<em>Patella depressa</em> (Pennant, 1777)
Close up showing white marginal tentacles of Patella depressa
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Steve Wilkinson from Hanover Point, Isle of White (SZ 378 837). Length = 27mm.
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Steve Wilkinson from Hanover Point, Isle of White (SZ 378 837). Length = 31mm. Image enhanced by IFS.
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Steve Wilkinson from Hanover Point, Isle of White (SZ 378 837). Length = 31mm.
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Steve Wilkinson from Hanover Point, Isle of White (SZ 378 837). Length = 33mm.
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Steve Wilkinson from Hanover Point, Isle of White (SZ 378 837). Length = 31mm.
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Steve Wilkinson from Hanover Point, Isle of White (SZ 378 837). Length = 27mm.
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Steve Wilkinson from Hanover Point, Isle of White (SZ 378 837). Length = 33mm.
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Steve Wilkinson from Hanover Point, Isle of White (SZ 378 837). Length = 33mm.
Common
Occurs in south-west Britain from Beachy Head in south-east England to Lleyn Peninsula in North Wales (historically to north-west Anglesey. Absent from Ireland and Scotland, but many false records there based on unreliable exterior of shells. Southwards along Atlantic coasts of Europe to north Africa.
Found on middle shore, often in pools or trickles from pools where it feeds by grazing material from the rock surface using its radula. Mainly breeds in summer. Eggs are fertilised in the water column and larvae later settles in low shore pools (especially amongst Lithothamnion) and wet areas.
Conical shell up to 30mm in length (12mm in height). The shell is white or grey externally, sometimes with darker bands running from the apex to the margin.