Dear Jeffrey,
The color of pearl formation in snails (and in molluscs in general) depends
on the color of the inside of the aperture. Therefore you find rose colored
pearls in Strombus gigas, white colored pearl formations in most landsnails,
etc. Pearls with iridescent colors you may encounter only in shells with an
iridescent interior.
This gives for example a greenish iridescent hue to pearls found in Haliotis
iris from New Zealand and a whitish iridescent color to pearls found in
Unio, Margaritifera.
Best regards,
Henk K. Mienis
----- Original Message -----
From: Jeffrey J Herod <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, March 23, 2001 6:43 PM
Subject: Re: Pearl formation in landsnail


> Dear Aydin,
> In freshwater mussel you can get pearls in a variety of colors (i.e.,
> white, purple, pink/rose), but generally genus/ species restricted. Do you
> see coloration in pearls from snails? Does anyone have any observations or
> data related to color of pearls and any "correlations" based on genus or
> species?
> Take care,
> jff
> Jeffrey J. Herod