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Latin name – Patella vulgata
Size – Shell up to 6cm long
Habitat – All over the rocky shore
Limpets have a strong muscular foot which allows them to hold on tightly to rocks. At low tide, the limpet will clamp its shell down tight to prevent itself from losing water and drying out. This also stops them from being pulled off the rocks by birds and other predators. When the tide is in the limpets move over the rocks and use a rough tongue (radula) to feed on algae before returning home to the same place on the rock.
Common Limpet
Limpets attach themselves to rocks firmly using their muscular ‘foot’ when the tide is out. This protects them against predators, drying out, and stops them getting knocked off by waves. Common Limpet feet are usually yellowish or a dull orange colour. Never pull a limpet off the rock as they will die! Photo by Hakon (Flickr: Haraldseide).