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Abalone

Mollusks

Abalone are sea snails in the genus Haliotis, the only genus in the family Haliotidae. Their shells are distinctive for a flattened, ear-like shape, a nacreous interior and a row of holes used for respiration, and their flesh is widely considered a delicacy, consumed raw or cooked in a variety of cuisines. Abalone are globally distributed, with approximately 70 known species alive today, and while some species are small, the largest can attain a length of 12 inches.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Herbivore 1
System (Realm)
Marine 1
Relationship to People
Farmed or Commercially Raised 1
Relationship to People
Hunted or Fished 1
Living or Extinct
Yes 2
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
Flattened, ear-like shell with a nacreous interior and a row of respiratory holes 1
Scientific Name
Haliotis 1
Sources
1. Abalone - Wikipedia
  • Introduction
    Abalone are sea snails in the genus Haliotis, the only genus in the family Haliotidae.
  • Shell
    Abalone shells are distinctive for their flattened, ear-like shape, nacreous interior, and row of holes used for respiration.
  • sea snails globally distributed in marine waters
  • article text (diet), EntityId 295450
    The adults are herbivorous and feed with their rhipidoglossan radula on macroalgae, preferring red or brown algae.
  • article text (relationship to people), EntityId 295450
    Overfishing and poaching have reduced wild populations to such an extent that farmed abalone now supplies most of the abalone meat consumed.
View the Source
2. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ190093, descriptionView the Source
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