Abalone is a common name for any of a group of small to very large marine gastropod molluscs in the family Haliotidae, which contains only one genus Haliotis. Other common names are ear shells, sea ears, and, rarely, muttonfish or muttonshells in parts of Australia, ormer in the UK, perlemoen in South Africa, and pāua in New Zealand. The number of abalone species recognized worldwide ranges between 30 and 130 with over 230 species-level taxa described. The most comprehensive treatment of the family considers 56 species valid, with 18 additional subspecies.
Abalone
The iridescent surface inside a red abalone shell from Northern California. The US coin (quarter) is 24.3 mm or 0.955 in in diameter
Abalone with a live sponge on its shell in Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal
An abalone farm
The Rumsen language is one of eight Ohlone languages, historically spoken by the Rumsen people of Northern California. The Rumsen language was spoken from the Pajaro River to Point Sur, and on the lower courses of the Pajaro, as well as on the Salinas and Carmel Rivers, and the region of the present-day cities of Salinas, Monterey and Carmel.
Mission San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo, where many Rumsen were brought to live in the Mission Era.
