Abalone (i/ˈæbəloʊniː/ or /ˌæbəˈloʊniː/; via Spanish abulón, from the (Rumsen language) aulón)
is a common name for
any of a group of small to very large edible sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in
the family Haliotidae.
Other common
names are ear shells, sea ears,
and muttonfish or muttonshells in
Australia, ormer in Great Britain, and pāua in
New Zealand.
The family Haliotidae contains only one genus, Haliotis, which
used to contain 6 subgenera. These subgenera have become alternate
representations of Haliotis. The number of species recognized
worldwide ranges between 30 and 130 with over 230 species-level taxa described. The
most comprehensive treatment of the family considers 56 species valid, with 18
additional subspecies.
The shells of
abalones have a low open spiral structure, and are characterized by several
open respiratory pores in a row near the shell's outer edge. The thick inner
layer of the shell is composed of nacre (mother-of-pearl),
which in many species is highly iridescent, giving
rise to a range of strong changeable colors, which make the shells attractive
to humans as decorative objects, jewelry, and as a source of colorful mother-of-pearl.
The flesh of abalones is widely considered to be a desirable food, and is consumed raw or cooked in a variety of cultures.
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