Gigante Abalone (gee-GAN-tay a-ba-LOH-nee)
Gigante Abalone are a species of extremely large bivalve with iridescent, nacreous shells. These creatures are considered delicacies on most of the islands in the Merinach Sea. With the sizes they are capable of achieving, a single Gigante Abalone is capable of feeding several people. The shells are also used to make jewelry and decorative objects.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Gigante Abalone can reach over 4 feet in both length and width, and can be up to a foot tall with their shells closed. Their shells are made of two inches of layered nacre (mother-of-pearl) and calcium carbonate. These molluscs are in no way small.
Their bodies are made primarily of soft tissue. This tissue is said to have a chewy texture and a delicate flavor that isn't fishy when cooked and, when raw, is firm in texture and saltier in flavor than when cooked.
Genetics and Reproduction
A single Gigante Abalone can lay up to 12 million eggs at once, although most of these eggs will not reach adulthood. The eggs are fertilized externally.
Ecology and Habitats
These molluscs are generally found attached to rocks in shallow-to-moderately-deep parts of the Merinach Sea. They prefer warmer waters, and as such are typically found in greater number around the equator of Glenerene.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Gigante Abalone are herbivorous and feed primarily on macroalgae, preferring red algae to other types. They feed by scraping algae-covered rocks with a toothy, chitinous "ribbon" called a radula.
Gigante Abalone by moonflower with NightCafe
Conservation Status
Very few conservation attempts have been made with this species, although the population is in decline
Average Height
1 foot
Average Weight
55 lbs
Average Length
4 feet (with a 4-foot width as well)
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Iridescent blue or green shell with pink or white flesh
Geographic Distribution
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