“WORLD RECORD” SPECIMENS OF HALIOTIS SPECIES OF THE WEST COAST OF NORTH AMERICA - A BRIEF DESCRIPTION AND PHOTO STUDY.

Buzz Owen
P.O. Box 601
Gualala, California 95445
buzabman@mcn.org

INTRODUCTION
This report will be written in a casual, less formal style that seems more appropriate for a discussion of world record shells. It will be primarily of interest for the collection of photo images presented, though collectors of our west coast species will probably find the other information of interest as well. For the purpose of this study, we will consider mainly those species and subspecies distributed from Southern California to Alaska, though the four subspecies found in Baja California, Mexico, will be mentioned briefly as well. The world’s three largest members of family Haliotidae are found among these west coast taxa, one in a virtual tie for number three position with Haliotis madaka Habe, 1977, a Japanese Haliotis, and we will begin this discussion with these three momentarily. However, first it might be of interest to explore the most important environmental conditions that coincide with the distribution of giant Haliotis taxa. (see also Owen and Dinucci, 2004).

Ecological Conditions found where Large Species of Haliotis Exist: In general, the largest Haliotis species in the world are found in temperate seas that have two major environmental parameters in common. These conditions are, but are not necessarily limited to: 1) Areas where an upwelling of cold nutrient-rich water promotes the growth of copious amounts of the large species of brown and red algae (particularly the former), which provide an excellent food source for large species of abalone, and: 2) Very exposed sections of coastline where sea and surface weather (wind) conditions are frequently very rough, often precluding diving. For example, on the north coast of California and Oregon, where the world’s largest species (H. rufescens Swainson, 1822) grows to massive proportions, some of the most formidable sea conditions on planet earth will often be found! Huge Pacific Ocean swells frequently batter the coast in the winter months, and in the spring, strong northwest winds buffet the coastline. These factors promote the major upwelling, circulation and strong ocean currents necessary for the growth and distribution of the algal food to drift feeders like abalone. Similar conditions are found near the southern tip of South Africa and South Australia, where other large Haliotis and species of brown algae are found. In contrast, warm, quiet, tropical seas, such as exist in much of the Indo Pacific Basin, are generally inhabited by very small species of Haliotis which feed on tiny forms of algae and other food species. There are almost certainly other factors at work which help produce these differences, but cold temperatures caused by upwelling (which provides the nutrients and low temperatures for the growth of large brown algae), and rough sea conditions which produce major circulation and food distribution in these cold waters, are the primary factors influencing large size in Haliotis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
Abbreviations of Collections: BMC: Bob McMillen Collection; BOC: Buzz Owen Collection; BSC: Bob Spinale Collection; DDC: Dwayne Dinucci Collection; JPC: John Pepper Collection; LACM: Los Angeles County Museum Collection; PMC: Pete McLaughlin Collection.

The eight taxa found on the West Coast of North America between California and Alaska, will be listed first in the order of their maximum sizes. Three of the four subspecies endemic to Baja California, Mexico, will be listed similarly (the fourth Mexican ssp., named after the author, will be illustrated with a very large specimen in the author’s collection – the listed specimen, of uncertain provenance, not being available for study at the time of this writing). The measurements used will be those taken by the author, or those listed in the most recent version of “World Record Shells” by Don Pisor, the standard reference for information on world record size mollusks and gastropods. This text is kept up to date, with a new version being published every two years. In the present work, measurements are frequently, but not always, listed in both mm and inches, for clarification. Photo images were taken with a Canon G6 digital camera with 7.1 megapixels resolution, and the images processed in Adobe Photoshop Version 9.

RESULTS
The Largest Recorded Specimens of the West Coast Haliotis Species:

Haliotis rufescens Swainson, 1822. Common Name: The Red Abalone.
Size: 12 5/16” (313.0 mm).
Taken By: John Pepper.
Date: 5 Sept. 1993.
Locality: Oregon.
2nd Largest: 11 29/32” (302 mm).
Other: World’s largest known abalone shell. Only specimen known to have reached or exceeded the “mythical” size of 12 inches (Plate 1A).
Reference: Of Sea and Shore 26:4:103-107.
Provenance: JPC.

Haliotis fulgens Philippi, 1845.
Common Name: The Green Abalone.
Size: 10 1/32” (255.0 mm).
Taken By: D. D. “Darrell” Forman.
Date: Early 1950’s.
Locality: Asunción Is., Baja Calif., Mexico. Beach shell.
2nd Largest: About 9¾”.
Other: Only specimen known 10” or larger (Plate 1B).
Reference: Of Sea and Shore 25:3:103-107.
Provenance: BOC.

Haliotis corrugata Wood, 1828.
Common Name: The Pink Abalone.
Size: 9 5/8” (245.7 mm).
Taken By: Unk. Calif. F&G diver.
Date: Sept. 1954.
Locality: Portuguese Bend, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Calif.
2nd Largest: About 8¾” (223.0 mm).
Other: A giant - over ¾” larger (22.4 mm) than 2nd largest known specimen. Found just before the destruction of the Palos Verdes area by pollution from Los Angeles/San Pedro Harbor (Plate 2A).
References: None.
Provenance: LACM.

Haliotis cracherodii Leach, 1814.
Common Name: The Black Abalone.
Size: 8½” (216.5 mm).
Taken By: Pete McLaughlin.
Date: Aug. 1990.
Locality: Pedro Point, Calif.
2nd Largest: A pair of shells 8 3/8”.
Other: A little known and previously un-photographed specimen (Plate 2B).
References: None.
Provenance: PMC.

Haliotis sorenseni Bartsch, 1940.
Common Name: The White Abalone.
Size: 8 13/16” (225.1 mm).
Taken By: Bob McMillen.
Date: 1970’s.
Locality: Probably Sta. Cruz Is., Calif.
2nd Largest: Three specimens exist of approx. the same size (see Discussion).
Other: Several large H. rufescens x H. sorenseni hybrids have been miss-identified as H. sorenseni.
Provenance: BMC.

H. kamtschatkana assimilis Dall, 1878.
Common Name: The Threaded Abalone.
Size: 7 5/16” (187.4 mm).
Taken By: Unk. commercial diver.
Date: 1959.
Locality: Point Conception, Calif.
2nd Largest: Several known about 7”.
Other: Shell is a broken specimen found on the commercial shell pile of A.R. Pierce in Goleta, Calif., in Sept., 1959.
Provenance: BOC.

H. k. kamtschatkana Jonas, 1846.
Common Name: The Pinto Abalone.
Size: 6 3/8” (162.3 mm).
Taken by: Unknown diver.
Date: 2005.
Locality: British Columbia, Canada.
2nd Largest: About 6.25” (159 mm).
Other: A very eroded senile specimen which is typical of shells >6” (153 mm).
Provenance: BSC.

H. walallensis Stearns, 1899.
Common Name: The Flat Abalone.
Size: 7 1/32” (179 mm).
Taken By: Dwayne Dinucci.
Date: 2004.
Locality: North of Crescent City, Calif.
2nd Largest: 7” (178 mm).
Other: A number of specimens are clustered at about this size (~7”, or specifically 175-176 mm).
Provenance: DDC.

The Largest Recorded Specimens of the West Coast Haliotis Subspecies Endemic to Baja California, Mexico.

Four Haliotis subspecies exist in Baja California, Mexico. Three are endemic to Guadalupe Island, and the fourth is isolated at the extreme point of the southern distribution of H. fulgens, at Magdalena Bay. As far less material has been examined from these isolated populations (estimated at two to five thousand of each), the largest specimens found thus far may not provide a very accurate appraisal of the maximum sizes which might actually be found if a larger sample were available for study. For example, I strongly suspect that H. fulgens guadalupensis Talmadge, 1964, reaches sizes in excess of the currently largest known specimen (to me) which measures 7 5/16” (186 mm). The reasoning here is that there are more exposed areas on the “weather” side (west side) of the island from which I have yet to examine material (such areas classically produce the largest individuals). I strongly suspect that the largest specimens from some of these areas might well reach 8” (203 mm) or larger. In any case, the largest specimens of these four subspecies known to me are listed and photographed herein. They are as follows:

Haliotis fulgens guadalupensis Talmadge, 1964.
Common Name: Guadalupe Island Green Abalone.
Size: 7 5/16” (186 mm).
Taken by: Conrad “Connie” Limbaugh.
Date: April, 1956.
Locality: Near Weather Station, at Melpomene Cove, near Morro Sur, at south end of Guadalupe Island, Baja California, Mexico.
Second Largest: I have seen a number of shells around 7” (est. 8-10).
References: Of Sea and Shore 27:2:126-131; 3 pl.
Other: A young, very healthy fast growing specimen – would probably have grown to a larger size if it had not been collected.
Provenance: BOC.

Haliotis corrugata oweni Talmadge, 1966.
Common Name: Guadalupe Island Pink Abalone.
Size: 6 5/8” (168 mm).
Taken By: Mexican commercial diver.
Date: 1998.
Locality: Near West Anchorage, Guadalupe Island, Baja California, Mexico.
Second Largest: A number of specimens have been examined very close to this size.
References: Of Sea and Shore 25:4:272-275, 288; 3 pl.
Other: A larger shell (168.3 mm) is listed in Pisor (2003), but I have not seen this specimen and am not certain of its identity, or where it was taken. As mentioned earlier, with more searching, larger specimens would almost certainly be found – probably to about 6¾”-7” (est.).
Provenance: BOC.

Haliotis cracherodii californiensis Swainson, 1822.
Common Name: Guadalupe Island Black Abalone.
Size: 5 3/4” (147 mm).
Taken by: Mexican commercial diver.
Date: 1998.
Locality: “Weather” (West) side of Guadalupe Island, Baja California, Mexico.
Second Largest: Many have been measured within about 6-8 mm of this size.
References: Of Sea and Shore 26:1:70-75; 3 pl.
Other: From the somewhat stunted population of extremely multiperforate and deep-proportioned specimens found on the “weather” (west) side of the island.
Provenance: BOC.

Haliotis fulgens turveri Bartsch, 1942.
Common Name: None.
Size: 7 11/16” (196 mm).
Taken By: Mexican commercial diver.
Date: 1959.
Locality: Magdalena Bay, Baja California, Mexico.
Second Largest: Much smaller. Examination of over 650 specimens taken in 1998-1999, yielded none over about 6½” (166 mm).
References: Of Sea and Shore 27:1:65-68.
Other: This largest recorded shell is truly a giant. None of the other original specimens from 1959 (several thousand shells) approached this size.
Provenance: BOC.

DISCUSSION
The Discussion will be broken down into sections treating each taxon, and will expand on some of the information given above, plus include other bits of data which might be of interest. The four Baja Californian subspecies won’t be discussed further, as these are extensively covered in earlier articles in Of Sea and Shore (see: “References”)

THE SPECIES:
Haliotis rufescens: Being far and away the world’s largest species of Haliotis (by well over 2”, or 58 mm), huge red abalone have been pursued with gusto and passion for well over 75 years, but to this date, so far as is known, only once has the almost “mythical” 12-inch size barrier been reached or exceeded. This particular specimen, a comparative “youngster” about 27-30 years old (in the authors opinion), was taken at the precise moment in time when its shell was as large as it would probably get (in maximum diameter), as it was about to lose approx 6-8 mm in length due to sloughing off of the ostracum, or outer layer of shell, at the major measurement point near the posterior margin (spire area). For a more detailed discussion of giant specimens of H. rufescens, refer to the earlier article on large red abalone in Vol. 26, No. 4 of Of Sea and Shore (Owen and Dinucci, 2005).

Haliotis fulgens: The “Green” Abalone is the 2nd largest species in the world, by about 3/8” (10 mm). This largest recorded specimen exceeds the next largest shell I have measured by approximately ¼” (8 mm). It was once probably close to 10¼” in length, but has lost an estimated 6-8 mm of diameter due to erosion at the posterior edge of the shell. Specimens over 9” are extremely rare, and I have measured only 5-6 shells between 9” and 9¾”. The record specimen was reported to have been found on the beach at Asunción Island, Baja California, Mexico, but I suggest this locality be regarded with caution, as most mature specimens of H. fulgens from central Baja California are much smaller.

Haliotis corrugata: This might be considered the “largest” of the West Coast world records, in that it exceeds the 2nd largest known individual by the greatest amount – over ¾” (20 mm). It is truly a giant! To one familiar with the Pink Abalone, the thought of a specimen in excess of 9½” (242 mm) staggers the imagination! I will never cease to wonder what the ecology of the Portuguese Bend area of the Palos Verdes Peninsula looked like in 1954 – before it was destroyed by the pollution coming out of San Pedro and Los Angeles Harbor! The 2nd and 3rd largest specimens that I have knowledge of are a pair of specimens that measure 8 ¾” (222 mm). These were both taken (by the author) in 1959 – one at San Nicolas Island, and the other in very shallow water just south of Point Conception. Other than these two shells, I have knowledge of few much over 8” (203 mm) – which is very large for this species, indeed! Probably some of the largest “Pinks” ever taken, came from north La Jolla and San Nicolas Island, but whether other big shells from these areas were larger than about 8½” is unknown to me.

Haliotis sorenseni: At least three specimens of the “White Abalone” are clustered at around 8¾” (225 to 227 mm). However, two of these I have not examined personally, and they may well represent H. rufescens x H. sorenseni hybrids – as is frequently the case with large specimens suspected of being H. sorenseni! The shell illustrated on Plate 3 is the largest I have personally confirmed to not be this hybrid. It measures 8¾” (225.1 mm). I have several specimens of H. rufescens x H. sorenseni that measure over 9¼” (from 235 to 242 mm), plus the “World Record” example that measures just short of 10” (253 mm)! A number of these hybrid specimens slightly in excess of 9¼”, have been mistaken for H. sorenseni by a number of collectors over the past 50 years. The “definite” specimen of H. sorenseni on Pl. 3, was taken near Santa Barbara by Bob McMillen – in the same general area that Bartsch’s holotype specimen was taken when he described the species. Curiously, one of the paratypes listed in the original description was in the personal collection of Andy Sorensen when I visited him at his home in Carmel in 1959 (he was 97 years old at the time). This paratype specimen is a very nice rather typical specimen of H. rufescens x H. sorenseni! This small episode underscores the problem one might have in correctly identifying H. sorenseni! Here we have the man who “discovered” the species and whom it was named after, and the man who described it, both making this same mistake! In fairness though, it should be stressed that few specimens were known in 1940, the year the species was described, so neither Sorensen nor Bartsch were very familiar with it. One of these extremely large hybrids (242 mm) is illustrated on Plate 5 with a 212 mm H. sorenseni so this problem can be better understood.

Haliotis cracherodii: This largest recorded specimen exceeds by 1/8” a pair of specimens that both measure 8 3/8” (213 mm). I know of few specimens that have reached or exceeded 8” (203 mm). Old-time commercial abalone fishermen from the Morro Bay area have mentioned seeing occasional specimens hit the old 8” “red bar” (measuring device) prior to Sept. 1959 when the size limit for red abalone was reduced from 8” to 7¾”. These three largest recorded live-taken specimens came from well separated localities in California: Santa Cruz Is., Shell Beach (near San Luis Obispo), and Pedro Point, about 20 miles south of San Francisco. Shells over 7” are not common in collections, and would be considered very large.

H. walallensis: The second largest specimen of the “Flat Abalone” is just 2 mm smaller than the record, at ~179 mm (exactly 7”). A group of 4-5 shells are clustered at 6 15/16”-7 1/32” (177-181 mm). Nearly all are from extreme northern California to south-central Oregon. Unlike all the other West Coast species of Haliotis, there is a more pronounced clustering of specimens very near this maximum size of approximately 7”. As a small commercial fishery for this species exists in south-central Oregon, large numbers of individuals have been examined in recent years, and still a specimen over 7 1/32” has not been found. In California, specimens over 6” appear to be very uncommon, and even in Oregon, shells over 6½” (166 mm) are rare indeed!

THE SUBSPECIES
Haliotis kamtschatkana assimilis: This largest recorded example of the “Threaded Abalone” exceeds by about ¼” (8 mm) the second largest specimen I have seen and measured. About 4-5 specimens are clustered at approximately 7” (179 mm) in size. All these huge shells came from 1-2 miles southeast of Point Conception in 35-60 feet (12-20 m) and were live taken by the author between 1959 and 1963. In this area were found the largest specimens of this subspecies that I have ever observed. This area has also produced a number of H. rufescens x H. kamtschatkana assimilis hybrids as well, which unlike H. rufescens x H. sorenseni hybrids examined earlier, would never be mistaken for either parent species, except possibly as a very small juvenile (without animal present). Specimens of H. kamtschatkana assimilis over 6” should be considered very large, and are uncommon.

Haliotis k. kamtschatkana: The previous record in the collection of Gordon Chan measures 6 1/4” (159 mm), and another large specimen in the Bob Spinale collection measures approximately the same size. Most shells approaching 6” (153 mm) are in extremely poor condition due to encrustation and erosion and are not collected or saved by the average shell collector. A specimen measuring 110.3 mm from Sitka, Alaska, is illustrated to give an idea what a large shell with better sculpture detail looks like. Specimens over 5¾” (>145 mm) are uncommon in my experience. I have a large series (>50) of this subspecies from Sitka, which contains a few specimens about 5¾”. This series is of particular interest as it was taken at approximately the northern extreme point of Haliotis distribution on the West Coast of North America. These specimens provide an interesting comparison to examples of the southern subspecies H. kamtschatkana assimilis from central Baja California, Mexico – some 4500 km distant!

Final Remarks: As nearly all species of West Coast abalone are no longer taken from natural populations, it is not likely that new records for size are going to be found, unless they exist in old collections, which to me seems doubtful. The exceptions, of course, are H. rufescens and H. walallensis, which are still pursued aggressively (the latter by an active commercial fishery). I personally doubt that the 12 5/16” (313 mm) red abalone record is likely to be broken any time soon, but wouldn’t be surprised to see the Flat Abalone maximum size creep upward – due in part to the fact that so many specimens are clustered near this size, and also because of the exposure of a large number of individuals to an active commercial fishery. Additionally, this fishery just happens to be located in the area where the largest specimens have been taken, which further enhances this possibility. In the case of the Red Abalone, almost ½ inch (actually 11 mm) separate the largest shell from the second largest known, and this is a substantial difference. Still, “records are made to be broken” goes the cliché, and with time, almost certainly a new record will appear - the primary question possibly being how much time – I have a shell that was the largest known Haliotis shell from 1952 to 1983 – 31 years! It measures 293 mm (a fraction of a mm over 11½”), and while it “held the record”, about 4-5 other shells challenged it very closely, some being less than 1/32” (<1 mm) smaller! The current record is a truly giant specimen, with no other known specimens remotely close to it. Again, aside from Dwayne Dinucci’s “runner-up” which is almost a half-inch (11 mm) smaller, the next largest shells are 14-15 mm smaller – which is a substantial difference. Though I think it more likely that a new record would come to light due to a currently unknown specimen being taken live from natural populations, there is always the chance that it could come from an old-time collection. Personally, I seriously doubt this. I believe that if such a spectacularly large shell existed, it would have come to our attention long ago. This belief is reinforced by the many “wild goose chases” that I have participated in since the early 1950’s, running down stories of nonexistent “12 inch” shells, and also by an event that happened almost 50 years ago. In 1959, when I visited Andy Sorensen at his home in Pacific Grove, I had with me the huge specimen of H. rufescens that measured 293 mm and was mentioned earlier in this paragraph. It had just came into my possession two weeks earlier, and I wanted to see what his reaction would be when he saw this giant shell. It was well known to a number of shell collectors and myself, that for many years Mr. Sorensen had had an offer to give $100.00 to anyone who would bring him a 12-inch abalone shell to measure and confirm that it was indeed that size (or larger). It was equally well known that NO one had ever succeeded in showing him such a specimen and collecting this reward. Armed with this knowledge, I showed him the 293 mm (11½ inch) shell. He held it in his hands, measured it very carefully a number of times, and studied it for several minutes. He then looked up at me, smiled, and said very seriously: “Young man, that is the largest abalone shell I have seen and measured in my life” (a good friend of mine, Chuck Snell, was with me and witnessed this event). That Andy Sorensen was very familiar with the Japanese commercial fishery and divers that worked in the Monterey area in the early 1900’s, further strengthened the conclusion that this specimen was with little doubt the largest abalone shell known at that time. Indeed, this shell survived all challenges and remained the largest known shell for 31 years (1952-1983), until a specimen 11¾” (298 mm) was taken by Don Thorp at Shelter Cove in Sept., 1983. With all this in mind, one can see why I am very skeptical that a shell will be found in the near future to displace the current record of 12 5/16” (313 mm).

(click here for plate 1)
(click here for plate 2)
(click here for plate 3)
(click here for plate 4)
(click here for plate 5)
(click here for plate 6)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish to thank Steve Browning, Tom Grace, and David Leighton for reviewing the manuscript and plates and offering helpful comments and suggestions. I wish to thank Jim McLean for providing photographs of the world record specimen of H. corrugata, and Pete McLaughlin for letting me photograph his world record black abalone (H. cracherodii). Other collectors permitting me to photograph their world record specimens include Bob McMillen, Dwayne Dinucci, John Pepper, and Bob Spinale, and I wish to express my gratitude to them all.

REFERENCES

Bartsch, Paul 1940. The West American Haliotis. U.S. National Museum Proceedings, Vol. 89, No. 3049, pp. 49-58.

Bartsch, Paul. 1942. A New Subspecies of Haliotis (H. fulgens turveri). The Nautilus 56:57.

Cox, K. W. 1962. California Abalones, Family Haliotidae. California Department of Fish and Game Fisheries Bulletin 118:1-131, pls. 1-8.

Dall, W. H. 1878. Description of a new Species of Shell from California in the Collection of the National Museum. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1:46-47.

Geiger, D. L. and Poppe, G. T. 2000. Family Haliotidae. In: Poppe, G. T. and Groh, K. (Eds). A Conchological Iconography. Conchbooks, Hackenheim, Germany. 135 pp., 83 pls.

Jonas, J. H. 1845. Neue Conchylien. Zeitschrift für Malakozoologie 3:168-173.

Leach, W. E. 1814. The Zoological Miscellany Vol. 1. McMillan, London, 144 pp.

Owen, B. 2003. The Haliotis Subspecies Endemic to Guadalupe Island, Lower California, Mexico: A Re-examination and Photo Study – Part 1: Haliotis corrugata oweni Talmadge, 1966. Of Sea and Shore 25:4:272-275, 288; 2 pl.

Owen, B. 2004. The Haliotis Subspecies Endemic to Guadalupe Island, Lower California, Mexico: A Re-examination and Photo Study – Part 2: Haliotis cracherodii californiensis Swainson, 1822. Of Sea and Shore 26:1:70-75; 3 pl.

Owen, B. and D. Dinucci. 2004. A Brief History and Photo Study of the World’s Six Largest Haliotis Shells, With Notes on Possible Factors Causing Gigantism. Of Sea and Shore 26:4:247-258; 8 pl.

Owen, B. 2005. A Little Known Haliotis Subspecies from Magdalena Bay, Lower California, Mexico: A Re-examination and Photo Study of H. fulgens turveri Bartsch, 1942. Of Sea and Shore 27:1:65-68; 2 pl.

Owen, B. 2005. World Record specimen of Haliotis fulgens Philippi, 1845. Of Sea and Shore 27:1:38-40.

Owen, B. 2005. The Haliotis Subspecies Endemic to Guadalupe Island, Lower California, Mexico: A Re-examination and Photo Study – Part 3: Haliotis fulgens guadalupensis Talmadge, 1964. Of Sea and Shore 27:2:126-131; 3 pl.

Philippi, R. A. 1845. Diagnoses Testaceorum Quorundam Novorum. Zeitschrift für Malakozoologie 3:147-152.

Stearns, R. 1899. Description of a New Variety of Haliotis from California with Faunal and Geographic Notes. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 22:139-142.

Swainson, W. O. 1822. Catalogue of Rare and Valuable Shells. W. Smith, London. 58 + 20 pp., 2 Pls.

Talmadge, R. R. 1964. The Races of Haliotis fulgens Philippi (Mollusca: Gastropoda) Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History. Vol. 13, No. 18, pp. 369-376.

Talmadge, R. R. 1966. A New Haliotid from Guadalupe Island, Mexico (Mollusca:Gastropoda). Los Angeles County Museum Contributions in Science No. 9: 5 pp., 2 Fig.

Wood, W. 1828. Supplement to the Index Sestaceologicus; or a Catalogue of Shells, British and Foreign, Illustrated with 480 Figures. Richard Taylor, London, 59 pp., 8 pls.