Carole,
Actually, there are two Haliotis species from the Western Atlantic:
1. Haliotis pourtalesii Dall, 1881
This species occurs from North Carolina to Surinam
2. Haliotis aurantium Simone 1998
This species occurs off the coast of central Brazil
Both of these species are rare.
I would pose your question about the lack of species in New England to Dr.
Daniel Geiger.
Steve