Abalone
Common name for a group of sea snails / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Abalone (/ˈæbəloʊni/ ⓘ or /ˌæbəˈloʊni/; via Spanish abulón, from Rumsen aulón) is a common name for any of a group of small to very large marine gastropod molluscs in the family Haliotidae, which contains only one genus Haliotis (which once contained six subgenera).[4] Other common names are ear shells, sea ears, and, rarely, muttonfish or muttonshells in parts of Australia, ormer in the UK, perlemoen in South Africa, and pāua in New Zealand.[5] The number of abalone species recognized worldwide ranges between 30[6] and 130[7] with over 230 species-level taxa described. The most comprehensive treatment of the family considers 56 species valid, with 18 additional subspecies.[8]
Abalone | |
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Living abalone in tank showing epipodium and tentacles, anterior end to the right. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Vetigastropoda |
Order: | Lepetellida |
Family: | Haliotidae Rafinesque, 1815 |
Genus: | Haliotis Linnaeus, 1758[2][3] |
Type species | |
Haliotis asinina | |
Species | |
57, see species section | |
Synonyms[4] | |
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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, 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 delicacy, and is consumed raw or cooked by a variety of cultures.