Gmelin, 1791

Description (shell):
Shell conical, commonly with lower profile (apical angle 110-120°) than Patella vulgata and with apex noticeably anterior to midline. Radiating ridges finer than in P. vulgata , tending to show characteristic pattern of alternating single and triple ridges, particularly at somewhat straightened posterior margin (P. ulyssiponensis-drawing).

Size:
Up to 50 x 40 x 20 mm.

Colour:
Porcellaneous interior, bluish white with yellow-orange colour centrally.

Animal:
Cream-orange foot with white pallial tentacles arranged in two series of different sizes.

Habitat:
On rocky shores at MLWNT and below, favouring areas such as gullies and rock pools; most common on exposed shores avoiding extreme shelter and low salinities.

Distribution:
A southern species distributed from the Mediterranean to the British Isles where it achieves its northern limit (Distr. P. ulyssiponensis).

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Gastropoda
Subclass Prosobranchia
Superorder Archaeogastropoda
Order Docoglossa
Family Patellidae
Genus Patella
Species Patella ulyssiponensis

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Accepted name: Patella ulyssiponensis Gmelin, 1791

Scientific synonyms and common names

Patella ulyssiponensis Gmelin, 1791
Patella auricula da Costa, 1771 ; partim
Patella spinosula Meuschen, 1787
Patella repanda Gmelin, 1791
Patella angulosa Gmelin, 1791 ; partim
Patella tarentina Von Salis, 1793
Patella aspera Röding, 1798
Patella aspera Lamarck, 1819
Patella bonardii Payraudeau, 1826
Patella donacina Anton, 1839
Patella lowei d'Orbigny, 1839
Patella athletica Bean, 1844
Patella spinulosa Mørch, 1852
Patella azorica Nuttal in Jay, 1852
Patella spectabilis Dunker, 1853
Patella baudonii Drouet, 1858
Patella caerulea var. tenuistriata Weinkauff, 1880
Patella vulgata var. comina de Gregorio, 1884
Patella vulgata var. depressaspera de Gregorio, 1884
Patella vulgata var. albula de Gregorio, 1884
Patella vulgata var. cimbulata de Gregorio, 1884
Patella teneriffae Mabille, 1888 ; partim
Patella listeri: Monterosato, 1888 Monterosato, 1888 ex Valenciennes ms.
Patella pontica Valenciennes in Monterosato, 1888
Patella paulinoi Locard, 1894
Patella pontica Milaschewitsch, 1914
Patella ulyssiponensis deserta Christiaens, 1973
Patella lusitanica sensu auct. non Gmelin, 1791

Hayward, P.J., Wigham, G.D. & N. Yonow, 1990. Mollusca I: Polyplacophora, Scaphopoda, and Gastropoda. In: The Marine Fauna of the British Isles and North-West Europe. (ed. P.J. Hayward & J.S. Ryland). Clarendon Press, Oxford: 628-730.

Poppe, G.T. & Y. Goto, 1991. European Seashells. Vol. I. 352 pp. Wiesbaden/Verlag Christa Hemmen.

Seaward, D.R., 1990. Distribution of the marine molluscs of north west Europe. Nature Conservancy Council.

You can continue searching for Patella ulyssiponensis on one of these Web sites:

Fauna Europaea (animals) | IOPI (plants) | NCBI (genetic)

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