Patella caerulea

Patella caerulea, is a species of limpet in the family Patellidae. It is known by the common names Mediterranean limpet and rayed Mediterranean limpet.^[1] It is native to the Mediterranean Sea.^[1]

Patella caerulea
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Patellogastropoda
Family:	Patellidae
Genus:	Patella
Species:	P. caerulea
Binomial name
Patella caerulea Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms
Patella alba da Costa, 1771 Patella alba Anton, 1838 Patella calicula Li Chang, 1930 Patella cancellata Risso, 1826 Patella favaniana Risso, 1826 Patella fragilis Philippi, 1836 Patella grisea Risso, 1826 Patella grisea de Blainville, 1825 Patella hellespontiana Monterosato, 1888 Patella margaritacea Gmelin, 1791 Patella nacrina de Gregorio, 1884 Patella richelmia Risso, 1826 Patella riparia Nardo, 1847 Patella scutellina Locard, 1892 Patella silicina Röding, 1798 Patella squama de Blainville, 1825 Patella subplana Potiez & Michaud, 1838 Patella vulgata var. plumbea Röding, 1798

Description

The size of the shell varies between 20 mm and 72 mm.

The thin shell is depressed, spreading, usually more or less distinctly 6 or 7 angled. The riblets rather fine and notably unequal.^[2]

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  Patella caerulea
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  Patella caerulea f. fragilis
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  Patella caerulea f. stellata

Distribution

This species occurs in the Mediterranean Sea; in the Atlantic Ocean off the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores.