Kingdom Animalia Class Gastropoda Superfamily Haliotoidea Scientific name Haliotis clathrata | Phylum Mollusca Clade Vetigastropoda Family Haliotidae Rank Species | |
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Similar Haliotis, Haliotis jacnensis, Haliotis rugosa, Haliotis varia | ||
Haliotis clathrata, common name the lovely abalone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.
Contents
This species also occurs in a different form: Haliotis clathrata f. tomricei Patamakanthin, 2002
Description
The size of the shell varies between 10 mm and 60 mm. "The large, solid but not thick shell has a rounded-oval shape and is much depressed. The distance of the apex measures from the margin one-fifth the length of the shell. The shell is sculptured with fine spiral cords cut by close minute striae of increment, and has 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 and much depressed. The color pattern of 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 whorls number a trifle over three3. The inner surface is corrugated like the outer surface,silvery, 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 marine species occurs in the Red Sea and in the Indo-Pacific and Central Pacific Region:Aldabra, Chagos, Comores, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, and the Seychelles; also off Australia (New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia).