The Edible Periwinkle, Littorina littorea

This species has been collected for its food value for many hundreds of years, but is

still very common on our shores. The shell is very tough and this, together with other

adaptations mean that the species is found in a wide range of habitats on the shore.

It feeds by rasping on seaweeds and dead material. The shell has ridegs but should not

be confused with the rough perwinkle (L. saxatilis) on account of its much larger

size (up to 30 mm).

 

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An old shell, worn so that the ridges are not visible.

Littorina littorea with a Gibbula sp.