Abalone Species in California Waters

Last Modified 23-May-2000

Red (Haliotis rufescens)

Shell

Dull brick red, very rough, usually heavily encrusted with sponge, burrowing clam, kelp, barnacles, tunicates

Holes

3 to 4 open, (old ones may be closed) oblong in shape

Rim

Narrow band of red

Scar

Muscle scar prominent with dark green markings

Mantle

Usually black with black tentacles; sometimes, mottled or striped with a cream color

Size

To at least 11.76 inches [298.7mm], commonly 6-8 inches [150-200mm]
Minimum legal size 7 inches [177.8mm]

Range

Sunset Bay, Oregon to Bahia Tortugas, Baja California

Habitat

North of Point Conception, intertidal zone and subtidally down to at least 60 feet [18.3m], in the south, subtidally down to at least 100 feet [30m]

Comments

World's largest abalone. Most desirable commercially for size and light color meat. They may recolonize depleted areas more rapidly than other species. Object of mariculture in California and Hawaii.

White (H. sorenseni)

Shell

Reddish brown with low spiral ribs

Holes

3 to 5 open, elevated

Rim

Narrow red boarder

Scar

Absent. Inside pearly white

Mantle

Mottled yellowish green and beige. Tentacles light green and yellowish

Size

To 10 inches [254mm], commonly 5-8 inches [125-200mm].
Protected (cannot be taken or possessed)

Range

Point Conception, California to Bahia Tortugas, Baja California
Mostly found in the Channel Islands

Habitat

Subtidal zone from 80 feet [24m] down to at least 200 feet [61m].
Commonly in open exposed areas.

Comments

Desirable for its tender meat.
Very close to being put on the endangered species list because of over havesting and slow reproduction. 2500 estimated left in the wild.

Pink (H. corragata)

Shell

Dull green to reddish brown. Surface roughened by wavy corrugations

Holes

2 to 4 usually open with sharply elevated rims

Rim

Sharply scalloped, reddish brown

Scar

Large, mostly green markings

Mantle

Lacelike, mottled black and white

Size

To 10 inches [254mm], individuals over 7 inches [180mm] are now rare.
Protected (cannot be taken or possessed)

Range

Point Conception, California to Santa Maria Bay, Baja California,
including the Channel Islands and Guadalupe Island

Habitat

Subtidal zone from 20 feet [6.1m] down to at least 120 feet [37m].
Commonly in beds of giant kelp.

Comments

Grows slowly and is easily injured during picking. Once abundant in southern California; some habitat being recolonized by red abalone.

Green (H. fulgens)

Shell

Olive green to reddish brown, flat-topped ribs separated by narrow grooves

Holes

Small, oval, sometimes slightly raised, 5 to 7 usually open

Rim

Slightly scalloped

Scar

Striking green and blue. Interior, brilliantly iridescent with shades of green and blue

Mantle

Olive green with patches of brown. Tentacles short and grayish green

Size

To 10 inches [254mm], but generally smaller.
Protected (cannot be taken or possessed)

Range

Point Conception, California to Bahia Magdalena, Baja California

Habitat

Intertidal zone and subtidally down to at least 30 feet [9.1m].
Commonly in crevices where surfgrass and algal cover is dense.

Comments

Important alternative to the red abalone. A yellow, boring sponge, Cliona, bores hundreds of tiny holes in the shell of some greens, weakening the shell.

Black (H.cracherodii)

Shell

Dark blue, greenish black, sometimes orange, normally un encrusted and smooth

Holes

Flush with shell and small. Usually 5 to 9 open. Occasionally all closed

Rim

Thin line, same colors as shell

Scar

Absent. Inside silvery with pink and green reflections

Mantle

Same colors as shell

Size

To at least 7.75 inches [197mm], commonly 5-6 inches [125-150mm].
Protected (cannot be taken or possessed)

Range

Mendocino County, California to southern Baja California

Habitat

Intertidal and shallow subtidal zones.

Comments

Sometimes dense and stacked on top of one another in undisturbed areas.
95% of stocks wiped out by withering foot syndrome.

Pinto (H. kamtschatkana)

Shell

Variable, irregularly mottled and narrow. A friend of mine from Seattle calls them "Mutant Abalone"

Holes

3 to 6 usually open, edges elevated above the surface. A groove often parallels the line of holes.

Rim

Narrow green border

Scar

Usually absent. Interior light pearly white

Mantle

Mottled pale yellow to dark brown color with a pebbly appearing surface and lacey edge. Tentacles are yellowish brown, or occasionally green, and thin.

Size

To 6 inches [150mm], commonly 4 inches [100mm].
Protected (cannot be taken or possessed)

Range

Sitka, Alaska to Monterey, California

Habitat

Intertidal zone and subtidal down to at least 70 feet [21.3m].

Comments

Called northern abalone in Canada. Harvested commercially in Alaska and Canada.

Threaded (H. assimilis)

Shell

Greenish, mixed with brown, red, white, or yellow

Holes

4 to 6 usually open, small, tubular, and raised

Rim

Narrow green border

Scar

Usually absent. Interior light pearly white

Mantle

Light brown and green, banded. Tentacles short light brownish yellow

Size

To at least 6 inches [150mm], commonly smaller.

Range

San Luis Obispo County, California to Bahia Tortugas, Baja California

Habitat

Subtidal zone from 20 feet [6m]down to at least 80 feet [24m]. Commonly on open rock surfaces.
Protected (cannot be taken or possessed)

Comments

Nowhere abundant, but not uncommon, just inconspicuous over much of the range. Considered a subspecies of the pinto abalone by some scientists.

Flat (H. walallensis)

Shell

Flattened, narrow, and marked with low ribs.

Holes

5 to 6 usually open, edges moderately elevated above the surface.

Rim

Narrow red border

Scar

Usually absent. Interior light pearly white

Mantle

Mottled yellowish and brown color with a pebbly appearing surface and lacey edge. Tentacles are greenish and thin.

Size

To 7 inches [175mm], commonly under 5 inches [125mm].

Range

British Colombia, Canada to San Diego, California
Protected (cannot be taken or possessed)

Habitat

Subtidal zone from 20 feet [6.1m] down to at least 70 feet [21m].

Comments

Common in some areas, but not conspicuous.

© 1997, 2000 Kelpfish.net. All rights reserved.
Last Modified 23-May-2000

Shell	Dull brick red, very rough, usually heavily encrusted with sponge, burrowing clam, kelp, barnacles, tunicates
Holes	3 to 4 open, (old ones may be closed) oblong in shape
Rim	Narrow band of red
Scar	Muscle scar prominent with dark green markings
Mantle	Usually black with black tentacles; sometimes, mottled or striped with a cream color
Size	To at least 11.76 inches [298.7mm], commonly 6-8 inches [150-200mm] Minimum legal size 7 inches [177.8mm]
Range	Sunset Bay, Oregon to Bahia Tortugas, Baja California
Habitat	North of Point Conception, intertidal zone and subtidally down to at least 60 feet [18.3m], in the south, subtidally down to at least 100 feet [30m]
Comments	World's largest abalone. Most desirable commercially for size and light color meat. They may recolonize depleted areas more rapidly than other species. Object of mariculture in California and Hawaii.

Shell	Reddish brown with low spiral ribs
Holes	3 to 5 open, elevated
Rim	Narrow red boarder
Scar	Absent. Inside pearly white
Mantle	Mottled yellowish green and beige. Tentacles light green and yellowish
Size	To 10 inches [254mm], commonly 5-8 inches [125-200mm]. Protected (cannot be taken or possessed)
Range	Point Conception, California to Bahia Tortugas, Baja California Mostly found in the Channel Islands
Habitat	Subtidal zone from 80 feet [24m] down to at least 200 feet [61m]. Commonly in open exposed areas.
Comments	Desirable for its tender meat. Very close to being put on the endangered species list because of over havesting and slow reproduction. 2500 estimated left in the wild.

Shell	Dull green to reddish brown. Surface roughened by wavy corrugations
Holes	2 to 4 usually open with sharply elevated rims
Rim	Sharply scalloped, reddish brown
Scar	Large, mostly green markings
Mantle	Lacelike, mottled black and white
Size	To 10 inches [254mm], individuals over 7 inches [180mm] are now rare. Protected (cannot be taken or possessed)
Range	Point Conception, California to Santa Maria Bay, Baja California, including the Channel Islands and Guadalupe Island
Habitat	Subtidal zone from 20 feet [6.1m] down to at least 120 feet [37m]. Commonly in beds of giant kelp.
Comments	Grows slowly and is easily injured during picking. Once abundant in southern California; some habitat being recolonized by red abalone.

Shell	Olive green to reddish brown, flat-topped ribs separated by narrow grooves
Holes	Small, oval, sometimes slightly raised, 5 to 7 usually open
Rim	Slightly scalloped
Scar	Striking green and blue. Interior, brilliantly iridescent with shades of green and blue
Mantle	Olive green with patches of brown. Tentacles short and grayish green
Size	To 10 inches [254mm], but generally smaller. Protected (cannot be taken or possessed)
Range	Point Conception, California to Bahia Magdalena, Baja California
Habitat	Intertidal zone and subtidally down to at least 30 feet [9.1m]. Commonly in crevices where surfgrass and algal cover is dense.
Comments	Important alternative to the red abalone. A yellow, boring sponge, Cliona, bores hundreds of tiny holes in the shell of some greens, weakening the shell.

Shell	Dark blue, greenish black, sometimes orange, normally un encrusted and smooth
Holes	Flush with shell and small. Usually 5 to 9 open. Occasionally all closed
Rim	Thin line, same colors as shell
Scar	Absent. Inside silvery with pink and green reflections
Mantle	Same colors as shell
Size	To at least 7.75 inches [197mm], commonly 5-6 inches [125-150mm]. Protected (cannot be taken or possessed)
Range	Mendocino County, California to southern Baja California
Habitat	Intertidal and shallow subtidal zones.
Comments	Sometimes dense and stacked on top of one another in undisturbed areas. 95% of stocks wiped out by withering foot syndrome.

Shell	Variable, irregularly mottled and narrow. A friend of mine from Seattle calls them "Mutant Abalone"
Holes	3 to 6 usually open, edges elevated above the surface. A groove often parallels the line of holes.
Rim	Narrow green border
Scar	Usually absent. Interior light pearly white
Mantle	Mottled pale yellow to dark brown color with a pebbly appearing surface and lacey edge. Tentacles are yellowish brown, or occasionally green, and thin.
Size	To 6 inches [150mm], commonly 4 inches [100mm]. Protected (cannot be taken or possessed)
Range	Sitka, Alaska to Monterey, California
Habitat	Intertidal zone and subtidal down to at least 70 feet [21.3m].
Comments	Called northern abalone in Canada. Harvested commercially in Alaska and Canada.

Shell	Greenish, mixed with brown, red, white, or yellow
Holes	4 to 6 usually open, small, tubular, and raised
Rim	Narrow green border
Scar	Usually absent. Interior light pearly white
Mantle	Light brown and green, banded. Tentacles short light brownish yellow
Size	To at least 6 inches [150mm], commonly smaller.
Range	San Luis Obispo County, California to Bahia Tortugas, Baja California
Habitat	Subtidal zone from 20 feet [6m]down to at least 80 feet [24m]. Commonly on open rock surfaces. Protected (cannot be taken or possessed)
Comments	Nowhere abundant, but not uncommon, just inconspicuous over much of the range. Considered a subspecies of the pinto abalone by some scientists.

Shell	Flattened, narrow, and marked with low ribs.
Holes	5 to 6 usually open, edges moderately elevated above the surface.
Rim	Narrow red border
Scar	Usually absent. Interior light pearly white
Mantle	Mottled yellowish and brown color with a pebbly appearing surface and lacey edge. Tentacles are greenish and thin.
Size	To 7 inches [175mm], commonly under 5 inches [125mm].
Range	British Colombia, Canada to San Diego, California Protected (cannot be taken or possessed)
Habitat	Subtidal zone from 20 feet [6.1m] down to at least 70 feet [21m].
Comments	Common in some areas, but not conspicuous.