Abalones belong to one of the most primitive gastropods and itsround,elliptical or ear-shaped shell has a row of respiratory porelocated along the left margin.As the animal grows,older pores aresuccessively filled in and closed.The number of open pores variesamong different abalone species.Shell exterior and interior colorvaries with species,but it is an unreliable form of identificationsince the color may not be clearly visible or the original descriptionmay not be accurate.