Scutus forsythi
NameScutus forsythi
Scientific NameScutus forsythi
Common NameForsyth's Shield Limpet
FamilyFissurellidae
GenusScutus
Speciesforsythi
Geographic DistributionEndemic to the coastal waters of eastern Australia, specifically found along the coasts of New South Wales and Queensland.
Habitatintertidal
Shell Shapeconical
Average Size (mm)The living animal can reach a length of approximately 100-150 mm. The internal shell itself is much smaller, typically 30-50 mm.
Identifying FeaturesCharacterized by its large, slug-like body with a prominent dark mantle that almost entirely covers the internal, white, shield-shaped shell. The shell is visible through an oval opening in the dorsal mantle. It possesses two prominent cephalic tentacles.
Rarityrare
Author Citation(Iredale, 1937)
Description
Scutus forsythi is a species of marine gastropod mollusc belonging to the family Fissurellidae, commonly known as a shield limpet or elephant slug. Unlike typical limpets, its shell is internal, reduced, and largely covered by the animal's mantle, giving it a slug-like appearance. The animal is typically dark-colored and nocturnal, grazing on algae in rocky intertidal and shallow subtidal zones.
