Green ormer
Encyclopedia
The green ormer, scientific name Haliotis tuberculata, is a species
of edible sea snail
, a coast
al marine
gastropod mollusc in the family Haliotidae, the abalones or ormer snails.
The flesh of the green ormer is prized as a delicacy, and this has led to a decline in its population in some areas.
According to the World Register of Marine Species
(WoRMS) the following subspecies are recognized:
and one form:
extends with short, exhalant siphons. As the animal and the shell grow, new holes are formed and the older holes are sealed off. The inner surface of the shell has a thick layer of iridescent mother-of-pearl.
The large and muscular foot has numerous tentacles at the epipodium (the lateral grooves between the foot and the mantle).
an waters from the Mediterranean Sea
as far north as the Channel Islands
.
. It breeds in summer, via external fertilisation.
. Overfishing has led to a dramatic depletion in numbers since the latter half of the 19th century.
"Ormering" is now strictly regulated in order to preserve stocks. The gathering of ormers is now restricted to a number of "ormering tides", from January 1 to April 30, which occur on the full or new moon and two days following that. No ormers may be taken from the beach that are under 90 mm in shell length. Gatherers are not allowed to wear wetsuits or even put their heads underwater. Any breach of these laws is a criminal offense which can lead to a fine of up to £5,000 or six months in prison.http://www.goodfoodguernsey.gg/fromthesea/ormer.aspx
The demand for ormers is such that they led to the world's first underwater arrest, when a Mr. Kempthorne-Leigh of Guernsey was illegally diving for ormers, and was arrested by a police officer in full diving gear.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of edible sea snail
Sea snail
Sea snail is a common name for those snails that normally live in saltwater, marine gastropod molluscs....
, a coast
Coast
A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
al marine
Marine (ocean)
Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...
gastropod mollusc in the family Haliotidae, the abalones or ormer snails.
The flesh of the green ormer is prized as a delicacy, and this has led to a decline in its population in some areas.
Taxonomy
Haliotis barbouri Foster, 1946 is a synonym for Haliotis varia.According to the World Register of Marine Species
World Register of Marine Species
The World Register of Marine Species is a database that hopes to provide an authoritative and comprehensive list of names of marine organisms. The content of the registry is edited and maintained by scientific specialists on each group of organism. These taxonomists control the quality of the...
(WoRMS) the following subspecies are recognized:
- Haliotis tuberculata coccinea Reeve, 1846
- Haliotis tuberculata fernandesi Owen, Grace, & Afonso
- Haliotis tuberculata marmorata Linnaeus, 1758
- Haliotis tuberculata tuberculata Linnaeus, 1758
and one form:
- Haliotis tuberculata f. lamellosa Lamarck, 1822
Shell description
The shell of this species grows as large as 10 cm in length and 6.5 cm in width. This flattened, oval shell is an ear-shaped spiral with a mottled outer surface. At the bottom margin of the shell, there is a curving row of five to seven slightly raised respiratory apertures, through which the mantleMantle (mollusc)
The mantle is a significant part of the anatomy of molluscs: it is the dorsal body wall which covers the visceral mass and usually protrudes in the form of flaps well beyond the visceral mass itself.In many, but by no means all, species of molluscs, the epidermis of the mantle secretes...
extends with short, exhalant siphons. As the animal and the shell grow, new holes are formed and the older holes are sealed off. The inner surface of the shell has a thick layer of iridescent mother-of-pearl.
The large and muscular foot has numerous tentacles at the epipodium (the lateral grooves between the foot and the mantle).
Distribution
This species occurs on rocky shores in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an waters from the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
as far north as the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
.
Feeding habits
The green ormer grazes on algae, especially sea lettuceSea lettuce
The sea lettuces comprise the genus Ulva, a group of edible green algae that is widely distributed along the coasts of the world's oceans. The type species within the genus Ulva is Ulva lactuca Linnaeus, "lactuca" meaning lettuce...
. It breeds in summer, via external fertilisation.
In the Channel Islands
Ormers are considered a great delicacy in the British Channel IslandsChannel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
. Overfishing has led to a dramatic depletion in numbers since the latter half of the 19th century.
"Ormering" is now strictly regulated in order to preserve stocks. The gathering of ormers is now restricted to a number of "ormering tides", from January 1 to April 30, which occur on the full or new moon and two days following that. No ormers may be taken from the beach that are under 90 mm in shell length. Gatherers are not allowed to wear wetsuits or even put their heads underwater. Any breach of these laws is a criminal offense which can lead to a fine of up to £5,000 or six months in prison.http://www.goodfoodguernsey.gg/fromthesea/ormer.aspx
The demand for ormers is such that they led to the world's first underwater arrest, when a Mr. Kempthorne-Leigh of Guernsey was illegally diving for ormers, and was arrested by a police officer in full diving gear.