Oysters are the only creatures that form pearls. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

Being the perfect pairing for Champagne isn’t an oyster’s only claim to glory. Oysters are the most common pearl-forming mollusk in the sea. When an irritant such as a grain of sand enters the shell, the oyster coats it with a substance called nacre—otherwise known as mother-of-pearl. However, oysters aren’t the only ones who can perform such a feat. There are several species of clams and mussels that can create pearls, but they are very rare and don’t do it as efficiently as oysters do. August 5^th is National Oyster Day.