noun
silver-lipped pearl oyster; golden-lipped pearl oyster; white-lipped pearl oyster
Refers to the large pearl oyster Pinctada maxima, known for producing high-quality pearls. Often encountered in contexts related to pearl cultivation or marine biology.
See also: 白蝶貝
蝶貝は南洋真珠の母貝として知られている。
The silver-lipped pearl oyster is known as the mother shell of South Sea pearls.
白蝶貝 specifically refers to the silver-lipped variety, while 蝶貝 can encompass all color variants of Pinctada maxima.
Compound of 蝶 (butterfly) and 貝 (shellfish), likely from the shell's wing-like shape. The exact derivation is uncertain.