this species lives all along the northern coast of Australia and the southern coast of New Guinea. Their habitat is on the sand and sand-mud bottoms from the shore and down to 10m., deep. Dimensions are between 300 and 468mm in length, with the largest registered size of 524mm. The protoconch is wide and cream coloured, the spines are long and straight but only on the first 2.5 whorls. The best distinguishing character is the absence of spines on the last adult whorl, and they have three strong columella plaits. The range of Melo amphora and Melo aethiopica coincide with each other, it may be that Melo amphora is a southern variant of Melo aethiopica (Poppe G.T., 1992). See also Melo pearl (5.104). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.38. Melo broderipii
a marine gastropod (5.101) and one of the melo volutes; this species lives mainly in the Philippines but is also recorded for New Guinea. Their habitat is on sand and mud bottoms from the shore to about 10 metres deep. Dimensions are between 250 and 350mm in length, and the registered largest size is 371mm. Melo broderipii’s have 20 to 25 spines per whorl and the columella has four plaits. The base colour is pale cream brown and most shells have dark chocolate brown flecks that become scarcer in the last whorl, (Poppe G.T., 1992). See also Melo pearl (5.104). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.39. Melo georginae
a marine gastropod (5.101) and one of the melo volutes; this species is limited to the coast of southern Queensland, Australia. Their habitat is on sand bottoms between 2 and 90 meters deep, and their dimensions are between 200 and 300mm in length. The protoconch is pink and the shell has on a pinkish white or cream background and, wide areas of vivid orange which form thick irregular reticulations which outline white triangles. Two dark spiral bands stand out against the yellow-orange colour of the last adult whorl. This species lives deeper than any other member of the genus. (Poppe G.T., 1992). See also Melo pearl (5.104). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.40. Melo melo
a marine gastropod (5.101) and one of the melo volutes; this species lives from the South China Sea, south and west to Singapore and the Andaman Sea. Their habitat is from the shore down to 70 metres deep on mud bottoms. Dimensions are between 150 and 275mm in length with a reported record size of 362mm. The protoconch is covered by the last whorl; they have no spines and three columella plaits. Generally they have two or three bands of dispersed dark flecks, which are rarer and more loosely spaced on the last whorl, (Poppe G.T., 1992). See also Melo pearl (5.104). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.41. Mercenaria mercenaria
clam species Mercenaria mercenaria (Linnaeus, 1758) or Venus mercenaria, (class; bivalvia, order; Veneroida, family; Veneridae, genus; Mercenaria) is variously known as the northern quahog (its Indian name pronounced CO hawg), hardshell, littleneck, cherrystone, or chowder clam, is common, commercially important and found on the east coast of North America where it lives in soft sediments in shallow water. Produces clam pearls (5.36) in various shades of purple. It burrows shallowly in sediments of either mud or sand and is among the most commercially important species of invertebrate. Like other clams, it is a filter feeder. Mercenaria mercenaria has a large, heavy shell that ranges from being a pale brownish colour to shades of grey and white. The exterior of the shell, except nearest the umbo is covered with a series of growth rings. The interior of the shell is coloured a deep purple around the posterior edge and hinge. (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.42. Nodipecten (Lyropecten) nodosus
see scallop (6.65) and Lion‘s paw (6.31).

6.43. Nodipecten (Lyropecten) subnodosus
see scallop and Lion‘s paw, (6.65 and 6.31).

6.44. Obliquaria reflexa
Obliquaria reflexaria (Rafinesque, 1820) is a natural pearl producing freshwater bivalve mollusc found in the USA, otherwise known as Threehorn Wartyback, just Three Horned or Hornyback, three dot, or three knot. It has large knobs that alternate from side to side that will distinguish this mussel from all other species found in the Midwest. Obliquaria reflexaria lives in large rivers in sand or gravel; it may be locally abundant in impoundments. (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.45. Pinctada fucata
Pinctada fucata (Gould. 1857) is the Akoya (5.4) pearl oyster (6.3), known in Japan as Pinctada martensii (6.48). It is sometimes considered a subspecies of Pinctada imbricata (6.46). The shell is of a medium size and is rather inflated and fragile. The exterior is rough and is covered with layers of greyish purple lamellae which extend over the margins. The byssal notch lies below a small winged projection of the hinge line. Its habitat ranges from Japan to China and Vietnam (Wye, 1991, Landman, 2001). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.46. Pinctada imbricata
Pinctada imbricata (Röding, 1798) or the Atlantic Pearl Oyster, ranges naturally in the western Atlantic from Bermuda and Florida to northern South America. It is the source of Venezuelan pearls and also of Columbus‘s pearls (Mikkelsen, 2003). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.47. Pinctada maculata
small pearl oyster or pipi is widespread throughout French Polynesia and the Cook Islands.

6.48. Pinctada martensii
see Pinctada fucata (6.45) and Akoya (5.4) oyster (6.3). Also referred to as Martins Pearl Oyster, the shell is of a medium size and is rather inflated and fragile. The exterior is rough and is covered with layers of greyish purple lamellae which extend over the margins. The byssal notch lies below a small winged projection of the hinge line. Its habitat ranges from Japan to China and Vietnam (Wye, 1991). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.49. Pinctada margaritifera
a large oyster that has equal compressed valves with a rich silver grey nacreous interior edged with greyish black. The exterior is formed from concentric layers of flaky green and grey lamellae. The source of natural and cultured, naturally coloured, black pearls from French Polynesia (5.171, 5.172 and 5.173), the Cook Islands, Okinawa and other South Sea islands (Wye, 1991). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.50. Pinctada maxima
the silver or golden lipped pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima) is the largest of the pearl oysters. Traditional South Sea pearling fleets dived for this pearl oyster in the quest for its valuable large natural pearls, and for its valuable high quality Mother of Pearl (5.109) which was sought after worldwide for the mother-of-pearl (5.109) industry. Today it is used extensively to produce cultured south sea pearls in Australia, Indonesia, Myanmar Philippines and elsewhere in the South Seas (5.164). (Mikkelsen, 2003, Wye, 1991). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.51. Pinctada mazatlanica
Pinctada mazatlanica (Hanley, 1855), the La Paz Pearl Oyster, or the Panamic Black-Lipped Pearl Oyster. A medium sized oyster (18 cm) with equally compressed valves with a rich silver grey nacreous interior edged with a green or golden sheen. The exterior is formed from concentric layers of flaky light-brown and green lamellae. Habitat ranges from inside the Gulf of California (also known as the sea of cortez), to Peru. Fisheries gave abundant supplies of naturally coloured pearls, from light-grey to black, with many intermediate tones of pink, gold and green. This species was the first one to be used farmed commercially for the production of natural pearls in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. (Hurwit, K. 2000, Gomelsky,V. 2001, McLaurin, D. 2002, McLaurin, D. & E. Arizmendi, 2002) (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.52. Pinctada radiata
Pinctada radiata (Leache, 1814), or the Ceylon Pearl Oyster (6.9), is sometimes considered a variety of Pinctada imbricata. Its habitat ranges through the eastern Mediterranean, Red Sea, Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.

6.53. Placopectin magellanicus
see scallop, (6.65). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.54. Pleuroploca gigantea
also known as the Florida Horse Conch, the largest of the tulip shells. The spire is tall and the whorls, the shoulders of which have blunt rounded knobs, are angular. Its shells are generally beige to light brown with a pale orange aperture and the non-nacreous pearls it produces are similarly coloured. Pleuroploca gigantean lives in shallow sub tidal waters (Wye, 1991). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.55. Potamilis purpuratus
is a natural pearl producing freshwater bivalve mollusc found in the USA. It has an elongate and rectangular shell, inflated, dark green to black, with purple or pink nacre. Potamilis purpuratus inhabits large rivers e.g., Mississippi, in mud or mixed mud and gravel; common names are; Bloofer, blue mucket, and purple pocketbook. (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.56. Proptera alata
Proptera alata (Say, 1817) is a natural pearl producing freshwater bivalve mollusc found in the USA, otherwise known as the Pink Heelsplitter, Purple Heelsplitter, pancake, or hatchet-back. It has an elongated and rectangular shell, well-developed posterior wing, dark green to dark brown, with purple or pink nacre and a length to 8 inches (20.3 cm). It lives in medium to large rivers in mud or mixed mud, sand, and gravel. (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.57. Proptera purpurata
Proptera purpurata (Lamarck, 1819) (synonym) accepted scientific name Potamilus purpuratus (Lamarck, 1819) is a natural pearl producing freshwater bivalve mollusc found in the USA, otherwise known as the bleufer or purple pocketbook. (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.58. Pteria penguin
also known as the Mabe (5.97) pearl oyster (6.32) or as black-winged pearl oyster. An ovate and fairly fragile shell, it has unequal valves, the upper or right valve being more inflated. The oyster has a characteristic extension to the hinge line (Mikkelsen, 2003, Hurwit, 2003, Mao, 2004). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.59. Pteria sterna
the rainbow-lipped pearl oyster (Pteria sterna) also known as the western winged pearl oyster is a winged oyster with two unequal sized lateral extensions. The shell appears purplish-brown to silver grey and is moderately thin, usually growing to 14 cm in length. The exterior is formed from concentric layers of brown to black lamellae. Its habitat ranges from the eastern Pacific side of Baja California (Mexico), inside the Gulf of California (also known as the sea of cortez) and down to Peru. Fisheries gave abundant supplies of naturally coloured pearls, from light-grey to dark-purple, with many intermediate tones of pink, gold and green (Gomelsky, 2001, Hurwit, 2000, McLaurin, 2002, Moreno, 2002). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.60. Quadrula metanevra
Quadrula metanevra (Rafinesque, 1820) is a natural pearl producing freshwater bivalve mollusc found in the USA, otherwise known as Monkey face or Knobbed rock shell; Rounded or squared shell with large knobs along the posterior ridge and a distinct indentation on the posterior margin that looks like a chimpanzee in profile. It often has distinctive zigzag markings on the shell. The shell is thick, rounded or rectangular, and moderately inflated. Its length is up to 4 inches (10.2 cm). Quadrula metanevra live in medium to large rivers in gravel or mixed sand and gravel. (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.61. Quadrula nodulata
Quadrula nodulata (Rafinesque, 1822) is a natural pearl producing freshwater bivalve mollusc found in the USA otherwise known as Wartyback, or Two-horned pocketbook, winged pimpleback, pimpleback, nodule shell, winged orb shell. It is a rounded shell with two rows of paired knobs or pustules on the posterior half of the shell; no sulcus. The nacre is pearly white and iridescent. Quadrula nodulata live in large rivers or in the lower sections of medium-sized rivers in sand or fine gravel. (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.62. Quadrula pustulosa
Quadrula pustulosa (Lea, 1831) is a natural pearl producing freshwater bivalve mollusc found in the USA otherwise known as the Pimpleback, Wartyback, or Warty Pigtoe. It is a rounded shell, a green stripe on the umbo, usually densely covered with pustules. Beak cavity deep and open, not compressed as in the purple wartyback. Its length is up to 4 inches (10.2 cm), and the nacre is pearly white and iridescent. (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.63. Quadrula quadrula
Quadrula quadrula (Rafinesque, 1820) is a natural pearl producing freshwater bivalve mollusc found in the USA, otherwise known as Mapleleaf or Stranger; fairly thick shell with well-developed teeth. Squared in outline, lateral surface with two rows of pustules separated by a sulcus. Its length is up to 4 inches (10.2 cm). Quadrula quadrula lives in medium to large rivers and reservoirs with a mud, sand, or gravel bottom. (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.64. Queen Conch
see Strombus gigas (6.67).

6.65. Scallop
family pectinidae. The scallops or pectens are bivalves that have been a part of man‘s existence from the earliest of times, both as a source of food and adornment. Their characteristic fan shape remain fairly consistent but there is variation in the ‗ears‘ and sculpturing. Their wide variety of colours and patterns have caused them to be a significant collector‘s item, to be the focus of scientific study and to serve as industrial symbols such as that of Shell Oil. Scallops known to produce pearls are Nodipecten (Lyropecten) Nodosus (Atlantic Lion‘s Paw) L. 1758., Nodipecten (Lyropecten) subnodosus (Pacific Lion‘s Paw) Sowerby 1835, the Atlantic Sea Scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) Gmelin 1791 and Argopecten purpuratus. (Scarratt, 2004, Wight, 2004, Federman, 2004). (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.66. Silver-lipped Pearl Oyster
Pinctada maxima (6.50), is used extensively for pearl culturing in Australia, the Philippine Islands, Indonesia, and Myanmar; see also Gold-lipped Pearl Oyster (6.23).

6.67. Strombus gigas
also known as the Queen Conch may be found in areas of the Caribbean and Central America. One of the largest in its group, it has a large flaring lip and the shoulders of its whorls bear blunt protruding nodules which are particularly large for the body whorl. Produces the pink (and other colours) conch pearl (Wye, 1991).
Note: see Clause 2 Normative References; Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (source : wholesale pearls beads )

6.68. Triangleshell Pearl Mussel
Hyriopsis cumingii, (6.26) is the freshwater pearl mussel now used for pearl culturing in China (Scarratt, 2000, Akamatsu, 2001).

6.69. Tridacna gigas
the largest and heaviest known mollusc, also known as the Giant Clam, with the two valves weighing as much as about 225kg (about 500lbs). The elongated oval with equal valves has about five undulating and rounded ribs. The Tridacna gigas interior is porcelaneous and white, as are the pearls it produces (Wye, 1991).
Note: see Clause 2 Normative References; Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. (source : wholesale pearls beads )

Articles source: THE PEARL BOOK, Natural, Cultured, Composite & Imitation Pearls — Terminology & Classification (Including information on modifications), 2013-08-12, CIBJO/Pearl Commission. (source : wholesale pearls beads )