Giant Owl Limpet [Lottia gigantea]
Description
Lottia gigantea, also known as the Giant Owl Limpet, is a species of sea snail, a true limpet, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Lottiidae. This species is commonly found along the coast of California, living in intertidal rocky habitats where it feeds on algae. It is notable for its size, with shells reaching up to 10 cm in length, and for its behavior, as it is known to maintain a 'garden' of algae by removing other species and inedible debris.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Mollusks
Mollusca
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Gastropods
Gastropoda
|
| Order |
Littorinimorpha
Littorinimorpha
|
| Family |
True Limpets
Patellidae
|
| Genus |
Giant Limpets
Scutellastra
|