abalone

Abalone is a common name for a group of marine gastropod mollusks in the family Haliotidae. These animals have a single, flattened, ear-shaped shell whose interior is lined with nacre, or mother-of-pearl, that is highly iridescent. A distinctive feature is a broad row of respiratory pores along the shell edge; the number and arrangement vary among species.

Abalones are grazers that feed primarily on algae, using a radula to rasp food from rocks. They have a large, muscular foot that enables them to cling to vertical surfaces and to move slowly as the shell grows. Most species inhabit rocky coastal areas, often in kelp forests or wave-exposed shores, in shallow subtidal zones, though some can be found at greater depths.

Distribution and reproduction: Abalones occur in temperate and some tropical seas worldwide. Reproduction is typically external: males release sperm and females eggs into the water, where fertilization occurs. The larvae are free-swimming and pass through trochophore and veliger stages before settling as juvenile snails. Growth rates and maximum size vary by species and environmental conditions.

Human uses and conservation: Abalones are valued for their edible meat and for their iridescent shells. Fisheries and aquaculture support commercial harvests, but wild populations have declined in many areas due to overfishing, habitat loss, and disease. Management measures such as quotas, size limits, closed seasons, and restocking programs are used in some regions to protect stocks and sustain production. A notable disease affecting farmed and wild populations is withering syndrome, caused by a bacterial infection, which can cause substantial mortality.