Patella vulgata
Patella vulgata | |
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Live Patella vulgata on a rock in Wales | |
Shell of Patella vulgata | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
(unranked): | clade Patellogastropoda
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Family: | |
Genus: | Patella |
Species: | P. vulgata
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Binomial name | |
Patella vulgata | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Patella vulgata,
Radula
The radula in this species is longer than the shell itself. It contains 1,920 teeth in 160 rows of 12 teeth each. Patella vulgata is found attached to firm substrates from the high shore to the edge of the sublittoral zone, although it predominates in areas of wave action. Its shell is conical, up to around 6 cm long, and lacks defined chirality. Common limpets are believed to be able to live for up to twenty years.[3]
Patella vulgata has been the focus of a range of scientific investigation, as far back as 1935.[4] Its development is well described[5] and it has been the focus of transcriptomic investigation, providing a range of genomic sequence data in this species for analysis.[6]
Their teeth are the strongest natural material known. A study published in the Royal Society journal in 2015 concluded that "the tensile strength of limpet teeth can reach values significantly higher than spider silk, considered to be currently the strongest biological material, and only comparable to the strongest commercial carbon fibres.” The material was able to withstand 4.9 GPa. This considerable tensile strength of limpet teeth is attributed to a high mineral volume fraction of reinforcing goethite nanofibres.[7][8][9][10][11]
Human consumption
The common limpet was formerly eaten in
See also
Gallery
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Shells of the common limpet from Wales
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Patella vulgata in tanker disaster in 1978
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Drawing of the soft body and underside of the shell of Patella vulgata; a) foot b) fringed mantle c) tentacles d) mouth e) eyes f) gills
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Photograph of the soft body and underside
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Radula of Patella vulgata; a) median teeth b) laterals c) uncini or marginals
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Remains of a human meal, limpet shells from Cantabrian LowerMHNT
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Patella vulgata in its natural habitat.
References
- ^ a b Gofas, S. (2014). Patella vulgata Linnaeus, 1758. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=140685 on 2014-10-29
- ^ "Edible Molluscs Page 6". www.manandmollusc.net.
- ^ "Limpets". BritishSeaFishing.co.uk. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- .
- PMID 8150201.
- S2CID 1836313.
- PMID 25694539.
- ^ Webb, Jonathan. "Limpet teeth set new strength record" BBC News, 18 February 2015. Archived February 18, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Sea Snail Teeth Top Spider Silk as Strongest Material on Earth". NBC News. 18 February 2015.
- ^ "Limpet teeth 'strongest material ever'". BBC News.
- ^ "Limpet teeth rewrite record books". BBC News.
- ^ Enright, Damien (August 18, 2008). "Enjoying a tasty treat from the salty sea". Irish Examiner.
- ^ "Slainte! Alive, Alive-Oh! | Irish America". 17 February 2011.
- ISBN 978-0-19-281233-9– via Google Books.
- Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Editio decima, reformata. Laurentius Salvius: Holmiae. ii, 824 pp.
- Lespinet, Nederbragt, Cassan, Dictus, Van Loon, et al. Characterisation of two snail genes in the gastropod mollusc Patella vulgata. Implications for understanding the ancestral function of the snail-related genes in Bilateria. 2002.
External links
- Entry in Encyclopedia of Life
- MarLIN species information
- Live underwater image
- BBC Info retrieved 2012
- FSC Info- great pix Retrieved 2012
- Photos of Patella vulgata on Sealife Collection