Pink Abalone (Haliotis corrugata) is an eastern Pacific abalone associated with rocky subtidal habitat from southern California into Baja California.
See Pink Abalone clearly
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Aquarium suitability awaiting assessment
Aquarium suitability has not yet been established for this record. Available observations do not constitute an acquisition recommendation.
The existing assessment does not establish aquarium suitability. Eligibility is reviewed separately before care completion is counted.
Haliotis corrugata is a regulated fishery species. Do not collect or possess it without verified jurisdictional authority and a chilled kelp-feeding system. Evidence review: The NOAA account supports identity and conservation context, not a complete aquarium protocol. Existing numeric care guidance has not been newly verified by this review. Require documented provenance and sustained species-appropriate feeding before any permitted specialist holding.
Research Evidence and Limits
These source findings support institutional assessment, identification or wildlife research. They are separate from aquarium-care completion.
Source findings and their limits
The recorded one-year larval-to-juvenile culture is strengthened by a separate 131-day juvenile feeding experiment: six formulated diets were tested on initially 10.7-mm, 0.15-g animals, with growth and energy budgets measured. Authors suggest approximately 35% dietary protein for their juvenile formulation.
Source limit: Juvenile diet testing and early culture do not supply a complete permanent adult protocol, broodstock ration or lifetime nutrient requirements.
Sources: Leighton 1974 — Haliotis corrugata laboratory development · Montaño-Vargas et al. 2005 — juvenile pink abalone energy and dietsThe original study measured thermal performance separately for eggs, larvae, postlarvae and juveniles; larval/postlarval success narrowed at warmer treatments while older juveniles tolerated broader conditions.
Source limit: Reported trial temperatures are age- and duration-specific, not lifetime water-chemistry limits.
Sources: Leighton 1974 — Haliotis corrugata laboratory developmentHabitat and Distribution
An eastern Pacific abalone associated with rocky subtidal habitat from southern California into Baja California. Its documented range includes Eastern Pacific, California, Baja California.
Feeding and Ecological Role
Grazes macroalgae and algal films on hard substrate.
Conservation and Responsible Sourcing
Confirm current fishery protections and lawful origin; do not infer collectability from a historical public-domain image. Verify legal origin, collection method, and current trade requirements before acquisition.
Identification and regional conservation
NOAA documents the shell and tentacle features of Haliotis corrugata and includes it in abalone research and regional conservation work. Preserve species-level identification rather than treating all abalones as interchangeable grazers.
What this means for aquarium care
The NOAA account supports identity and conservation context, not a complete aquarium protocol. Existing numeric care guidance has not been newly verified by this review. Require documented provenance and sustained species-appropriate feeding before any permitted specialist holding.
Evidence update and care limits
Juvenile feeding trials at a laboratory and hatchery compared several macroalgae and surfgrass. Egregia, Macrocystis and Gracilaria supported better growth than the tested surfgrass. This is exact-species juvenile evidence, not a universal claim that any dried seaweed is nutritionally complete. MLL monitoring plan: Retain algal identity, juvenile growth and survival records; distinguish these trial foods from a validated adult ration.
A living record
Foundation profile reviewed against the World Register of Marine Species. Species-level media are bound only where the source record explicitly supports the taxon; unidentified abalone and sea-urchin records remain at genus or class level. Historical and superseded source names remain in provenance while the profile uses the accepted taxon. Public content last reviewed October 2, 2026.
- World Register of Marine Species — Haliotis corrugata ↗Taxonomic authority
- NOAA Fisheries — pink abalone ↗Scientific agency
- Serviere-Zaragoza and colleagues (2009): Haliotis corrugata juvenile natural feeds ↗Reference source
- Díaz et al. (2006) — pink abalone juvenile thermal responses ↗Reference source
- Leighton 1974 — Haliotis corrugata laboratory development ↗Scientific agency
- Montaño-Vargas et al. 2005 — juvenile pink abalone energy and diets ↗Reference source