Abalone

Abalones are gastropod mollusks whose low shells protect a large foot used for clinging and crawling. Their shells contain a row of openings associated with water circulation, and the inner surface often has a pearly sheen. They graze or capture drifting algae rather than hunting large animals. Species vary in size and range. Rocky crevices provide shelter, while local water conditions and algal resources shape their lives along the coast.