This is a large, flat ear shaped shell with a very small spire. The exterior of the shell is smooth and medium to dark brown, although adults are almost always encrusted with algae and sponges. The inside of the shell has a wide flat flange and a brilliant iridescent colouration of blue and green. The animal is black with a dark grey foot. The stunning colours come from the crystaline structure of the shell and their seaweed diet.

The animal is found on semi exposed to exposed rocky reefs from the low intertidal to 10 m depth.

Graze on algae on the rocks and drift seaweed.

Paua are one of the worlds fastest snails and can move 70-90m per hour. Important not to cut the the animal when collecting as they are haemophiliacs and will bleed to death. Shells now worth almost as much as the meat. Fishermen used to call the paua 'Muttonfish' and use it for bait. Research at Otago University includes stocking densities, reproductive cycles, optimum temperatures for growth and methods, manual and chemical to remove paua from different substrates.
Daily limit per person 10, mininum size 125 mm. Commercially harvested, the most common of 3 species of paua found on NZ’s rocky shores. NZ has the 2nd largest wild abalone fishery in the world but it is under pressure mostly from poaching.

NZ Marine Fishes: Paul NZ Coastal Marine Invertebrates; Vol 1