''Haliotis cyclobates'', common name the whirling abalone or the circular ear shell, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

of sea snail, a marine gastropod

mollusk Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is es ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Haliotidae ''Haliotis'', common name abalone, is the only genus in the family Haliotidae. This genus once contained six subgenera. These subgenera have become alternate representations of ''Haliotis''. The genus consists of small to very large, edible, h ...

, the

abalone Abalone ( or ; via Spanish , from Rumsen ''aulón'') 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 mu ...

Description

The size of the shell attains 60 mm. "The elevated shell is nearly circular in outline and somewhat turbinate. The distance of the

apex The apex is the highest point of something. The word may also refer to: Arts and media Fictional entities * Apex (comics), a teenaged super villainess in the Marvel Universe * Ape-X, a super-intelligent ape in the Squadron Supreme universe *Apex, ...

from the margin is between one-third and one-fourth the greater than the diameter of the shell. The body whorl is rounded and convex above. The surface is covered with spiral cords and threads, and has numerous folds radiating from the suture. The five perforations are oval, not raised. The shell is nearly circular and very convex. The spire is decidedly elevated and is formed of about three rounded

whorl A whorl ( or ) is an individual circle, oval, volution or equivalent in a whorled pattern, which consists of a spiral or multiple concentric objects (including circles, ovals and arcs). Whorls in nature File:Photograph and axial plane flo ...

s. The last whorl has a blunt keel at the row of holes, and a narrower, more acute carina at a short distance below it. The space between both is a little concave. The entire surface has close spiral cords and threads which are sometimes somewhat granose. There are numerous folds radiating from the suture, but not long enough to reach the periphery. The coloration consists of broad radiating patches or oblique stripes of chestnut-brown, green and flesh-color or whitish. The inner surface is silvery with red and green reflections. The muscle impression is not distinct. The columellar plate is flat, not truncate below, strongly sloping inward. The generally five perforations are oval, their edges only a trifle raised."H.A. Pilsbry (1890) Manual of Conchology XII; Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, 1890; p. 120
(described as ''Haliotis excavata'')

Distribution

This marine species is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

to Australia and occurs off

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

and

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to ...

References

* Péron, F. 1816. ''Voyage de découvertes aux Terres Australes istorique exécuté par ordre de Sa Majesté l'empereur et roi, sur les corvettes le Geographe, le Naturaliste, et la goelette le Casuarina, pendant les années 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803 et 1804.'' Paris : Imprimerie imperiale. * Lamarck, J.B.P.A. de M. 1822. ''Histoire Naturelle des Animaux sans Vertèbres. Suite des Gastéropodes.'' Paris : J.B. Lamarck Vol. 6(2) 232 pp. * Wilson, B. 1993. ''Australian Marine Shells. Prosobranch Gastropods''. Kallaroo, Western Australia : Odyssey Publishing Vol. 1 408 pp. * Geiger, D.L. & Poppe, G.T. 2000. ''A Conchological Iconography. The family Haliotidae.'' Germany : ConchBooks 135 pp. * Geiger, D.L. 2000

999 999 or triple nine most often refers to: * 999 (emergency telephone number), a telephone number for the emergency services in several countries * 999 (number), an integer * AD 999, a year * 999 BC, a year Books * ''999'' (anthology) or ''999 ...

''Distribution and biogeography of the recent Haliotidae (Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda) world-wide''. Bollettino Malacologico 35(5–12): 57-120 * Degnan, S.D., Imron, Geiger, D.L. & Degnan, B.M. 2006. ''Evolution in temperate and tropical seas: disparate patterns in southern hemisphere abalone (Mollusca: Vetigastropoda: Haliotidae)''. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 41: 249–256 * Geiger D.L. & Owen B. (2012) ''Abalone: Worldwide Haliotidae''. Hackenheim: Conchbooks. viii + 361 pp.

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q5642415 cyclobates Gastropods of Australia Gastropods described in 1816