Claudio Contreras / Pink abalone (Haliotis corrugata) shell detail, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / Pink abalone (Haliotis corrugata) shell detail, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / Pink abalone (Haliotis corrugata) shell detail, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, January

GEORGETTE DOUWMA / Abalone (Mother of Pearl), Haliotidae family. Close up of shell.

Gavin Hellier / Wat Pho, Reclining Buddha, 46 metres long made of brick plaster and Gold leaf the soles of the feet are inlaid with 108 lakshana, or auspicious images that identify the true Buddha crafted in mother-o...

Gavin Hellier / Wat Pho, Reclining Buddha, 46 metres long made of brick plaster and Gold leaf, hand detail. The soles of the feet are inlaid with 108 lakshana, or auspicious images that identify the true Buddha craf...

Gavin Hellier / Wat Pho, Reclining Buddha, 46 metres long made of brick plaster and Gold leaf, detail of the head. The soles of the feet are inlaid with 108 lakshana, or auspicious images that identify the true Budd...

Gavin Hellier / Wat Pho, Reclining Buddha, 46 metres long made of brick plaster and Gold leaf. The soles of the feet are inlaid with 108 lakshana, or auspicious images that identify the true Buddha crafted in mother...

Gavin Hellier / Wat Pho, Reclining Buddha, 46 metres long made of brick plaster and Gold leaf. The soles of the feet are inlaid with 108 lakshana, or auspicious images that identify the true Buddha crafted in mother...

LYNN M. STONE / Close up view of Red abalone shell (Haliotis rufescens) photo shows three apertures / holes that living abalone had used for water exchange and the shell reveals the mother of pearl, or nacre, surface...

Juergen Freund / Confiscated Samong top shells (Tectus / Trochus niloticus) used to make mother of pearl buttons and other objects. The species is CITES protected, and illegal fishermen often harvest the shells from T...

LYNN M. STONE / Red Abalone (Haliotis rufescens) shell interior showing nacreous mother of pearl. Santa Barbara, California, USA, February.

LYNN M. STONE / Red Abalone (Haliotis rufescens) shell interior showing nacreous mother of pearl. Santa Barbara, California, USA, February.

LYNN M. STONE / Red Abalone (Haliotis rufescens) shell interior showing nacreous mother of pearl. Santa Barbara, California, USA, February.

LYNN M. STONE / Close-up view of Red Abalone (Haliotis rufescens) shell. California, USA, February.

LYNN M. STONE / Close-up view of Red Abalone (Haliotis rufescens) shell. California, USA, February.

LYNN M. STONE / A Red Abalone (Haliotis rufescens) shell. California, USA, February.

Juergen Freund / Carver Huimes Namusu carves out a groove from the rim of a coconut wood bowl to make space for the nautilus mother of pearl inlay, Chea Village, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, Melanesia, Pacific, Jul...

Stephen Dalton / Morther of pearl moth (Pleuroptya ruralis) resting on leaf, UK

Keith-Nels Swenson / Nacreous Mother of Pearl' clouds seen over Ross Island in late winter, early spring, Antarctica

Keith-Nels Swenson / Nacreous Mother of Pearl' clouds seen over Ross Island in late winter, early spring, Antarctica

PREMAPHOTOS / Mother of pearl butterfly (Salamis anteva) in rainforest, Madagascar

PREMAPHOTOS / Mother of Pearl butterfly (Salamis parhassus) in rainforest, Kenya

Simon Colmer / Close up of Abalone shell (Haliotis sp) Mother of pearl

Niall Benvie / Nacreous / Mother of pearl clouds. Montrose, Scotland.

Rod Clarke / John Downer Produ / Mother of pearl caterpillar (Pleurotya ruralis) escapes predators by forming the shape of a wheel and rolling away at speed. (Resolution restriction due to image digitised from film - 'Weird Nature' B...

Tony Evans / Close up of Mother of pearl on Abalone shell {Haliotidae}

Alan James / Abalone / Mother of pearl {Haliotidae} Channel Is, UK

GEORGETTE DOUWMA / Abalone close up of colours inside shell, called Mother of Pearl, Haliotidae family.