Littorina scutulata (periwinkle)

Found in area 3.

Snails and limpets are both gastropods. They have a mouth (gastro) right at the foot (pod). They have better protection than limpets. A snail, like a chiton, can contract itself. A chiton can roll itself into a ball. A snail has a device called an operculum which is like a trap door that is at the bottom of the foot. They can close themselves off by shutting the operculum. If you drop a limpet into an anemone (NOT recommended) the body will be consumed and the shell spit out. If you drop a snail into an anemone, it can close itself off completely and wait until the anemone spits it out. The snail is protected by shell and operculum.

When these snails are very young they make the low tide level look as if it’s been peppered.