Description: This periwinkle can reach up to 5 cm in size, but is more commonly around 2.5 cm. They are a dark brown, black or dark grey and sometimes may have pale bands. The shell is sharply conical with a pointed apex and surface sculpting. There is a pattern of concentric darker lines and the central axis of the shell is white. Juveniles may have spiral ridges.

Habitat: Rock, stones or seaweeds from the mid to lower shore.

Distribution: Common on all coasts of Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Juveniles of this species may be confused with Littorina saxatilis.

Key Identification Features:

• Sharply conical shell with pointed apex.
• Surface sculpting and concentric darker lines.
• Central axis of shell is white.

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

iNaturalist: Littorina littorea at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Littorina littorea

WoRMS: Littorina littorea at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Littorina littorea (Linnaeus, 1758). AphiaID: 140262.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Mollusca; Gastropoda; Caenogastropoda; Littorinimorpha; Littorinoidea; Littorinidae; Littorininae; Littorina