Haliotis rubra
Introduction The '''blacklip abalone''', '''''Haliotis rubra''''', is an Australian species of large, edible sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.Two shells of ''Haliotis rubra''
Subspecies * ''Haliotis rubra conicopora'' Péron, 1816 – the conical pore abalone; synonyms: ''Haliotis conicopora'' Péron, 1816 (original combination), ''Haliotis cunninghami'' Gray, 1826; ''Haliotis granti'' Pritchard & Gatliff, 1902; ''Haliotis vixlirata'' Cotton, 1943* ''Haliotis rubra rubra'' Leach, 1814  the shield abalone;  synonyms: ''Haliotis ancile'' Reeve, 1846; ''Haliotis improbula'' Iredale, 1924; ''Haliotis naevosa'' Philippi, 1844; ''Haliotis ruber'' Leach, 1814 (original combination); ''Haliotis whitehousei'' (Colman, 1959); ''Sanhaliotis whitehousei'' Colman, 1959
Description The size of the shell varies between . "The large, much depressed shell has a rounded-oval shape. The distance of the apex from the margin is one-fifth the length of the shell. It is sculptured with fine spiral  cords cut by close minute striae of increment. It shows 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, much depressed  and solid but not thick. 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 3.Inside they are corrugated like the outer surface, silvery, and 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 shallowThis is a variable form, in color varying from dark coral red to dull red streaked with pale green."
Distribution This species is endemic to Australia, and is one of two species of abalone taken in South Australia and Tasmania (the other is the greenlip abalone).Range is from Fremantle, Western Australia, to Angourie, New South Wales, and around Tasmania.It is called the blacklip abalone because the edge of the foot is black.File:Haliotis rubra P2153810.JPG|''Haliotis rubra'' with a kelp anchored on the shell File:Haliotis rubra P2153820.JPG|''Haliotis rubra'' showing the characteristic black edge of the footFile:Haliotis rubra P2153824.JPG|''Haliotis rubra'' frequently choose to shelter in fairly tight crevicesFile:Haliotis rubra P2153828.JPG|Two specimens of ''Haliotis rubra'' visible through a gap between two boulders
References * Wilson, B. 1993. ''Australian Marine Shells. Prosobranch Gastropods''. Kallaroo, Western Australia : Odyssey Publishing Vol. 1 408 pp. * Geiger, D.L. 2000 1999. ''Distribution and biogeography of the recent Haliotidae (Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda) world-wide''. Bollettino Malacologico 35(5-12): 57-120* Geiger D.L. & Poppe G.T. (2000). ''A Conchological Iconography: The family Haliotidae''. Conchbooks, Hackenheim Germany. 135pp  83pls* Geiger D.L. & Owen B. (2012) ''Abalone: Worldwide Haliotidae''. Hackenheim: Conchbooks. viii + 361 pp.
External links *   New South Wales government fisheries info*