limpets

Limpets are a group of marine gastropods with a simple, cap-shaped shell. They are grazers that cling to rocks in the intertidal and shallow subtidal zones of oceans worldwide.

Most limpets belong to the true limpets, Patellogastropoda, within the class Gastropoda. Their shells are typically low and conical, often with an anterior apex. The broad, muscular foot provides strong adhesion to rock surfaces, enabling the animal to withstand wave action and desiccation at low tide. They feed with a radula, scraping algae and biofilms from the substrate.

Ecology: They are herbivores that commonly occur on exposed rocky shores, forming zonated communities. They seal against the rock to retain moisture during low tide, and they move slowly to graze patches as tides rise and fall.

Life cycle and distribution: Most species reproduce by releasing eggs and sperm into the water; larvae are free-swimming trochophore and veliger stages before settling as adults. Some species show direct development or brooding. Limpets have a wide global distribution, from polar to tropical seas, with many species specialized to specific rock types or tidal zones.

Conservation and human interactions: Limpets are collected for food in some regions and are used in ecological and evolutionary studies. They face threats from habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and overharvesting in some localities, though many populations remain stable.