Haliotis rugosa pustulata is a subspecies of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.
Description The size of the shell varies between 25 mm and 60 mm. The left side of the shell has holes set equally distant from each other, these holes are made during the breathing process. The Haliotis rugosa pustulata breaths through tubular filaments protruding from each hole, as such, the number of holes on an individual does not change much through its several stages of growth. Distribution This marine subspecies occurs in the Red Sea and in the western part of the Indian Ocean.
References
Kilburn R.N. (1972). Taxonomic notes on South African marine Mollusca, with the description of new species and subspecies of Conus, Nassarius, Vexillum and Demoulia. Annals of the Natal Museum 21(2):391–437 Geiger D.L. & Poppe G.T. (2000). A Conchological Iconography: The family Haliotidae. Conchbooks, Hackenheim Germany. 135pp 83pls Geiger D.L. & Owen B. (2012) Abalone: Worldwide Haliotidae. Hackenheim: Conchbooks. viii + 361 pp. [29 February 2012] page(s): 113
External links
Owen B. (2013) Notes on the correct taxonomic status of Haliotis rugosa Lamarck, 1822, and Haliotis pustulata Reeve, 1846, with description of a new subspecies from Rodrigues Island, Mascarene Islands, Indian Ocean (Mollusca: Vetigastropoda: Haliotidae). Zootaxa 3646(2): 189–193.