Eastern Granular Limpet
NameEastern Granular Limpet
Scientific NameSiphonaria alternata
Common NameEastern Granular Limpet
FamilySiphonariidae
GenusSiphonaria
Speciesalternata
Geographic DistributionWestern Atlantic Ocean, including the southeastern United States (e.g., Florida), Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea.
Habitatintertidal
Shell Shapeconical
Average Size (mm)15-30
Identifying FeaturesCap-like shell with radial ribbing; distinctive internal coloration with a central dark muscle scar surrounded by a white ring; often found in intertidal rocky habitats. The shell surface can have a granular texture.
Raritycommon
Author CitationSay, 1826
Description
A marine gastropod mollusk, commonly known as the Eastern Granular Limpet, characterized by its cap-shaped shell. The exterior is typically dark with radial ribs, while the interior features a distinctive central brown or reddish-brown patch surrounded by a lighter, often white or cream, band. It is found in the intertidal zones of the western Atlantic.
