The present study is based upon the collections oF Haliotidae made by the Institute of Oceanology, Academia Sinica during the last 25 years from the Chinese coast. Out of a total number of 670 specimens examined, seven species of the genus H aliotis were identified, namely, H aliotis discus hannai Ino. H. diversicolor Reeve, H. asinine Linnaeus， H. ovina Gmelin, H. varia Linnaeus， H. clathrata Reeve， and H. planate Sowerby. of these species, H. planate Sowerby is recorded for the first time from China. A description as well as a key to the identification of each species is given and the propagation and ecology of two artificially cultured species, H. discus hannai Ino, and H. diversicolor Reeve is briefly discussed.