Common Limpet
Scientific name: Patella vulgata
If you’ve ever been rockpooling, you’ve probably seen a limpet or two! Their cone-shaped shells clamp onto rocks until the tide comes in, at which point they become active. Limpets move around eating algae using their tough tongue.
Species information
Statistics
Length: 4cm Lifespan: 10-20 yearsConservation status
Common
When to see
January to DecemberAbout
Common limpets are the small cone-like shells that are often seen firmly clamped to the side of rocks in rockpools. Although they may not look impressive at first glance, once the tide comes in they spring to action, moving around rocks eating algae using their tough tongue. Their tongue is the world’s strongest known biological structure – it needs to constantly scrape algae off of tough rocks!REMEMBER: Do not attempt to remove a limpet stuck onto a rock, you may damage the muscles used to keep them there!