Haliotis

Haliotis is a genus of large sea snails commonly known as abalone, and is the sole genus in the family Haliotidae. Abalone shells are immediately recognisable by their flattened, ear-like shape, a lustrous nacreous (mother-of-pearl) interior, and a row of small respiratory holes running along one edge of the shell through which the animal draws water for gas exchange and waste removal. Abalone occur across roughly 70 recognised living species distributed on rocky coastlines worldwide, and their flesh is widely regarded as a culinary delicacy, eaten both raw and cooked across many coastal cuisines, from Californian and Mexican dishes to Japanese and Chinese cuisine, where it commands high market prices. While most species remain fairly small, the largest abalone species can reach shell lengths of around twelve inches, and heavy harvesting has driven serious population declines in several regions.