Feature Creature August 08

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Welcome to the feature creature page. Here you will find short articles on different marine creatures. A new article will be featured each month.

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Abalone

Abalone are commonly called 'ear shells', relating to their ear-like appearance. They have a low structure so they lie fairly flat against the rock ledges over which they travel to feed on algae, rasping it off the rock face as they roam around at night.

The Abalone shell is characterised by a row of respiratory holes found on the outer edge of the shell. Water is drawn in under the front of the shell, passed over the gills and then pumped out through the holes. Another striking characteristic of this shell is its iridescent inner layer. This is made of mother-of-pearl and gives rise to a range of strong and changeable colours, making them very attractive to the eye. This layer can only be seen in an empty shell, after the animal has died. The outer layer is usually a rich orange-red colour.

The shell of the Abalone is convex, covering the animal like a roof. It is exceptionally strong due to its intricate design. It is made up of microscopic layers of calcium carbonate 'tiles' stacked like bricks between which is a layer of a clingy protein substance. If the shell is struck, the tiles slide instead of shattering, a good defence mechanism indeed.

Abalone cling to rock surfaces with a broad, muscular foot. Many shells of different sizes are washed up on the shore, showing how very few animals reach maturity. There are current restrictions on the Central Coast for collecting live Abalone to allow their populations to recover from a viral disease that saw a steep decline in numbers a few years ago.

Written by Robyn Aitkens

Photographs by Chris Roberts and Ivon Sebastian