Common Ear Shell or Abalone
Haliotis rubra

Form:

Shell large, flat, and oval with a greatly enlarged body whorl. Sculptured with weak growth ridges, over irregular oblique radiating folds. Around the edge there are a row of conical tubercles, with 6 or 7 open for respiration.

Between the tubercles and the outer edge is a concave region. Inside the shell are oblique wrinkles.

Colour:

Shell colour reddish-brown, with narrow, curved, radiating light green streaks. Inside the shell is brilliantly iridescent.

Distribution:

Northern New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia to southern Western Australia.

Habitat:

Occurs at and below low tide on rocky shores. Abalone are found under rocks, in crevices, in caves or on vertical rock faces.

Biology:

This is the edible black-lip abalone. It often occurs in clusters. It is now believed that there is a species complex, or cline of forms, ranging across southern Australia. In south-eastern Australia the form is called Haliotis rubra, while the south-western form is called Haliotis conicopora.

Also known as Black-lip Abalone, Red Ear Shell, Knotted Ear Shell Haliotis ruber, Notohaliotis ruber, and Haliotis improbulum

References:

Bennett, I. (1987) W.J. Dakin's classic study: Australian Seashores. p.182, Angus & Robertson, Sydney.

Davey, K. (1998) A Photographic Guide to Seashore Life of Australia. p.74, New Holland, Sydney.

Edgar, G.J. (1997) Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. p.227, Reed Books, Kew.

Marine Research Group of Victoria (1984) Coastal Invertebrates of Victoria: an atlas of selected species. p.24, Museum of Victoria, Melbourne.

Macpherson, J.H. & Gabriel, C.J. (1962) Marine Molluscs of Victoria. p.29, Melbourne University Press & The National Museum of Victoria.

Shepherd, S.A. & Thomas, I.M. (1982) Marine Invertebrates of Victoria, Pt. 2. p.539, South Australian Government Printer, Adelaide.

Wilson, B.R. & Gillett, K. (1979) A field guide to Australian Shells: Prosobranch Gastropods. p.23, A.H. & A.W. Reed, Sydney.

Ear Shells &
False Ear Shells

Common Abalone

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