Haliotis cracherodii Leach, 1814
Black abalone
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Family:  Haliotidae (abalones)
Max. size:  29 cm SHW (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 51 years
Environment:  benthic; marine; depth range 0 - 6 m
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: USA to Mexico. Historically occurred from Crescent City, California to southern Baja California, Mexico; however, current constricted range occurs from Point Arena, California to Bahia Tortugas, Mexico.
Diagnosis:  Shell is dark blue-black and smooth. It is usually free from seaweed and other marine growth. The holes near the shell edge are used to carry of waste and release eggs and sperm (Ref. 312).
Biology:  Fisheries: the meat is eaten fresh or dried; the shell is used as ornament or served as spoons or bowls (Ref. 312). Found under large rocks and in deep crevices in the middle to low intertidal zones. Herbivorous; known to grab drifting blades of brown algae with their tentacles; they also scrape diatoms and other microscopic algae from rocks. Usually feeds on various species of brown algae, but the smaller individuals ingest diatoms and coralline algae. Preyed on by humans. Under crowded conditions, adult abalones may graze the growth of marine plants from other shells (Ref. 312).
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 04 January 2021 (A2ade+3e) Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans: 
Country info:   
 

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