Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Extension
  • United Kingdom
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Home
  2. Bing Gallery
  3. United Kingdom
  4. 2021
  5. October 10
  6. Rainbow abalone shell, New Zealand
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios Rainbow abalone shell, New Zealand

October 10, 2021

Rainbow abalone shell, New Zealand

© Lynda Harper/Minden Picture

A shell of many colours

This may look a little like a long-lost Jackson Pollock canvas, but it was Mother Nature who painted this blackfoot paua (aka rainbow abalone) shell. And modern art it ain't: Fossils from similar marine gastropods date back at least 65 million years.

There are more than 100 abalone species in oceans around the world, but the blackfoot paua is one of the largest and is found only in New Zealand's waters. The Indigenous Māori people have long prized its black flesh as a delicacy and now others are discovering its distinct flavour, particularly in Asia, where the blackfoot paua fetches astronomical prices at seafood markets. After harvesting the abalone meat, the Māori use the colourful shells as decorations in traditional and contemporary arts and crafts. Paua power!

abstract painting art child art drawing reef acrylic bubble colorful painted

Related Images

Prayer flags in Phobjikha Valley, BhutanPrayer flags in Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan
A beer tent at Oktoberfest in Theresienwiese, Munich, GermanyA beer tent at Oktoberfest in Theresienwiese, Munich, Germany
Farmland in the Palouse, WashingtonFarmland in the Palouse, Washington
Blacktip reef sharks, MaldivesBlacktip reef sharks, Maldives
Cueva de las Manos (Cave of the Hands) in Santa Cruz, ArgentinaCueva de las Manos (Cave of the Hands) in Santa Cruz, Argentina
The Acraman crater, AustraliaThe Acraman crater, Australia
Museum at Prairiefire, Overland Park, Kansas, USAMuseum at Prairiefire, Overland Park, Kansas, USA
Caribbean coast near Buritaca, ColombiaCaribbean coast near Buritaca, Colombia

Today on Bing

Sorano, Tuscany, Italy

Sorano, Tuscany, Italy

Oct 10, 2024
Mount Sopris, Colorado, USA

Mount Sopris, Colorado, USA

Oct 10, 2023
Aerial view of a boat in Kerala, India

Aerial view of a boat in Kerala, India

Oct 10, 2022
Aerial view of American flamingos flying over Los Roques Archipelago National Park, Venezuela

Aerial view of American flamingos flying over Los Roques Archipelago National Park, Venezuela

Oct 10, 2020
Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635)

Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635)

Oct 10, 2019

Related Tags

painting drawing child art art colorful abstract painted sketch sky outdoor nature wave water grass reef striped indoor ship store landscape
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
  • © 2025 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.