Haliotis virginea

''Haliotis virginea'', Virgin pāua, is a species of edible sea snail, a marine (ocean), marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.Rosenberg, G. (2012). Haliotis virginea Gmelin, 1791. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=390555 on 2013-02-06

Description

The size of the shell varies between 30 mm and 75 mm.

Subspecies

* ''Haliotis virginea crispata'' Gould, 1847
* ''Haliotis virginea huttoni'' Filhol, 1880
* ''Haliotis virginea morioria'' Powell, 1938
* ''Haliotis virginea stewartae'' Jones & Owen, 2004
DNA extracted from ''H. virginae'' shells in museums showed three main population divisions, inhabiting the Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands, Three Kings Islands; the Chatham Islands, Chatham, Auckland Islands, Auckland, and Antipodes Islands; and mainland New Zealand (as well as Campbell Island, New Zealand, Campbell Island). These three Clade, clades do not correspond to the subspecies recognised above.

Distribution

This marine species is endemic to New Zealand.

Human use

''Haliotis virginea'' and two other ''Haliotis'' species are known as "pāua" in New Zealand and are a restricted food source.

References

* 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.

Jones M. & Owen B. 2004. ''Description of Haliotis virginea stewartae new subspecies (Gastropoda) from subantarctic islands of New Zealand.'' Of Sea & Shore, 26(2): 81-85

External links

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Haliotis, virginea
Molluscs of the Pacific Ocean
Gastropods of New Zealand
Endemic fauna of New Zealand
Gastropods described in 1791
Taxa named by Johann Friedrich Gmelin
Endemic molluscs of New Zealand

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