About Lottia pelta (Rathke, 1833)
The shell of Lottia pelta reaches a width of 2.5 to 5.4 cm, with a broadly elliptical to oval base. The shell is only moderately elevated. Its apex tilts toward the front end, and the sides of the shell are slightly convex. The shell is grayish in color, with irregular radial stripes. When Lottia pelta moves between different types of substrata, both the morphology and color of its shell change. A record of the species’ past habitats over its growth is preserved in the structure of its shell. Individuals that grow on kelp holdfasts have darker shells with obscure ribbing. The shell sculpture is either smooth, or marked with irregular fine radial riblets that occasionally develop into heavy ribs. The interior of the shell shares roughly the same color as the exterior. It has a dark brown central spot, and the interior base is marked by alternating dark and light spots. One known predator of this species is Ocenebra lurida, a murex snail first described in 1849. Lottia pelta, commonly called the shield limpet, occurs in the intertidal zone on rocks and kelp holdfasts, ranging from Alaska to Baja California. The largest known specimens of this species are found in the northern portion of its range.
