Abalone is a mollusk that is a popular ingredient in Chinese dishes, particularly in Cantonese cooking. Abalone is a member of the genus Haliotis, which means sea ear, referring to the flat shell. It is available fresh, dried, or canned. In dried form it must be soaked for several days before using.
Moreover, as a mollusk, abalone possesses a shell that is pearlescent on the inside. This material which can be scraped off, and sliced thin are called mother of pearl. It can be used to make fashion jewelry and as furniture inlays .
Ref: 122243/2006-10-09