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Glite Dictionary
Pinctada margaritifera

Pinctada margaritifera

9.9
A large sea oyster that makes black pearls
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Pinctada margaritifera
  • The Pinctada margaritifera is cultivated for its beautiful black pearls.

Examples

  • The Pinctada margaritifera is famous for producing beautiful black pearls.

  • The native people of Polynesia have long harvested Pinctada margaritifera for pearls and shells.

  • Scientists are studying how environmental changes affect Pinctada margaritifera populations.

  • Have you ever seen a Pinctada margaritifera in its natural habitat?

  • The Pinctada margaritifera is cultivated for its beautiful black pearls.

  • The Pinctada margaritifera produces high-quality pearls that are highly valued in jewelry.

  • Scientists are studying how environmental changes affect Pinctada margaritifera populations.

Synonyms

pearl oyster
vsPinctada margaritifera
5.6

A shellfish that lives in the sea and makes pearls

is a single species prized as the main source of pearls

Surface Forms

Pinctada margaritifera singular
Pinctada margaritiferas plural

Morphology

Pinctada + margaritifera

This is a Latin binomial combining the genus Pinctada (an oyster genus known for pearl production) with the species epithet margaritifera, whose root relates to 'pearl'—so a learner who knows both parts (and the Latin/Greek root) can infer a pearl-bearing oyster. However, species epithets are specialized Latin morphology and are not part of everyday English composition, so the relationship is only partially transparent and likely unfamiliar to an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Pinctada margaritifera comes from Latin words that paint a tiny picture: Pinctada is the oyster group and margaritifera means 'pearl-bearer'. So the name fits the black-lipped oyster known for making dark pearls.