''Haliotis marmorata'' is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
sea snail, a
marine gastropod mollusk
Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is e ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Haliotidae
''Haliotis'', common name abalone, is the only genus in the family Haliotidae.
This genus once contained six subgenera. These subgenera have become alternate representations of ''Haliotis''. The genus consists of small to very large, edible, ...
, the
abalones.
Description
The size of the shell varies between 40 mm and 60 mm. "The depressed shell has an oval shape. The distance of the
apex
The apex is the highest point of something. The word may also refer to:
Arts and media Fictional entities
* Apex (comics), a teenaged super villainess in the Marvel Universe
* Ape-X, a super-intelligent ape in the Squadron Supreme universe
*Apex, ...
from the margin is one-eighth to one-tenth the length of the shell. The shell is closely, finely spirally striate and decussated by still finer and closer growth striae. The coloration is reddish-brown, generally with white patches. The right side is not quite as much curved as the left, and the shell is rather depressed. It is quite solid and heavy. The outside is dark reddish-brown, sometimes without markings, but usually showing angular patches of white or greenish around the middle part of the
body whorl, and on the spire. The spiral striae of the surface are fine, close, and often disposed in pairs. They are decussated by very close fine radiating striae. The
spire
A spire is a tall, slender, pointed structure on top of a roof of a building or tower, especially at the summit of church steeples. A spire may have a square, circular, or polygonal plan, with a roughly conical or pyramidal shape. Spires a ...
is low. It is inside silvery and smooth except for fine spiral folds in the
nacre, which has light green and red reflections. The columellar plate is flat, wide (its width one-sixth to one-seventh the width of the shell). It is generally not sloping inward or slightly so, and not distinctly truncate below. The cavity of the spire is wholly or partly concealed if the plane of the
peristome Peristome (from the Greek ''peri'', meaning 'around' or 'about', and ''stoma'', 'mouth') is an anatomical feature that surrounds an opening to an organ or structure. Some plants, fungi, and shelled gastropods have peristomes.
In mosses
In mosse ...
is held at a right angle to the line of vision. The five or six oval perforations are situated in slight prominences, separated by spaces greater than their own length."
Distribution
This species occurs in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast (
Senegal
Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤠(Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤠...
to
Gabon
Gabon (; ; snq, Ngabu), officially the Gabonese Republic (french: République gabonaise), is a country on the west coast of Central Africa. Located on the equator, it is bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the nort ...
) and off
São Tomé and PrÃncipe.
References
Philippi (1850), Abbildungen und beschreibungen neuer oder wenig gekannter conchylien Bd3, Cassel, 1851
External links
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (13 publications)
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5642428
marmorata
Molluscs of the Atlantic Ocean
Invertebrates of São Tomé and PrÃncipe
Invertebrates of West Africa
Gastropods described in 1758
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus