Haliotis

Haliotis is a genus of large edible sea snails in the family Haliotidae, commonly called abalones. They are marine gastropods characterized by a thin, ear-shaped shell with a row of respiratory pores along the outer shell margin and an iridescent internal nacre.

The animal has a broad, muscular foot used for locomotion and grazing on algae on rocky substrates. The mantle continuously adds shell material at the edge; growth rings reflect age. Shell interior shows mother-of-pearl.

Abalones occur in temperate and subtropical seas worldwide, typically along rocky shorelines and reefs, from shallow intertidal zones to deeper waters, often in wave-exposed habitats.

Abalones are dioecious; they reproduce by releasing eggs and sperm into the water column (broadcast spawning). Larval development includes free-swimming trochophore and veliger stages, then metamorphosis into juvenile snails.

Human use and conservation: Abalones are harvested for their meat, and their shells are used for decorative purposes and inlay work. Intense fishing, habitat degradation, and climate change have led to declines in many populations; some regions implement quotas, aquaculture, and protected areas.