Gastropoda |
Littorinimorpha |
Littorinidae
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Benthic. Subtropical
Eastern Pacific: USA to Mexico.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cmCommon length : 2.0 cm SHL male/unsexed; (Ref. 312)
Shell has 2 whorls, and is usually eroded at tip. Purplish brown with faint white markings and a white band on the edge of the shell's mouth; smooth, flat surface next to opening. It is an important source of erosion of high intertidal cliffs (Ref. 312).
It has a shell length of 2 cm long (Ref. 312). Found in the splash and high intertidal zones. Scrapes films of diatoms, blue-green algae and green algae off rocks. When not feeding or crawling, it prevents water loss by secreting a mucous film to attach its foot to surfaces. The mucous seal and operculum (trap door), which snugly fits into the shell, are so effective that they remain alive for two or three months without being submerged under water. They need only to get their gills wet from the water's spray (Ref. 312).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Members of the order Neotaenioglossa are mostly gonochoric and broadcast spawners. Life cycle: Embryos develop into planktonic trocophore larvae and later into juvenile veligers before becoming fully grown adults.
Gallivan, G. and J. Danforth. 1999. (Ref. 312)
IUCN Red List Status
(Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
CITES status (Ref. 108899)
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Human uses
| FishSource |
Tools
More information
Population dynamicsGrowth
Max. ages / sizes
Length-weight rel.
Length-length rel.
Length-frequencies
Mass conversion
Recruitment
Abundance
Life cycleReproductionMaturityFecunditySpawningEggsEgg developmentLarvaeLarval dynamics Human RelatedAquaculture profiles
Stamps, coins, misc.
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature
(Ref.
115969): 9.3 - 24.6, mean 11.2 (based on 223 cells).