Common Slit-limpet
NameCommon Slit-limpet
Scientific NameDiodora graeca
Common NameCommon Slit-limpet
FamilyFissurellidae
GenusDiodora
Speciesgraeca
Geographic DistributionNortheast Atlantic Ocean (including British Isles), Mediterranean Sea, and parts of West Africa.
Habitatintertidal
Shell Shapeconical
Average Size (mm)15-30
Identifying FeaturesConical limpet-like shell, prominent radial ribs, concentric growth lines, and a characteristic keyhole-shaped apical opening (slit). The shell surface can appear granular or rough.
Raritycommon
Author Citation(Linnaeus, 1758)
Description
A small, conical marine gastropod, commonly known as the Common Slit-limpet, found attached to rocky substrates. Its shell is characterized by a limpet-like shape with a distinctive apical opening (slit) and prominent radial ribbing. The shell color is typically light brown to beige, often camouflaged with encrusting algae or detritus from its environment. It is a grazer, feeding on microalgae from rocks.
