Haliotis rufescens
From Sams Bugs
About
The Red Abalone is a sea snail sought after for its colorful shell, that can be made into jewelry and decorations, and is being caught and prepared as seafood along the Western coast of North America. It is a prefered catch for sea otters. Overfishing, destruction of seaweed forests and the increasing numbers in sea otters due to conservation efforts threaten the snail's existence in the wild. It is however also cultivated and collected in sea farms. The snail is only caught for food once they reach 17,8cm (7 inches) in body length.
