Patella pellucida Linnaeus, 1758

Patella pellucida Linnaeus, 1758

synonyms

Helcion pellucidum (Linnaeus, 1758)

Patella laevis Pennant, 1777

Patina pellucida (Linnaeus, 1758)

Helcion pellucidum

Submitted by Steve Wilkinson on Wed, 14/09/2011 00:30

Species

Patella pellucida Linnaeus, 1758

Photographer / copyright holder

Steve Wilkinson

Length = 14mm. Collected from Hanover Point, Isle of White.

Helcion pellucidum, North Wales

Submitted by Steve Wilkinson on Fri, 25/02/2011 15:34

Species

Patella pellucida Linnaeus, 1758

Photographer / copyright holder

Peter Topley

Helcion pellucidum, North Wales. Photographer Peter Topley.

Side view of shell - anterior end to the right

Submitted by Steve Wilkinson on Fri, 01/01/2010 00:00

Species

Patella pellucida Linnaeus, 1758

Photographer / copyright holder

Steve Wilkinson

Specimen collected by Steve Wilkinson from Hanover Point, Isle of White (SZ 378 837). Length = 9mm.

Dorsal view of shell

Submitted by Steve Wilkinson on Fri, 01/01/2010 00:00

Species

Patella pellucida Linnaeus, 1758

Photographer / copyright holder

Steve Wilkinson

Specimen collected by Steve Wilkinson from Hanover Point, Isle of White (SZ 378 837). Length = 9mm.

Side view of shell - anterior end to the right

Submitted by Steve Wilkinson on Fri, 01/01/2010 00:00

Species

Patella pellucida Linnaeus, 1758

Photographer / copyright holder

Steve Wilkinson

Specimen collected by Steve Wilkinson from Hanover Point, Isle of White (SZ 378 837). Length = 14mm.

Ventral view of shell

Submitted by Steve Wilkinson on Fri, 01/01/2010 00:00

Species

Patella pellucida Linnaeus, 1758

Photographer / copyright holder

Steve Wilkinson

Specimen collected by Steve Wilkinson from Hanover Point, Isle of White (SZ 378 837). Length = 14mm.

Dorsal view of shell

Submitted by Steve Wilkinson on Fri, 01/01/2010 00:00

Species

Patella pellucida Linnaeus, 1758

Photographer / copyright holder

Steve Wilkinson

Specimen collected by Steve Wilkinson from Hanover Point, Isle of White (SZ 378 837). Length = 14mm.

Group of Helcion pellucidum on Laminaria frond

Submitted by Steve Wilkinson on Fri, 01/01/2010 00:00

Species

Patella pellucida Linnaeus, 1758

Photographer / copyright holder

Steve Wilkinson

Specimen collected by Steve Wilkinson.

Patella pellucida Linnaeus, 1758

Submitted by Steve Wilkinson on Sat, 05/12/2009 22:15

Distribution and status

Common

Found on all Atlantic coasts from Portugal to the north of Norway.

Ecology and behaviour

Typically found on Laminaria but may also occur on fucoids. There are two varieties: var. pellucidum which occurs on the fronds and stipe of the Laminaria and var. laevis which occupies the holdfast. Breeds mainly in winter and spring. Fertilisation is external and the larvae initially settle on fucoids, migrating to Laminaria when they are about 4mm in length.

Key identification features

Blue rays on apex which often extend down to margin

Taxon version key

[NBNSYS0000175715]

Sort order

1000

Taxonomic group

Marine snail

Read more about Patella pellucida Linnaeus, 1758

Conical shell up to 20mm in length (var. pellucidum tends to be smaller). Shell is brown or olive in colour and can either be tranlucent (var. pellucidum) or opaque (var. laevis). The surface of the shell is smooth with very fine radiating ridges. Conical shaped Var. laevis tends to have a thinker shell and more pronounced conical shape.

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