Littorina littorea
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Length = 32mm. Collected from Kyle of Lochalsh on 19/06/1982.
Littorina littorea
<em>Littorina littorea</em> (Linnaeus, 1758)
Littorina littorea
Distribution and status
Abundant through-out the British Isles
Occurs from the Barents Sea to the mouth of the Mediterranean.
Ecology and behaviour
Feed by scraping diatoms and other algae and detritus from the rock using a radulaBreeding is concentrated between February and May but may occur outside this. Lay plantonic lens shaped capsules which give rise to veliger larvae that settles after 4 to 7 weeks.
Similar species
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000176211]
Sort order
1230
Taxonomic group
Marine snail
Solid shell with about 5 to 6 whorls which are almost flat when viewed from the side. Red brown to black in colour. Up to 30mm in height