Shell from Pacific - help

[paul monfils]

This is an abalone shell.  It appears to be the red abalone (scientific name Haliotis rufescens) from western North America, which is the largest abalone species.  An abalone is a kind of gastropod mollusk, which is to say a kind of "snail".  It lives attached to rock surfaces and can hold on so tight that a man cannot pull it loose without using some kind of metal tool.  Abalone are edible and are often harvested for that purpose.  Currently they are protected by law in many parts of their range.  The row of holes in the shell is natural, and serves as a means for the animal to bring in water to its gills for breathing, and pass out wastes.  <span class="petit">--Last edited by Paul Monfils on 2009-03-10 22:00:40 --</span>