Invertebrate · GBIF taxon 2293078
Red Abalone
Haliotis rufescensAlso known as California Red Abalone
Red abalone are the largest abalone species in the world, distinguished by their heavy, brick-red outer shell and luminous, iridescent mother-of-pearl interior. Clinging firmly to rocky subtidal reefs, these giant marine snails use a broad, muscular foot to anchor against crashing wave energy while trapping floating drift kelp. Severe marine heatwaves, starvation from declining kelp forests, and withering syndrome disease have caused catastrophic population crashes across their native Pacific range.
MarineMolluskHerbivore
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Critically EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXCritically EndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Giant Kelp
- Bull Kelp
- Red Algae
Predators
- Sea Otters
- Sunflower Sea Stars
- Humans
ThreatsMarine heatwaves, kelp forest decline, withering syndrome disease, historical overharvesting
HabitatsSubtidal rocky reefs and kelp forests
Life span30–50 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderLepetellida
- FamilyHaliotidae
- GenusHaliotis
- SpeciesHaliotis rufescens
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance; strictly protected from harvest in most areas.
- What to notice
- Look for a large, brick-red, oval shell with 3 to 4 open respiratory pores raised slightly above the surface.
- Support conservation
- Never attempt to pry an abalone off rocks, as their thin skin tears easily and causes fatal bleeding.
Responsible observation
- Observe Responsibly: View wild individuals underwater without disturbing or attempting to move them.
- Respect Fishing Closures: Abide by strict legal prohibitions against harvesting to support species recovery.
- Support Kelp Restoration: Participate in or donate to marine conservation projects restoring kelp forests.
Primary Food Source "Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), Monterey Bay aquarium, California" by LT&C is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Predator Marshal Hedin from San Diego / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Nelson Balcar, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nelson Balcar · cc-by
Close Relative (c) James St. John, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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