Hello!

I think the question relates to Haliotis sensu lato.  I think there is a
pretty good answer.

Dan Geiger (Geiger, D. L., 1998.  Recent genera and species of the family
Haliotidae Rafinesque, 1815 (Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda). Nautilus 111(3):
85-116. May 26) listed 55 species with 10 additional subspecies.  His work
is careful and thorough.  He treated several generic units but advised
against their use at our present level of knowledge.  He illustrated
several of the lesser-known species and indicated how to create a complete
picture portfolio from the literature.

He added one species, named in honor of our good friend, John Fatue,
earlier this year. See <http://home.sprynet.com/~wfrank/johnfatu.htm> for
details (and picture).

Harry


At 12:35 AM 12/23/99 +1300, you wrote:
>>Could any of you tell me how many different species of Haliotis there are?
>>John in very cold, icie and snowie in Tennessee.
>
>
>Strictly speaking Haliotis is monotypic, if it is correct that H. asinina
>Linne is the genotype (as usual, I'm sending this reply near midnight, from
>work, where my reference material isn't); this species is unique in both
>shell and animal morphology. Ever seen a photo of a live one? The aniomal
>is a great big beautuful green thing far too big to hide under its shell,
>unlike any other member of the family.
>
>Many "subgenera" such as Sulculus, Paua, Padollus etc are really genera,
>though some of these are undoubtedly subgenera or synonyms of others. The
>family really needs a supraspecific revision, if it hasn't already been
>done (I haven't heard of its being done).
>
>Andrew G
>