Description

Synonyms:

Lottia alveus (west coast), Acmaea parallela

Common Name:

Eelgrass Limpet

Size:

To 13mm

Description:

Narrow shell with light radial stripes or checkerboard pattern on a brown background. Interior is bluish with a dark apical stain. The exterior pattern shows through this thin shell.

Distribution/Range:

Lives on the eelgrass (Zostera marina) blades in protected areas.

Habitat:

Alaska to California. Not likely to be found south of Washington, this is a scarce species even north of there.

Comments/Remarks:

"David Lindberg, U of Ca, Berkley has examined the DNA of the Atlantic eelgrass limpet, Lottia alveus (now extinct) and has found that the Pacific eelgrass limpet is a different species, Lottia paralella, closely associated with Lottia asmi." -Rick Harbo (personal communication, October, 2002)

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