Lamellaria

Lamellaria is a genus of small, predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Lamellariidae. Members of this genus are often referred to as “false limpets” or “false limpets” due to their limpet-like shell shape and their tendency to adhere to surfaces, similar to true limpets. However, Lamellaria snails lack the characteristic, strong muscular foot of true limpets and are more closely related to other sea slugs. They are found worldwide in both temperate and tropical waters.

Lamellaria latens

Common Names

Lamellaria species are commonly known as "false limpets", "false limpets", or "lamellariid sea slugs."

Characteristics

Lamellaria species have a number of distinctive characteristics that set them apart from other sea snails.

  • Shell: They possess a small, thin, and often translucent shell. The shell is usually oval or rounded and may have fine ridges or lamellae, giving the genus its name. The shell is often concealed by the mantle, a fleshy fold of tissue that covers the shell.
  • Foot: Unlike true limpets, the foot of Lamellaria is not strongly muscular and is used primarily for crawling, not for adhering to surfaces.
  • Gills: They have gills located within the mantle cavity.
  • Mouth: Lamellaria possess a radula, a ribbon-like structure covered in teeth, which is used to scrape food off surfaces.
  • Diet: Lamellaria are predatory and feed mainly on other sea snails, including hydroids and other small marine invertebrates. They often insert their radula into the shell of their prey and consume the soft tissues.

Environments

Lamellaria species are found in a variety of marine environments, including:

  • Rocky shores: They can be found attached to rocks, seaweed, and other substrates in the intertidal zone and subtidal areas.
  • Coral reefs: Some species inhabit coral reefs, where they may feed on other sea snails and invertebrates.
  • Seagrass beds: They may also occur in seagrass beds, where they can find both food and shelter.

References

To learn more about Lamellaria, consult these reliable online resources: