Haliotis marmorata

Description

The size of the shell varies between 40 mm and 60 mm. "The depressed shell has an oval shape. The distance of the apex from the margin is one-eighth to one-tenth the length of the shell. The shell is closely, finely spirally striate and decussated by still finer and closer growth striae. The coloration is reddish-brown, generally with white patches. The right side is not quite as much curved as the left, and the shell is rather depressed. It is quite solid and heavy. The outside is dark reddish-brown, sometimes without markings, but usually showing angular patches of white or greenish around the middle part of the body whorl, and on the spire. The spiral striae of the surface are fine, close, and often disposed in pairs. They are decussated by very close fine radiating striae. The spire is low. It is inside silvery and smooth except for fine spiral folds in the nacre, which has light green and red reflections. The columellar plate is flat, wide (its width one-sixth to one-seventh the width of the shell). It is generally not sloping inward or slightly so, and not distinctly truncate below. The cavity of the spire is wholly or partly concealed if the plane of the peristome is held at a right angle to the line of vision. The five or six oval perforations are situated in slight prominences, separated by spaces greater than their own length."

Distribution

This species occurs in the Atlantic Ocean off Senegal to Gabon and off São Tomé and Principe