Abalone is an ancient marine mollusk, a single-shelled soft-bodied animal with only half an external shell, thick and flat.Abalone is a traditional and precious ingredient in Chinese cuisine, ranking as the top of the four great sea treasures.Abalone (Haliotis) has no relation to fish but is related to snails like. According to: it was named after Bo Yu, because he loved to eat it; some shapes resemble human ears.