How to Distinguish from Similar Species: This limpet can grow much larger than other species on our coast. It is the only one (especially the only large one) with the apex so far anterior and lower than the highest part of the shell. Geographical Range: Neah Bay, WA to Bahia de Tortuga, Baja California. Scarce north of San Francisco; a few found on Oregon and Washington coasts. Depth Range: High to middle intertidal Habitat: Rocky intertidal, on bare rocks, common on cliffs and large boulders. Solitary Biology/Natural History: Probably breeds in fall and early winter. Large specimens 10-15 years old. This limpet is unusual not only because it is so large, but because it has mantle folds on the lower surface of the mantle (pallial gills). Pumps water over gills by cilia, left to right. Territorial. Some individuals are "homing", returning repeatedly to the same scar that exactly fit the margin of its shell. Territories are usually about 1000 square centimeters. Dislodge other limpets and small barnacles from their territory (the rock around them is usually seen to be bare except for microalgae which it grazes on but allows to grow--often in a distinctive patch). Radular teeth are hardened with the iron-containing compound geothite and have silica on their base plates. The rough limpet Colisella scabra may live on Lottia's shell.
References:
Kozloff
1987, 1996
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