Haliotis midae

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Haliotis midae
Abalone Haliotis midae.jpg
Live individual of H. midae in situ
Perlemoen imported from iNaturalist photo 15362734.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Vetigastropoda
Order: Lepetellida
Superfamily: Haliotoidea
Family: Haliotidae
Genus: Haliotis
Species:
H. midae
Binomial name
Haliotis midae
Haliotis midae
  Extant (resident)
Synonyms [2]

Haliotis midae, known commonly as the South African abalone or the perlemoen, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones. [2]

Contents

It is highly sought after by criminal organisations and a thriving black market exists for it, leading to a catastrophic decline in stocks. [1]

Subspecies

Description

Five views of a shell of Haliotis midae Haliotis midae 01.jpg
Five views of a shell of Haliotis midae

The size of the shell varies between 12 and 20 cm (4.7–7.9 in). "The large shell has a rounded-oval shape and is moderately convex. The distance of the apex from the margin about equals one-fifth the greatest length of the shell. The body whorl is strongly angled at the position of the perforations, perpendicularly descending from the angle to the columellar margin. The surface shows strong, elevated, radiating wrinkles or lamellae, but no spiral markings when adult. The 6 to 11 perforations are small, subcircular, and separated by spaces greater than their own diameter. The two sides are about equally curved. The convexity varies with age. The colour of the shell is yellowish-grey. The folds are usually stained with coral-red. The surface is dull, with fine oblique growth-wrinkles and coarse, prominent, less oblique elevated and wavy radiating lamellae. The low spire is composed of about 3 whorls. The body whorl is angulated at the row of perforations. The inner surface is pearly, many-coloured, red predominating in young specimens. The muscle-scar is large, rounded, very rough, especially in old shells, which often have coppery stains inside. The columellar plate is rather broad (one-seventh to one-tenth the width of the shell), sloping inward. Its face is a little concave and not at all truncated at the base. The cavity of the spire is large, showing about 1½ whorls from below." [3]

Behaviour

H. midae live in groups. [4] Juveniles integrate with sea urchins for protection. [4]

Feeding

H. midae are herbivores, feeding on kelp and red and green algae.

Distribution

Haliotis midae is endemic to the waters off South Africa. [5]

Conservation status

H. midae is endangered due to severe overfishing from uncontrolled poaching driven by consumer demand in East Asia; 90% of exports go to Hong Kong. [6] Numerous East Asian poaching gangs have created an organised criminal enterprise in conjunction with local criminals and fishers, leading to a catastrophic decline in the species. These organisations are closely linked to the international narcotics trade. In most areas of former abundance, evidence indicates that populations have not been able to keep up with the level of poaching, leading to recruitment failure. [1]

From 2000 to 2016, 55 863 tonnes were exported, with 18 905 tonnes being legal exports and 36 958 tonnes in illegal exports. [6]

The threat to the perlemoen led it to being banned from all types of harvesting and listed on CITES and the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004 (NEMBA); it was later removed from both registers due to pressure from the fishing industry. [4]

Permits are required to harvest and to export the perlemoen. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abalone</span> Common name for a group of sea snails

Abalone is a common name for any of a group of small to very large marine gastropod molluscs in the family Haliotidae. Other common names are ear shells, sea ears, and, rarely, muttonfish or muttonshells in parts of Australia, ormer in the UK, perlemoen in South Africa, and paua in New Zealand. Abalones are marine snails. Their taxonomy puts them in the family Haliotidae, which contains only one genus, Haliotis, which once contained six subgenera. These subgenera have become alternative representations of Haliotis. The number of species recognized worldwide ranges between 30 and 130 with over 230 species-level taxa described. The most comprehensive treatment of the family considers 56 species valid, with 18 additional subspecies. The shells of abalones have a low, open spiral structure, and are characterized by several open respiratory pores in a row near the shell's outer edge. The thick inner layer of the shell is composed of nacre (mother-of-pearl), which in many species is highly iridescent, giving rise to a range of strong, changeable colors which make the shells attractive to humans as decorative objects, jewelry, and as a source of colorful mother-of-pearl. The flesh of abalones is widely considered to be a desirable food, and is consumed raw or cooked by a variety of cultures.

<i>Haliotis australis</i> Species of gastropod

Haliotis australis, common name the queen pāua,yellowfoot pāua, or austral abalone, is a species of edible sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.

<i>Haliotis iris</i> Species of gastropod

Haliotis iris, common name pāua, blackfoot pāua or rainbow abalone, is a species of edible sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.

<i>Haliotis laevigata</i> Species of gastropod

Haliotis laevigata, common name the smooth Australian abalone or greenlip abalone or whitened ear shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.

<i>Haliotis corrugata</i> Species of gastropod

The pink abalone, scientific name Haliotis corrugata, is a species of large edible sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.

<i>Haliotis spadicea</i> Species of gastropod

The blood-spotted abalone is a species of edible sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones. This species is common on rocky shores on the coast of South Africa.

<i>Haliotis rubra</i> Species of gastropod

The blacklip abalone, Haliotis rubra, is an Australian species of large, edible sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.

<i>Haliotis gigantea</i> Species of gastropod

Haliotis gigantea, common name the giant abalone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones. It is also known as Siebold's abalone, after Philipp Franz von Siebold.

<i>Haliotis coccoradiata</i> Species of gastropod

Haliotis coccoradiata, common name the reddish-rayed abalone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.

<i>Haliotis cyclobates</i> Species of gastropod

Haliotis cyclobates, common name the whirling abalone or the circular ear shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.

<i>Haliotis mariae</i> Species of gastropod

Haliotis mariae is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.

<i>Haliotis ovina</i> Species of gastropod

Haliotis ovina, common name the sheep's ear abalone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.

<i>Haliotis pulcherrima</i> Species of gastropod

Haliotis pulcherrima is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.

<i>Haliotis roei</i> Species of gastropod

Haliotis roei, common name Roe's abalone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.

<i>Haliotis scalaris</i> Species of gastropod

Haliotis scalaris, common name the staircase abalone or the ridged ear abalone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.

<i>Haliotis stomatiaeformis</i> Species of gastropod

Haliotis stomatiaeformis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Haliotidae, the abalones. It is endemic to a small portion of the Mediterranean Sea, off the coasts of Sicily and Malta.

<i>Haliotis clathrata</i> Species of gastropod

Haliotis clathrata, common name the lovely abalone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.

<i>Haliotis marmorata</i> Species of gastropod

Haliotis marmorata is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.

<i>Haliotis parva</i> Species of gastropod

Haliotis parva, common name the canaliculate abalone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.

<i>Haliotis</i> Genus of gastropods

Haliotis, common name abalone, is the only genus in the family Haliotidae.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Peters, H. (2021). "Haliotis midae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T78771094A78772518. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T78771094A78772518.en .
  2. 1 2 3 Haliotis midae Linnaeus, 1758 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 9 April 2010.
  3. ↑ H.A. Pilsbry (1890) Manual of Conchology XII; Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, 1890
  4. 1 2 3 "South African abalone - SANBI". SANBI . 20 May 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  5. ↑ Oliver, A.P.H. (2004). Guide to Seashells of the World. Buffalo: Firefly Books. 22–23.
  6. 1 2 3 Okes, Nicola; Bürgener, Markus; Moneron, Sade; Rademeyer, Julian. "EMPTY SHELLS: An assessment of abalone poaching and trade from southern Africa" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 April 2023.
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