HRAP Online Encyclopedia

Snails

Snails are mollusks related to limpets, clams, mussels, chitins, and many others. They are an important food source within the tide pool ecosystem, especially for shore birds. The marine snails as Haystack Rock cover rocks across the entire marine garden. Even when the tide is not particularly low, it is possible to find dogwinkles and periwinkles amongst barnacles high in the tidal zone. These adaptable little animals are able to survive out of water for extended periods of time due to the protection that their shell provides.