Home Page
Search the site
About the Rocky Shores Database Project About the Field Study Background information about intertidal rocky shores Follow up activities View results Add results
 
Intertidal Environments
Intertidal Life
Intertidal  Distribution Patterns
Adaptations of Intertidal Organisms
Intertidal  Species List
Useful References
 
Animals

Ribbed Top Shell, Scaly Limpet, Sea Star, Smooth Limpet, Striped Limpet, Striped Conniwink.

Links to specific pages of Life on Australia's Seashores are provided below each image for further information on most species.


     

Ribbed Top Shell

Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
Species:
Austrocochlea constricta

Click for larger image

Scaly Limpet

Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
Species:
Patelloida latistrigata

Click for larger image
 

more on limpets

 
Grazing mollusc with distinctive top like ridges around the shell. A small limpet that also feeds on micro algae often found in depressions on rocks.
 

Sea Star

Phylum:
Echinodermata
Class:
Asteroidea
Species:
Patiriella calcar

Click for larger image

more

Smooth Limpet

Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
Species:
Cellana tramoserica

Click for larger image
     

more on limpets

The colours of these seastars varies enormously. They are common scavengers found in pools of water. They feed by pushing their gut out of their mouth and surrounding their food. Grazing snail that is well suited for life on rocky shores. Feeds on micro-algae and plays a major role in controlling growth of algae. Animals return to the same home spot after feeding using a chemical trail.
   

Striped Limpet

Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
Species:
Siphonaria diemenensis

Click for larger image

Striped Conniwink

Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
Species:
Bembicium nanum

Click for larger image
 

more on limpets

 

more

Often confused with true limpets these air breathing animals can distinguished by having a distinct groove under the shell that assists in the flow of air to the mantle cavity. This grazing snail that has a tight fitting operculum that enables them to spend long periods out of the water.
Next
© Copyright 2002 - 2010 Marine Discovery Centre, Queenscliff
Disclaimer Privacy Policy