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Abalone Reproduction

The Abalone sexes are separate and can be distinguished in individuals as small as one inch when the Abalone gonads begin to develop. The Abalone eggs or sperm are released through the Abalone pores with the respiratory current. This is known as broadcast spawning. A 1.5 inch abalone may spawn 10,000 eggs or more at a time, while an 8 inch abalone may spawn 11 million or more. Spawning may be controlled by the water temperature or length of the day. The Abalone presence of eggs and sperm in the water may stimulate other abalone to spawn, thus increasing the Abalone chances of fertilization.

The Abalone egg hatches as a microscopic, free living larvae. It drifts with the currents for about a week, then the abalone larvae settles to the bottom, sheds its swimming hairs (cilia) and begins to develop the Abalone adult shell form. If suitable habitat is located it may grow to adulthood. the chance that an individual larva will survive to adulthood is very low. Fortunately abalone and most mollusks are prolific spawners but the Abalone mortality still probably exceeds 99%.

Hybrid abalone are not uncommon in areas where several species occur together. All species can hybridize, but the most common hybrids are red and white with pink.