Shield Limpet (Lottia pelta)

Other Names: California shield limpet, helmet limpet

Description: Shield limpets can be white, gray, brown, or tan, but all color variations usually have a striped pattern extending from the peak of their shell to the base. They may also have lighter colored spots on their shell. The texture of their shell can be smooth or with subtle ridges. They can grow to up to 40 mm across.

Habitat: Shield limpets range from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska to Baja California, Mexico. They prefer rocky high intertidal zones and kelp beds in the sub-tidal zone.

Diet: Like other limpets at Haystack Rock, the shield limpet eats algae and debris using their “toothed tongue” called a radula.

Tide Pool Tidbits:

• Ochre sea stars and black oyster catchers are known for eating shield limpets.

• Shield limpets have rose colored eggs.

• Shield limpets can sometimes be found on mussel shells at Haystack Rock.

References: Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, Central Coast Biodiversity, iNaturalist