Abalone Identification Guide

Abalone Species	Number of Open Holes	Shape & Structure of Holes	Color of Shell Exterior	Shell Sculpture	Shell Margin	Color of Body	Color of Tentacles
Red	3-4	oval, slightly tubular	dull brick-red	lumpy undulating	red rim	black	black
Pink	2-4	round, highly elevated	dull green to reddish brown	irregular corrugated	mottled, sharp scalloped	black	black
Black	5-9	round, small flush with shell	dark blue to black	smooth	blue or black smooth	black	black
Green	5-7	round, small slightly raised	olive green to reddish brown	regular with coarse spiral ribbing	brownish, sharp	olive green to light brown	olive green
White	3-5	oval highly elevated	reddish brown	regular with low spiral ribbing	red, sharp	yellowish tan traces of orange	yellowish green
Pinto	3-6	oval raised	mottled greenish brown with scattered white & blue	lumpy exterior reflected on interior by hollows, pits, etc.	narrow, mottled, scalloped	mottled greenish tan or brown	greenish brown
Threaded	3-6	oval slightly raised	mottled greenish with red- white or brownish spotting	wide separated prominent spiral ribs interspaced with numerous fine ribs	thin mottled greenish, red-blue	yellowish cream & brown	brownish-yellow
Flat	4-8	oval raised	brick red with white blue & green mottlings	numerous evenly rounded spiral ribs crossed by thin raised striations	thin, red	yellowish green mottled	yellowish green

Abalone Species	Area between Tentacles	Muscle Scar	Characteristics of Muscle Scar	Interior of Shell Major Iridescence
Red	lobed, smooth	prominent	straight green lines at sides & front edge	dull green
Pink	white lace-like edge	prominent	wavy bands & clusters of closely spaced flow lines with pinkish iridescence	pink
Black	lobed, smooth	absent	-	pearly white
Green	green lace-like edge	prominent	same as for pink with green & blue iridescence	green & blue
White	beige lace-like edge	absent	-	pearly white & pink
Pinto	lace-like edge, greenish brown, rough	absent	-	pearly white
Threaded	lace-like edge, yellowish brown, roughened	absent	-	pearly white
Flat	lace-like edge, yellow-green roughened	absent	-	purplish pink

Marine Region (Region 7)
Regional Manager: Dr. Craig Shuman
Main Office: 20 Lower Ragsdale Drive, Suite 100, Monterey, CA 93940
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