Ab ID.

[PhotoTJ]

So, who knows Abs? I mean, REALLY knows abs? I haven't seen enough to tell the difference, so, which one is this? Green, black, red, pink, white, calico?

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/11083/sort/1/cat/500/page/1

Sunday, backside of Catalina, 32 feet of water, 57 degrees. 10 inches across. There is a second shot of it in the gallery.

Thanks!

 

[jlyle]

So, who knows Abs? I mean, REALLY knows abs? I haven't seen enough to tell the difference, so, which one is this? Green, black, red, pink, white, calico?

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/11083/sort/1/cat/500/page/1

Sunday, backside of Catalina, 32 feet of water, 57 degrees. 10 inches across. There is a second shot of it in the gallery.

Thanks!

Your abalone is a "red," Haliotis rufescens.

 

[PhotoTJ]

OK, I have shown hard copies to two other people, one said a pink, and one said a green.

Dr. Bill, as our resident expert, care to venture an opinion? What's the Ab?

 

[SoCalAngel]

Your abalone is a "red," Haliotis rufescens.

How can you tell? Do you count the holes and look at the color of the foot? I've seen similar and had them ID'd as greens. I thought the pinks were the rare ones around backside of Catalina? :06:

 

[SoCalAngel]

Well, I may not be able to ID your ab, but I do know the ?? yellow thing in your gallery. They are aggregating zooanthid anemones (spelling may be wrong).

There are one of my favorites! You don't get to see them too often. They take over exsisting gorgonians.

 

[jlyle]

Five features to look for: shell, tentacle color, shell edge, shell holes/shapes, epipodium color.

Greens (H. fulgens): flat, light green-grey, thin-rippled dark green or maroon-brown, oval-spiral cords 5-7 holes, olive green or brown frilly

Pinks (H. corrugata): corrugated shell, black, ruffled light blue or dull red, circular 2-3 holes, lacelike black/white

Reds: (H. rugescens): big/heavy, black/grey, wavy red edge, oval wavy 3-5 holes, black or gray with tan stripes

Blacks: (H. cracherodii): smooth, black, rough black margin, smooth circular 5-9 holes flush with surface, black or grey


Location,location,location: If the ab is deeper than 19 feet, it's probably not a green.

Size: a 10 inch ab is definitely a red.

 

[scottfiji]

Pink: corrugated edge, 2-4 open holes holes, up to 10 inches, 0-180 feet; most commom
Black: 5-7 open holes, up to 8 inches, 0-20 feet, dark-blue to black
Green: 5-7 open holes, up to 10 inches, 0-60 feet, olive-green to red
Red: 3-4 open holes, up to 12 inches, 0-80 feet, brick-red with bands of green or white
Flat: (Haliotis walallensis) 4-8 open holes, 0-70 feet, flat and oblong shell, up to 7 inches

Source: Guide to Marine Invertebrates, Daniel Gotshall

Based on the pictures in the book, and # open holes (6), size, and depth,
I'd say that's a green. Although I haven't received my PADI Abalone Identification Speciality yet.

btw, ScubaLaurel, Zooanthid anemones are one of my favorites too! If you ever get the need to see them in the water, I have mentally recorded a few locations in LA country where they are and I can show you, (or you can search my dive posts).

Scott

 

[SoCalAngel]

Size: a 10 inch ab is definitely a red.

I have seen these...not often enough! :10:

Actually, I have seen lots of reds (ok, lots= several dozen) at San Miguel Island. There were so cool, and very big at 15-18 inches. But why can't other abs be that big or bigger?

Thanks for the chart listings. I am going to print them andlaminate for my id book.

 

[SoCalAngel]

They are aggregating zooanthid anemones (spelling may be wrong).

Oops, they are no aggregating, they are colonizing...sorry!

 

[jlyle]

I have seen these...not often enough! :10:

Actually, I have seen lots of reds (ok, lots= several dozen) at San Miguel Island. There were so cool, and very big at 15-18 inches. But why can't other abs be that big or bigger?

Thanks for the chart listings. I am going to print them andlaminate for my id book.

Remember, everything looks bigger underwater! LOL

Different species are different sizes - like lions, tigers, leopards, and house cats.

Blacks don't normally get much over 6", greens and pinks about 7-8" max, and the reds are the big guys at 8-10", but there are bigger specimens out there.