Description: This is a common sight on all rocky shores, where they are usually firmly attached to the rocks using their strong foot. They have a conical shell measuring 5-6 cm wide and around 3 cm in height which is usually grey-white in colour, occasionally with a yellow tinge. There are ridges radiating from the top of the shell and the animal has a yellow-orange foot with a grey tinge. The inside of the shell is yellow-grey. The apex of the shell is sometimes worn, making it a silvery-grey colour.

Habitat: Rocky shores from high water to low water. Most likely to be out of the water at low tide.

Distribution: Widespread all around Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Could be confused with the china limpet Patella ulyssiponensis although they can be distinguished by colour of the foot, as well as the colour of the inside of the shell.

Key Identification Features:

• Common and easily recognised limpet.
• Yellow-orange foot with grey tinge.
• Inside of the shell is yellow-grey.

Distribution Map from NBN: Patella vulgata at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Patella vulgata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Patella vulgata

WoRMS: Patella vulgata at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Patella vulgata Linnaeus, 1758. AphiaID: 140685.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Mollusca; Gastropoda; Patellogastropoda; Patellida; Patelloidea; Patellidae; Patella