''Haliotis fulgens'', commonly called the green abalone, 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 large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc 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. The shell of this species is usually brown, and is marked with many low, flat-topped ribs which run parallel to the five to seven open respiratory pores that are elevated above the shell's surface. The inside of the shell is an iridescent blue and green. The range of ''Haliotis fulgens'' includes southern California and most of the Pacific coast of

Baja California Baja California (; 'Lower California'), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California), is a state in Mexico. It is the northernmost and westernmost of the 32 federal entities of Mex ...

, Mexico.

Subspecies

* ''H. f. fulgens'' Philippi, 1845 * ''H. f. guadalupensis'' Talmadge, 1964 * ''H. f. turveri'' Bartsch, 1942

Description

The size of the adult shell of this species varies between 75 mm and 255 mm. "The large, oval, quite convex shell is sculptured all over with equal rounded cords or lirae. Its coloration is reddish-brown. Generally five holes are open. The form is oval. The back of the shell is quite convex. It is solid, but thinner than ''

Haliotis rufescens ''Haliotis rufescens'' (red abalone) is a species of very large edible sea snail in the family Haliotidae, the abalones, ormer shells or paua.Rosenberg, G. (2014)''Haliotis rufescens'' Swainson, 1822.Accessed through: World Register of Marine ...

''. The outer surface has a uniform dull reddish-brown color. It is sculptured with rounded spiral lirae, nearly equal in size. These number 30 to 40 on the upper surface. At the row of the holes there is an angle. The surface below it slopes almost perpendicularly to the columellar edge, and has about midway an obtuse keel. 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 ...

does not project above the general curve of the back. The inner surface is dark, mostly blue and green with dark coppery stains, pinkish within the spire. The muscle impression is painted in a peculiar and brilliant pattern, like a peacock's tail. The columellar plate is wide, flat, and slopes inward. The cavity of the spire is small, almost concealed. The about five perforations are rather small, elevated and circular." The epipodium is a "ruffle" of tissue along the side of the foot. The head and epipodial tentacles are olive green in this species, but the epipodial fringes are a mottled cream and brown color, with knobby tubercles scattered on the surface, and a frilly edge.

Distribution

''H. fulgens'' is endemic to the waters off the coast of southern

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

,Oliver, A.P.H. (2004). ''Guide to Seashells of the World.'' Buffalo: Firefly Books. 21. from Point Conception, California, to Bahia Magdalena, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Habitat

This species is found in shallow water on open/exposed coast from low intertidal to at least 30 feet (9 m) and perhaps as deep as 60 feet (18 m). Individuals are found in rock crevices, under rocks and other cryptic cavities. Like all abalone, green abalone are herbivores. They feed mostly on drift algae and prefer fleshy red algae.

Predators

Predators of this species include sea otters, starfish, large fishes, octopuses, and humans.

Diseases

Green abalones are subject to a chronic, progressive and lethal disease: withering abalone syndrome or abalone wasting disease, leading to mass mortality.

Reproduction

Green abalone have separate sexes and broadcast spawn from early summer through early fall. Maturity is reached at 2.4 to 5 inches (61–128 mm) length or 5 to 7 years. Lifespan is up to 30 years or more.

Threats and conservation

PSM V82 D544 Sun dried meat of the green abalone on san clemente island

Green abalone are threatened by

overharvesting Overexploitation, also called overharvesting, refers to harvesting a renewable resource to the point of diminishing returns. Continued overexploitation can lead to the destruction of the resource, as it will be unable to replenish. The term ap ...

and the withering abalone syndrome disease. California has
Abalone Recovery Management Plan
to guide conservation efforts. They are a U.S. National Marine Fisheries Servic
species of concern
Species of concern are those species about which the U.S. Government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
has some concerns regarding status and threats, but for which insufficient information is available to indicate a need to list the species under the U.S
Endangered Species Act

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Haliotis Fulgens fulgens Gastropods described in 1845