Haliotis, or abalone, is the only genus of the family Haliotidae. Abalone are herbivorous, edible sea snails. Though they are distributed worldwide, the majority of abalone species live in cold water habitats. The inner layer of the shell is made of nacre (also called “mother-of pearl”), which is often iridescent. The foot muscle of the snail itself is edible. As a result, abalone have been utilized by many cultures for a variety of purposes over the centuries, including in jewelry, for decorative purposes, as a food source, and as shell money. Dr. Torben Rick's research of middens on the Channel Islands has revealed a steady decline in the size of red abalone shells, probably due to human predation. Overfishing is threatening the survival of the abalone family. This specimen is a Disk Abalone (Haliotis discus), from Tanesashi, Japan.
- Catalog Number:
- 30708
- Object/Specimen Description:
- Specimen Count:
- 1
- Precise Locality:
Tanesashi
- Locality:
- Asia & Middle East Region
- Collecting Locality:
- Asia, Japan, Aomori Prefecture, Honshu
- Upper Level Taxonomy:
- Animalia, Mollusca, Gastropoda, Vetigastropoda, Archaeogastropoda, Haliotidae
The gastropods are the most diverse group of mollusks, and include snails, slugs, limpets, conchs, sea slugs, and others. They typically have a coiled body form with a twisted gut and nervous system. The coiling results in the unusual arrangement of their anus being above their head. Most have a corresponding coiled shell. Coils are added as the gastropod grows, and they tend to get larger, making a cone shape. Some shells are adorned with spines, grooves, or other textures that add strength. Many have a hard flap (operculum) on the foot that can be closed over the shell opening like a trap door. The shape of a gastropod shell often can be used to identify species. A gastropod's shell not only protects it from predation, but also keeps land species (terrestrial) from drying out. Some terrestrial gastropods that live in humid places, such as slugs, have a thin shell or no shell at all.