Species profile
Checkered Periwinkle
Littorina scutulata
Marine snails (periwinkle/cowrie)3.3K iNat observations
At a glance
Checkered Periwinkle (Littorina scutulata) is a marine snails (periwinkle/cowrie) with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 1,045 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with British Columbia, California, and Washington the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Its shell is dotted with white flecks on dark brown, giving it a checkered look.
- Found from Alaska to Baja California, a common sight in Pacific rocky tidepools.
- Rarely exceeds 1 cm in height — about the size of a small pea.
- Grazes on diatoms and algae films coating exposed rocks in the upper intertidal zone.
Where Checkered Periwinkle are seen
Background
Littorina scutulata is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Checkered Periwinkle article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other marine snails (periwinkle/cowrie) on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.