Testudinalia testudinalis

Housing of Testudinalia testudinalis

The turtles worm ( Testudinalia testudinalis syn. Acmaea testudinalis ) is a snail from the family of Lottiidae who lives Circumboreal, including in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.

Features

The fixed -shelled, conical cup-shaped housing in adult snails to 2 cm long, 1.5 cm wide and 8 mm high. The apex is relatively far forward. The surface of the housing is white or dark yellow with brown spots rayed. The inside does not have a pearly luster. Just as the limpets ( Patellidae ) the snail has no operculum.

The white snail has a broad oval foot, a large head and long antennae, sit at the base of the eyes. The outer lips of the mouth have a narrow stiff rim, while below a broad, lobed range limited mouth. The coattails copper is green and has two staggered rows of short projections.

Geographical distribution and habitat

The turtles screw comes Circumboreal inter alia in the northern Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the western Baltic Sea. She lives there on hard floors and rocks below the intertidal zone down to about 50 m water depth.

Way of life

The animals graze encrusting red algae, including those of the genus Lithothamnion.