Haliotis iris

Here are two color forms of an Abalone shell (Haliotis iris). The largest is the normal, wild grown Haliotis iris. The two smaller and much more vividly colored shells are from “farm raised” specimens of this same species. The two smaller ones were fed powdered milk in their artificial habitat. Since they are grazers of algae, the powdered milk is eaten along with their normal diet and chemically added this coloration to the shells.