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Taxonomy
Pearl oysters are bivalve mollusks. More specifically, the various species of pearl oyster belong to two genera in the family Pteriidae. Pearl oysters are no more closely related to true oysters than they are to mussels. The closest level of relationship is taxonomical class (Bivalvia).
Natural Habitat
Pearl oysters are found worldwide in warm tropical and subtropical waters. They can grow in very shallow water down to 75 meters. Pearl oysters grow fastest in nutrient rich water, which supports the microorganisms they feed on.
How Pearl Oysters Produce Pearls
Oysters produce pearls in response to an irritation, which might be a grain of sand or a parasite. They protect their soft bodies by secreting shell material over the irritation. Pearl oyster farmers introduce a small fragment of shell into their oysters to provoke the pearl-making response.
Conservation
Pearl oysters are not endangered, but they concentrate pollutants, notably toxic metals, in their bodies. They can act as an early warning system for marine conservationists. If pearl oysters are found to contain high levels of mercury or lead, then their environment is polluted.