Unlike most barnicles, which are hermaphodites, abalone have separate sexes. The female releases a blizzard of eggs, before they've been fertilized. She ejects them from holes used for breathing. Enourmous numbers are expelled to assure that some suceed. Not far from the unfertilized eggs, the male emits billows of sperm. The female deposits her eggs in the males pouch, which extends from his abdomen, back to the tail. The young will hatch while still inside his body. When they start to emerge, the male will be there to assist.