Many-coloured Abalone
NameMany-coloured Abalone
Scientific NameHaliotis varia
Common NameMany-coloured Abalone
FamilyHaliotidae
GenusHaliotis
Speciesvaria
Geographic DistributionIndo-Pacific region, including coastal waters of Australia (Queensland, New South Wales), Southeast Asia (Philippines, Indonesia), and parts of the Indian Ocean.
Habitatintertidal
Shell Shapeconical
Average Size (mm)70
Identifying FeaturesKey features include its low, ear-shaped shell with a distinct spiral apex, a row of respiratory pores (tremata) along the left margin (though not clearly visible in this dorsal view), and a highly variable external coloration. The fleshy epipodium with numerous tentacles extending from beneath the shell margin is clearly visible in the image, characteristic of abalones.
Raritycommon
Author CitationLinnaeus, 1758
Description
The Many-coloured Abalone, *Haliotis varia*, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Haliotidae. It is characterized by its variable shell coloration and its habitat in rocky intertidal and subtidal zones.
