Blacklip Abalone
Sea Ear, Black-lip
Click to enlarge image
© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Haliotis
- Species
- rubra
- Family
- Haliotidae
- Super Family
- Haliotoidea
- Order
- Lepetellida
- Subclass
- Vetigastropoda
- Class
- Gastropoda
- Phylum
- Mollusca
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 20 cm
Black-lip Abalone, Haliotis rubra
Image: Dr Isobel Bennett© Australian Museum
The Blacklip Abalone is an important species targeted by the commercial fishing industry.
Identification
The Blacklip Abalone has a distinctive dark band along the edge of its shell but the shell is often covered in algae and plants making the abalone difficult to find.
Habitat
Blacklip Abalone live on intertidal rocky shores, and in coastal waters and oceans.
Distribution
Blacklip Abalones are found in Northern New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
Other behaviours and adaptations
The Blacklip Abalone is usually seen aggregating from the low-tide mark to depths of 25 m along the southern waters of Australia, preferring to feed at night. Holes at the top of the shell are used for breathing. Water is drawn in the front of the shell, passed over the gills where oxygen is extracted, and then pumped out of the holes at the top.
The large shell is very beautiful and pearly inside, and is often used in jewellry.
Management
Abalone species are protected in Sydney's marine reserve areas, but elsewhere the maximum bag limit is 10 and minimum size limit 11.5 cm.
