Haliotidae

9.9

Sea snails with ear-shaped shells and a row of breathing holes

noun

Specialized

: haliotidos

The Haliotidae family includes various species of abalones.

Examples

Marine biologists study Haliotidae to understand their ecological role in coastal environments.
The Haliotidae family includes species valued for their colorful shells and edible flesh.
Collectors often seek out rare shells from the Haliotidae family.
Did you know that Haliotidae are often harvested for food?
Many chefs consider Haliotidae a delicacy due to their tender and flavorful meat.
The shiny, ear-shaped shells of Haliotidae attract both collectors and marine enthusiasts.
In coastal regions, Haliotidae play a vital role in the marine ecosystem as herbivores.

Synonyms

family Haliotidae

vsHaliotidae

Specialized

9.2

A group of sea snails with ear-shaped shells called abalones

emphasizes a row of respiratory pores along the shell

Compounds

family Haliotidae

Specialized

9.2

A group of sea snails with ear-shaped shells called abalones

Surface Forms

Haliotidae singular

Haliotidaes plural

Haliotidae plural

Morphology

Haliotidae = Haliotis (opaque) = Haliotis + idae

Although formed by the genus name 'Haliotis' plus the taxonomic suffix '-idae', both elements are technical/scientific and unfamiliar to an average B1 learner, so the meaning cannot be derived from the parts.

Etymology

Haliotidae comes from the Greek word haliotis, which means 'sea ear' because abalone shells look like little ears, and the ending -idae is the family name for groups of animals, so Haliotidae is the family of those ear-shaped sea snails.