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Abalone

Abalone (0)

Abalone are marine snails. Their taxonomy puts them in the family Haliotidae which contains only one genus, Haliotis.

The shells of abalones have a low, open spiral structure, and are characterized by several open respiratory pores in a row near the shell's outer edge. The thick inner layer of the shell is composed of mother-of-pearl, which can be highly iridescent, with strong, changeable colors, which make the shells an attractive source for decorative objects and in particular, for jewelry. The flesh of abalones is widely considered to be a desirable food, and is consumed raw or cooked in a variety of cultures. As a result they are well over-fished and are continuously endangered.

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