Pearl oyster

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	Image gallery
Real-world info
	Name: Pinctada fucata; Family: Pteriidae
Main appearances
	DnM DnM+ AC DnMe+ iQue; WW CF NL NH
Other appearances
	Film HHD aF PC
	Names in other languages アコヤガイ; 马氏珠母贝; Huître perlière; Ostra perlera; Ostrica pinctada; Жемчужница 진주조개; 珠母蛤; Huître perlière; Ostra perlera; Perlmuschel; Pareloester

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(10) Sea slug

New Horizons sea creatures

Mussel (12)

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New Horizons sea creatures
← (10) Sea slug	→ Mussel (12)

The pearl oyster is a sea creature in the Animal Crossing series introduced in Animal Crossing: New Leaf. In Wild World, City Folk, and New Leaf the pearl oyster also appears as a shell on the beach.

While initially being absent from New Horizons, it was re-added in the 1.3.0 Free Summer Update in July 2020, where it appears all day long as a small, medium-movement shadow year-round. Unlike past games, it doesn't return as a shell, instead exclusively being a sea creature.

Catch details[edit]

In New Leaf[edit]

#10

"I got a pearl oyster! Mostly I just wanted the pearl!"

Time of year	All year
Time of day	All day
Peak times	Jan – Feb
Shadow size	Small
Shadow movement	Stationary
Sea creature size	10 cm
Selling price	1,600 Bells
Furniture size

In New Horizons[edit]

As with all sea creatures in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the pearl oyster was added in the 1.3.0 Free Summer Update (Wave 1).

#11

"I got a pearl oyster! Aw, shucks. Don't clam up now!"

Time of year	North: All year South: All year
Time of day	All day
Shadow size	Small
Shadow movement	Medium
Spawn requirement	Catch 20 total sea creatures
Selling price	2,800 Bells
Furniture size

Donating to the museum[edit]

In New Leaf[edit]

Upon donating the pearl oyster to the museum, it can be found in the large pool in the first room of the sea exhibit, along with many other species of sea creatures. The exhibit has this to say about the pearl oyster:

"Pearls are formed when mostly calcium carbonate and protein envelop foreign substances. Pearl oysters have numerous threadlike feet sticking out from their shell opening. These allow them to latch onto surrounding rocks and are actually surprisingly strong. Their adductor muscles are edible and are considered a delicious ingredient in some foods."

In New Horizons[edit]

When donating to the museum, Blathers will say the following:

"Did you know the famed pearl oyster can live for 40 years and grow up to a foot in size? 'Tis true, hootie-hoo! Of course, this briny bivalve is best known for the precious gems it growns within. The pearl-making process begins when an irritant gains access to the delicate insides of the oyster. The intruder is then covered with layer upon layer of "nacre," the same substance used to create its shell. It takes years for a pearl to form, but in the end, the irritant is rendered harmless. Ahhh, if only we all had the power to turn things that annoy us...into things of beauty instead."

Once donated, it is placed in the coral reef tank.

Fishing Tourney[edit]

In New Leaf[edit]

During a Fishing Tourney, when given a pearl oyster, Chip will not score the sea creature but will say the following:

"By the by, you can dry out the meat of a pearl oyster for quite a tasty meal. It's chewy! Not that I mind just eating them whole like this! YUM!"

Gallery[edit]

For more images, view this subject's gallery.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Names in other languages[edit]

	アコヤガイ akoyagai	Akoya shellfish

	진주조개 jinjujogae	Pearl oyster

	马氏珠母贝 mǎshì zhūmǔbèi / zhūmǔgé	Various other species within Pinctada genus of oyster

	珠母蛤 Unknown

	Жемчужница Zhemchuzhnitsa	Pearl oyster

	Pareloester	Pearl oyster

	Perlmuschel	Pearl oyster

	Ostra perlera	Pearl oyster

	Huître perlière	Pearl oyster

	Ostrica pinctada	Pinctada oyster