Scutellastra barbara explained

Scutellastra barbara is a species of sea snail, a true limpet, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Patellidae, one of the families of true limpets.

Description

Species has been found to measure around 100 mm.^[1] Different populations of Patella barbara are both morphologically indistinguishable and genetically homogenous along the coast of South Africa.^[2]

Distribution

The bearded limpet, Scutellastra barbara, is distributed throughout the east and west coasts of South Africa, between Port Nolloth and Umpangazi. The juveniles prefer substrates made of Haliotis midae shells, and they are usually found in intertidal areas at low densities.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Book: Kensley, Brian Frederick . Sea-shells of southern Africa . 1973 . M. Miller [with the South African Museum |others=South African Museum |isbn=978-0-623-00369-5 |edition=1st |location=Cape Town].
2. Ridgway . Tyrone M. . Stewart . Barbara A. . Branch . George M. . August 1999 . Limited population differentiation in the bearded limpet Patella barbara (Gatropoda: Patellidae) along the coast of South Africa . Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom . en . 79 . 4 . 639–651 . 10.1017/S0025315498000800 . 1469-7769.
3. Branch . G.M. . 1975 . Notes on the ecology of Patella concolor and Cellana capensis, and the effects of human consumption on limpet populations. . African Zoology . 10 . 1.