Patella pellucida

Patella pellucida, common name the blue-rayed limpet, is a species of small saltwater limpet, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Patellidae, the true limpets.[1][2]

Patella pellucida
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Patellogastropoda
Family: Patellidae
Genus: Patella
Species:
P. pellucida
Binomial name
Patella pellucida
Synonyms[1]
  • Ansates pellucida (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Helcion gracile Locard, 1892
  • Helcion pellucidum (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Patella bimaculata Montagu, 1803
  • Patella coeruleata da Costa, 1778
  • Patella cornea Helbling, 1779
  • Patella cypridium Perry, 1811 (dubious synonym)
  • Patella fusca Landt, 1800
  • Patella intorta Pennant, 1777
  • Patella laevis Pennant, 1777
  • Patella mytiliformis Schroeter, 1786
  • Patina pellucida (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Patina pellucida leavis Pennant, 1777
  • Patella pellucida var. oblonga Jeffreys, 1865

Range of distribution

This limpet occurs off the eastern Atlantic coasts from Iceland and Norway, to Portugal. It is absent from the Baltic Sea, East Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Shell description

Up to 15 mm long when fully grown, this species is easily identified by its translucent amber shell with brilliant blue spots running in lines across the top of the shell.[3]

var. pellucida
var. laevis

Habitat

The blue-rayed limpet lives primarily on Laminaria (kelp) in strong flowing water[4] but also on Fucus serratus on the lower shore, down to about 30 m.

Life habits

The larvae of this limpet species settle and metamorphose on the algal frond. Here it feeds on its host’s tissue using its radula, leaving small depressions in the frond.

As the limpets grow larger, they move down the stipe of the seaweed towards the holdfast, where they establish themselves by excavating a depression. This can weaken the holdfast, eventually resulting in the seaweed being dislodged by storms. The seaweed is often washed ashore, with the blue-rayed limpets still in place.

References
  1. Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S. (2011). Patella pellucida. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=147459 on 2011-12-31
  2. Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca, in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels, 50: pp. 180-213
  3. Campbell, A.C. 1984. The Country Life Guide to the Seashore and Shallow Seas of Britain and Europe. Country Life Books. ISBN 0-600-34396-0
  4. Lewis, J.R. 1964. The Ecology of Rocky Shores. The English Universities Press Ltd.
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