Linné, 1758

Description (shell):
Shell conical with irregular radiating costae. Apex central or slightly anterior; apical angle variable, smaller (70-80°) in high shore specimens, larger (105-115°) in low shore and young animals (P. vulgata-drawing).

Size:
Up to 60 x 50 x 30 mm.

Colour:
White or grey externally. Inner surfaces grey-green.

Animal:
Distinct head with mouth, paired tentacles and eyes. Mantle skirt fringed with translucent pallial tentacles arranged in three series of different lengths, internal to which lies a complete circlet of pallial gills (P. vulgata-animal).

Habitat:
From between MHWST-MHWNT downward to ELWST on all suitable rocky shores; upper limit of distribution increased by shade and exposure (P. vulgata-photo). Tolerant of low salinity but generally confined to habitats with salinity >25 ä.

Distribution:
Distributed from Mediterranean to Lofoten Islands, Norway (Distr. P. vulgata). Also reported off Helgoland by K. Janke (Harms, 1993).

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

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Accepted name: Patella vulgata Linnaeus, 1758

Scientific synonyms and common names

Patella vulgata Linné, 1758
Patella radiata Perry, 1811 non Patella radiata Born, 1778
Patella conica Anton, 1839
Patella vulgata var. communis Brown, 1844
Patella vulgata var. picta Jeffreys, 1865
Patella vulgata var. elevata Jeffreys, 1865
Patella vulgata var. secernenda Dautzenberg, 1887
Patella vulgata var. aurea Martel in Dautzenberg & Durouchoux, 1906
Patella vulgata var. major Dautzenberg & Durouchoux, 1906

Graham, Alastair F.R.S., 1988. Molluscs: Prosobranch and Pyramidellid Gastropods. Synopses of the British fauna (NS), 2: 1-662.

Harms, J., 1993. Check list of species (algae, invertebtates and vertebrates) found in the vicinity of the island of Helgoland (North Sea, German Bight) - a review of recent records. Helgoländer Meeresunters., 47: 1-34.

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.

Step, E., 1927. Shell life. 421 pp. Frederick Warne & Co., LTD, London.

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

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

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