Sea pineapple

Sea Pineapple

The Sea Pineapple (Haliotis diversicolor) is a marine species of mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones. This species is also known as the Pacific Abalone or Small Abalone. It is native to the coasts of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

Description

The Sea Pineapple is a small to medium-sized abalone. The shell can reach a size of 60–100 mm. The shell is oval, with a slightly convex shape. The color of the shell is highly variable, but it is usually greenish or brownish. The interior of the shell is iridescent and has a row of respiratory pores.

Habitat and Distribution

The Sea Pineapple is found in the western Pacific Ocean, specifically in the coastal waters of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. It inhabits rocky substrates in shallow waters, usually at depths of less than 10 meters.

Diet

The diet of the Sea Pineapple consists mainly of algae, which it scrapes off rocks with its radula. It is also known to eat detritus and small invertebrates.

Reproduction

The Sea Pineapple is a broadcast spawner, meaning it releases its eggs and sperm into the water column where fertilization occurs. The resulting larvae are planktonic and drift in the ocean currents until they are ready to settle on the seafloor and metamorphose into juvenile abalones.

Economic Importance

The Sea Pineapple is commercially important in many parts of its range. It is harvested both for its meat, which is considered a delicacy, and for its shell, which is used in the manufacture of jewelry and other decorative items.

Conservation Status

The Sea Pineapple is not currently listed as threatened or endangered. However, overfishing and habitat destruction pose significant threats to its populations.

See Also

• Abalone
• Mollusks
• Marine Biology

References

• IUCN Red List - Haliotis diversicolor
• World Register of Marine Species - Haliotis diversicolor