Pāua, Haliotis iris
Description
Pāua, Haliotis iris
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Object detail
Classification
Credit line
Many
mollusc
shells
gain
their
shiny,
colourful
surfaces
from
aragonite,
which
is
also
known
as
nacre
or
mother-of-pearl.
Each
layer
of
a
shell
is
formed
when
the
animal
secretes
crystals
of
calcium
carbonate
from
its
outer
layer,
or
mantle.
Pāua are one of the most vibrantly coloured of the Haliotis species, and one of Aotearoa’s best known gastropods. The algae and seaweed they graze on give pāua their lustrous colours.
Pāua are one of the most vibrantly coloured of the Haliotis species, and one of Aotearoa’s best known gastropods. The algae and seaweed they graze on give pāua their lustrous colours.
Accession number
A102.681
Collection type
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