Limpets

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Scientific name:  Patella vulgata

Size:  Up to 5cm across the base of the shell

Distribution:  Found throughout the UK

Months seen:  All year round

Habitat:  Rocky coastline

Food:  Algae growing on rocks

Special features:  Limpets are protected by a cone shaped shell which has vertical ridges running from the top to the base.

Limpets live on rocky shorelines which can be quite a hostile place to inhabit, so to protect themselves against the rough sea they use a large sucker-like foot, similar to snails on land, to anchor themselves firmly to the rocks.  They also uses this foot to move around on.

Most limpets start out as as males, but then change to females later in life.

Related Pages

• UK Safari Marine Wildlife Section
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