Scaly Limpet [Patella squamosa]
Description
Patella squamosa, commonly known as the Scaly Limpet, is a species of sea snail. It is known for its distinctive conical shell, which measures up to 3.5 cm in length. The shell is often heavily encrusted with algae and other marine organisms, providing the limpet with excellent camouflage against predators. This species is found on rocky substrates in the intertidal zone, where it feeds on algae by scraping it off the rocks with its radula. The Scaly Limpet is found in the Eastern Atlantic waters, from Norway to Portugal, as well as in the Mediterranean Sea.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Mollusks
Mollusca
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Gastropods
Gastropoda
|
| Order |
Patellogastropoda
Patellogastropoda
|
| Family |
True limpets
Patellidae
|
| Genus |
Scaly limpets
Scutellastra
|