Malacological Society of Australasia

Molluscan Research

Volume 18, Issue 2 (Australasian Abalone): 31 October 1997. Edited by S.A. Shepherd, P.E.McShane and F.E.Wells

Studies on southern Australian abalone (genus Haliotis) XVIII. Ring formation in H. scalaris.

S.A. Shepherd and Sylvain Huchette*.

South Australian Research and Development Institute, PO Box 120, Henley Beach, South Australia, 5022.
*Present address: 46 rue du Vert Touquet, 59249 Fromelles, France.

The abalone Haliotis scalaris deposits two fine rings a year in the spire, one in about December and the other from May to July, corresponding roughly to summer and winter sea temperature extremes, Additional fine rings, and in particular brown rings, are deposited in response to boring annelids and drilling muricid gastropods. Multiple regression analysis revealed a relationship between the number of rings in the spire and the variables: age of the shell, extent of infestation by annelids, and the number of brown rings. The analysis showed that additional fine rings and brown rings are deposited according to the degree of parasitic attack.

pp. 247-252.