Common Tessellate Limpet [Tectura tessulata]
Description
Common Tessellate Limpets are marine gastropods found in the intertidal zone of the Pacific Ocean. This species exhibits a conical shell with a tessellated pattern, hence the name. Their color varies from grey to brown, with some individuals exhibiting a bluish tint. Tectura tessulata are herbivorous, consuming algae that they scrape off rocks with their radula. They are known to return to the same spot after feeding, a behavior known as homing.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Mollusks
Mollusca
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Gastropods
Gastropoda
|
| Order |
Littorinimorpha
Littorinimorpha
|
| Family |
True Limpets
Patellidae
|
| Genus |
Tessellate Limpets
Cellana
|