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curiosity number 033 Luigi Giannelli Ears of the Sea     The molluscs belonging to the genus Haliotis, commonly called "Ears of the Sea", have a shell extremely characteristic, oval-shaped or circular, presenting the last lap and large fairing, a series of round holes from 3 to 7 depending on the species where through which, it expels water exhausted of oxygen and excrement. They live in shallow waters up to 200 meters deep, on a rocky bottom and coral in all tropical and temperate seas. In California and Mexico, where they reach the larger size, their meat is highly valued, and consumed as "fillet Abalone" (common name of abalone in California). Shells then, because of the highly iridescent nacre, are used to obtain buttons, jewelry and carvings of various kinds, from furniture to musical instruments. The Haliotis rufescens (Swainson 1822), released from Oregon to Mexico, with its 30cm, is the largest living abalone.