Pinctada margaritifera (black-lipped oyster)

Pinctada margaritifera, commonly known as the black-lipped oyster, is a marine mollusk renowned for producing high-quality natural pearls. Native to the tropical Indo-Pacific region, it has a dark-colored edge on its shell’s rim, which is where the "black-lipped" name comes from. These oysters live attached to coral reefs and rocks and filter seawater for nutrients. When a foreign substance, like a parasite or irritant, enters, the oyster responds by secreting layers of nacre—composed of calcium carbonate—to isolate it, forming a pearl over time. This species is valued both for pearl production and ecological role in coral reef environments.