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Reference.org
Abalone
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<p>Abalone is a <a href="/facts/Common_name/3KNNezEU">common name</a> for any small to very large <a href="/facts/Marine_life/TF5MGzFb">marine</a> <a href="/facts/Gastropod/rYPqm3PT">gastropod</a> <a href="/facts/Mollusc/1elgknsQ">mollusc</a> in the <a href="/facts/Family_(biology)/qTrn6E8E">family</a> <a href="/facts/Haliotidae/FxhHuDH8">Haliotidae</a>, which once contained six <a href="/facts/Genera/m8EFjSms">genera</a> but now contains only one genus, <i><a href="/facts/Haliotis/FxhHuDH8">Haliotis</a></i>. Other <a href="/facts/Common_name/3KNNezEU">common names</a> are ear shells, sea ears, and, now rarely, muttonfish or muttonshells in parts of <a href="/facts/Australia/qLHpbppq">Australia</a>, ormer in the <a href="/facts/United_Kingdom/kuPAILt2">United Kingdom</a>, perlemoen in <a href="/facts/South_Africa/vvXQpLgq">South Africa</a>, and pāua in <a href="/facts/New_Zealand/4mpSlJdg">New Zealand</a>. The number of abalone 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 <a href="/facts/Subspecies/4L9jFacF">subspecies</a>. </p><p>The <a href="/facts/Gastropod_shell/HIIBd2oQ">shells</a> of abalone 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 <a href="/facts/Nacre/a5ek6xm4">nacre</a>, which in many species is highly <a href="/facts/Iridescence/ykc1opK8">iridescent</a>, giving rise to a range of strong, changeable colors which make the shells attractive to humans as <a href="/facts/Ornament_(art)/byhAkelV">ornaments</a>, <a href="/facts/Jewelry/DYt7cj0R">jewelry</a>, and as a source of colorful <a href="/facts/Mother-of-pearl/a5ek6xm4">mother-of-pearl</a>. </p><p>The flesh of abalone is widely considered to be a <a href="/facts/Delicacy/kckgCBWW">delicacy</a>, and is consumed raw or cooked by a variety of <a href="/facts/Cuisine/jrGcSHAK">cuisines</a>. </p>