The blacklip abalone, ''Haliotis rubra'', is an Australian

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 appropriat ...

of large, edible

sea snail Sea snail is a common name for slow-moving marine gastropod molluscs, usually with visible external shells, such as whelk or abalone. They share the taxonomic class Gastropoda with slugs, which are distinguished from snails primarily by the a ...

, a

marine Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean. Marine or marines may refer to: Ocean * Maritime (disambiguation) * Marine art * Marine biology * Marine debris * Marine habitats * Marine life * Marine pollution Military ...

gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, from freshwater, and from land. T ...

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 Haliotidae, the

abalone Abalone ( or ; via Spanish , from Rumsen ''aulón'') is a common name for any of a group of small to very large marine gastropod molluscs in the family Haliotidae. Other common names are ear shells, sea ears, and, rarely, muttonfish or mutto ...

s.Bouchet, P. (2012). Haliotis rubra Leach, 1814. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=445354 on 2013-02-04 Haliotis rubra 003

Subspecies

* ''Haliotis rubra conicopora'' Péron, 1816 – the conical pore abalone; synonyms: ''Haliotis conicopora'' Péron, 1816 (original combination), ''Haliotis cunninghami'' Gray, 1826; ''Haliotis granti'' Pritchard & Gatliff, 1902; ''Haliotis vixlirata'' Cotton, 1943 * ''Haliotis rubra rubra'' Leach, 1814 the shield abalone; synonyms: ''Haliotis ancile'' Reeve, 1846; ''Haliotis improbula'' Iredale, 1924; ''Haliotis naevosa'' Philippi, 1844; ''Haliotis ruber'' Leach, 1814 (original combination); ''Haliotis whitehousei'' (Colman, 1959); ''Sanhaliotis whitehousei'' Colman, 1959

Description

The size of the shell varies between . "The large, much depressed shell has a rounded-oval shape. The distance of the apex from the margin is one-fifth the length of the shell. It is sculptured with fine spiral cords cut by close minute striae of increment. It shows radiating waves or folds above. A slight angle at the row of perforations, below it is broadly excavated and then carinated. The about six perforations are elevated and circular. The outline is suborbicular, much depressed and solid but not thick. The surface is either dark red with few radiating angular white patches, or dull red and green, streaked and mottled. The spiral cords of the outer surface are either nearly equal, or have slightly larger ones at wide intervals. They are decussated by close growth-striae. The

whorl A whorl ( or ) is an individual circle, oval, volution or equivalent in a whorled pattern, which consists of a spiral or multiple concentric objects (including circles, ovals and arcs). Whorls in nature File:Photograph and axial plane floral ...

s number a trifle over 3. Inside they are corrugated like the outer surface, silvery, and very brilliantly iridescent. The reflections are chiefly sea-green and red. The columellar plate is broad, flat, and obliquely truncated at its base. The cavity of the spire is wide, open, but shallow This is a variable form, in color varying from dark coral red to dull red streaked with pale green."

Distribution

This species is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

to Australia, and is one of two species of abalone taken in

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest o ...

and

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

(the other is the greenlip abalone). Range is from

Fremantle Fremantle () () is a port city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River in the metropolitan area of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth. The Western Australian vernacular diminutive for ...

, Western Australia, to Angourie, New South Wales, and around Tasmania. It is called the blacklip abalone because the edge of the foot is black. File:Haliotis rubra P2153810.JPG, ''Haliotis rubra'' with a kelp anchored on the shell File:Haliotis rubra P2153820.JPG, ''Haliotis rubra'' showing the characteristic black edge of the foot File:Haliotis rubra P2153824.JPG, ''Haliotis rubra'' frequently choose to shelter in fairly tight crevices File:Haliotis rubra P2153828.JPG, Two specimens of ''Haliotis rubra'' visible through a gap between two boulders

References

* Wilson, B. 1993. ''Australian Marine Shells. Prosobranch Gastropods''. Kallaroo, Western Australia : Odyssey Publishing Vol. 1 408 pp. * Geiger, D.L. 2000 999 ''Distribution and biogeography of the recent Haliotidae (Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda) world-wide''. Bollettino Malacologico 35(5-12): 57-120 * Geiger D.L. & Poppe G.T. (2000). ''A Conchological Iconography: The family Haliotidae''. Conchbooks, Hackenheim Germany. 135pp 83pls * Geiger D.L. & Owen B. (2012) ''Abalone: Worldwide Haliotidae''. Hackenheim: Conchbooks. viii + 361 pp.

External links

New South Wales government fisheries info
* {{Taxonbar, from=Q3024362 rubra Gastropods described in 1814