Species profile
Common Periwinkle
Littorina littorea
Identify Common Periwinkle (Littorina littorea) from a photo: try it free in your browser, or get unlimited IDs, no sign-up, with the CatchRules app. Plus current fishing rules across 1 jurisdiction.
At a glance
Common Periwinkle (Littorina littorea) is a marine snails (periwinkle/cowrie) with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 11,901 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Maine, Nova Scotia, and Massachusetts the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Introduced to North America from Europe, first documented near Halifax, Nova Scotia around 1840.
- Grows to about 1 inch (2.5 cm) tall, making it the largest North American periwinkle.
- Edible and popular in British cuisine, typically boiled and picked from the shell.
- Survives out of water for several days by tightly sealing its trapdoor-like operculum.
- Can live up to 10 years in the wild.
Where Common Periwinkle are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Common Periwinkle
Background
The common periwinkle or winkle (Littorina littorea) is a species of small edible whelk or sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc that has gills and an operculum, and is classified within the family Littorinidae, the periwinkles.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Common Periwinkle article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other marine snails (periwinkle/cowrie) on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Common Periwinkle?
Common Periwinkle (Littorina littorea) is a marine snails (periwinkle/cowrie) with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
What is the scientific name for Common Periwinkle?
Common Periwinkle is Littorina littorea.
Is Common Periwinkle regulated for fishing?
Yes — Common Periwinkle has fishing regulations in 1 U.S. state and/or Canadian province tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Common Periwinkle?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules app for iPhone or Android — on-device identification recognizes Common Periwinkle along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.