My quest was to observe the closely related limpet species, Lottia scabra and the smaller but similar and closely related, L. conus.
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I arrived at Bird Rock in La Jolla perhaps 45 minutes after the 7 a.m. -0.5' low tide
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Lottia scabra
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Lottia conus
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Lottia conus was extremely common at Bird Rock, probably the most common limpet species , just as Test had concluded from her studies of this species along SoCal shores, back in the 1930s.
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The large limpets are Lottia scabra but there are plenty of smaller L. conus around as well.
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Mostly Lottia limatula, but notice the L. conus as well.
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Clusters of Lottia austrodigitalis, higher in the intertidal than other limpet species.
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I see at least three limpet species
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Lottia gigantea (owl limpet) and Cyanoplax hartwegii (Hartweg's chiton)
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Territorial owl limpets and gooseneck barnacles, in a crack, awaiting high tide. d
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The largest limpets here are L. scabra
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L. conus
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This turban snail has a Lottia sp. B (Hewson and Eernisse, MS) and a small L. conus (?) on its shell
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Southern finger limpets, Lottia austrodigitalis
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A juvenile Pachygrapsus crassipes
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A typical example of high densities of L. conus (mostly) in the Bird Rock intertidal
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The brooding anemone, Epiactis prolifera
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This seems to be a L. conus living on the owl limpet.
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The large limpet near the ruler is L. scabra -- now look for the dozens of smaller L. conus
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Nuttallina fluxa (or N. n. sp. Piper MS.) home depressions
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L. conus
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L. conus with Nuttallina sp. and owl limpets
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Probably L. conus on an owl limpet's shell; notice the smaller L. conus as well.
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Some evidence of a home depression on the L. gigantea shell
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Quite large Lottia austrodigitalis
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L. conus
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Nuttallina cf. fluxa with Lottia conus nearby
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L. gigantea
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Lottia gigantea "juvenile"
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Pollicipes polymerus surrounded by Lottia gigantea territories.
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Lottia austrodigitalis (mostly)
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Lottia scabra
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L. scabra
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The predatory whelk, Mexacanthina lugubris, has recently expanded its range northward.
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Lottia limatula
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Recommended tacos!
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Under Construction!