Common name : abalone

Aspect : Haliotidae shells are distinctive for their flattened, ear-like shape, resembling a limpet or semi-spherical oval, with a low spire and a very large aperture that occupies nearly the entire underside. Sizes range from 23-30 mm (Haliotis papulata) up to 20-30 cm (Haliotis rufescens). the exterior is smooth or sculptured with spiral rows of nodules or ridges, often reddish-brown or mottled. A defining feature is the row of 4-10 small, open respiratory pores (or "tremata") aligned along the margin near the aperture's edge, used for water circulation and waste expulsion; these pores decrease in number as the shell grows, with older ones often sealing over; the inner surface is lined with iridescent nacre (mother-of-pearl), producing a shimmering, pearly luster in colors like blue, green, and pink

Feeding : herbivorous grazers (red or brown algae, seaweed and coralline algae)

Environment : worldwide marine coastal environments except the Pacific coast of South America, the Atlantic coast of Africa and polar areas; subtidal zones, to intertidal areas