Haliotis rufescens is distributed from British Columbia, Canada, to Baja California, Mexico. It is most common in the southern half of its range.

Red abalone live in rocky areas with kelp. They feed on the kelp species that grow in their home range, including giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), feather boa kelp (Egregia menziesii), and bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana). Juveniles eat coralline algae, bacteria, and diatoms.[6] They are found from the intertidal zone to water more than 180 m (590 ft) deep, but are most common between 6 and 40 m. The red abalone’s shell length can reach a maximum of 31 cm (12 in), making it the largest species of abalone in the world.

Red abalones are subject to a chronic, progressive and lethal disease: the withering syndrome or abalone wasting disease. This disease has had a poorly understood impact on the species overall, but populations still seem low.

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