About Crepidula convexa Say, 1822
The shell of Crepidula convexa is oval-shaped, a form adapted to meet the needs of its environment. Shell characteristics vary depending on whether individuals grow in seagrass or on rocks. Snails living in seagrass are often smaller and have a steeper arch than their counterparts from rocky areas. The shell varies in shades of cocoa, and usually has spots or streaks. Rarely, some individuals have purple tints near the apex. The internal shelf of the shell is flat or slightly convex, and the left side of the shelf extends farther forward than the right side. A typical full-grown Crepidula convexa reaches a maximum length of 20 mm. This species is native to the eastern coasts of North and Central America, ranging from Canada to Panama. The minimum depth this species has been recorded at is 0 m, the sea surface, and the maximum recorded depth is 70 m. During one breeding season, larger females only mate with a single male partner, while males can mate with multiple females. This arrangement increases the species' survival rate, as there are always more females than males. Smaller males have greater mobility that allows them to mate more, boosting the reproductive capacity of the local species population.
