Species profile
Plate Limpet
Lottia scutum
At a glance
Plate Limpet (Lottia scutum) is a limpet present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 905 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with British Columbia, California, and Washington the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Scutum is Latin for shield, describing its notably broad, flat, plate-like shell.
- One of the larger Pacific limpets, with shells sometimes exceeding 60 mm in length.
- Found from Alaska to Baja California, occupying the mid-intertidal zone on open rocky shores.
- Its low, flat profile minimizes drag and resistance on wave-swept, surge-prone surfaces.
- Scrapes algae and biofilms from rock using a flexible, tooth-lined radula.
Where Plate Limpet are seen
Background
Lottia scutum is a species of sea snail, a true limpet, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Lottiidae, one of the families of true limpets.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Plate Limpet article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other limpets on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.