Flat
Winkle at Kingston
Beach (higher up the shore)
Photograph
by Andy Horton
TO BE REVISED: NEW RESEARCH
Winkles from around the British Isles.
BRITISH WINKLES
An Introduction:
There are four species of British winkle of the genus Littorina that can be readily identified on rocky shores. There are actually more species than this but for the general rockpooler it is only practical to identify the species in the chart below.
Small Periwinkle
This tiny species (4 mm) lives high up on the
shore and is almost a terrestrial animal when adult, but relies on the
sea to disperse spawn and the larvae live for a short time as members of
the plankton.
Rough Periwinkle.
There are at least 4 different species with the
largest reaching 30 mm. They are to be found in crevices on the upper shore.
The eggs are laid in pink jelly-like masses under rocks and the young winkles
crawl out.
Flat Periwinkle
This flat species lacks a spire and is found
amongst the fronds of the Serrated Wrack and the Bladder Wrack which occupy
distinctive zones in the middle to upper shore on rocky shores. Dark green
and yellow specimens are common.
Flat
Winkle at Kingston
Beach (higher up the shore)
Photograph
by Andy Horton
Edible Periwinkle
Found in millions where left unexploited by man.
Usually black or bleached grey by the sun, there are also striped and coloured
specimens.
Winkles are herbivorous and graze on algae
on rocks. In aquaria their feeding trails can be observed.
They are resistant to desiccation at low tide, and possess a thin transparent operculum to seal off the aperture.
Littorina compressa
https://www.flickr.com/photos/56388191@N08/albums/72157648899425569
Littorina saxatilis
https://www.flickr.com/photos/56388191@N08/sets/72157649020835849/
| TAXONOMY | ||
| Phylum: | Mollusca | |
| Class: | Gastropoda | |
| Subclass: | Prosobranchia | |
| Order: | Mesogastropoda | |
| Family: | Littorinidae |
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