A specific emphasis was placed on the pearl oyster population. Pearl meat is the adductor muscle of the Pinctada maxima pearl oyster. The Australian pearling industry is based on the Pinctada maxima pearl oyster species. Like Marokau, Hikueru used to be a large natural pearl oyster reserve. The altar has ornamentation of fine pearl oyster engravings of Mother-of-pearls, encased with black pearls. Pleurotus ostreatus, the pearl oyster mushroom or tree oyster mushroom, is a common edible mushroom. The local pearl oyster is Golden Lip Oyster, "Pinctada maxima". The pearl oyster attaches itself to barnacles and other hard substrates via a byssus.