Patelloida alticostata

Patelloida alticostata
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Patellogastropoda
Family:	Lottiidae
Genus:	Patelloida
Species:	P. alticostata
Binomial name
Patelloida alticostata (Angas, 1865)

Patelloida alticostata is a species of sea snail, a true limpet, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Lottiidae, one of the families of true limpets.^[1] This marine gastropod mollusc was first described by Angas in 1865

Patelloida alticostata has a heavy shell that is narrower anteriorly and widest at the posterior third. The apex is slightly in front of the center. The exterior of the shell features 13-26 strong axial ribs with no secondary ribs between.^[2] The margin is strongly crenulate, and the interior is porcellanous white with a spatula that can be black, grey, or brown, outlined with black. The exterior is usually eroded but retains characteristic black cobweb lines between ribs. The shell can grow up to 56 mm in length, though it is commonly about 35 mm

This species is endemic to Australia, found from The Entrance in New South Wales to Kalbarri in Western Australia, including Tasmania.^[3] It inhabits exposed or moderately exposed rocky shores in the low intertidal and shallow subtidal zones. Around Sydney, it is more common subtidally than intertidally. The species prefers bare rock surfaces, as its habitat is restricted to small patches of rock between plants and animals

Patelloida alticostata lives on rocks that are bare to the naked eye. In the low intertidal zone, its habitat is limited to small bare patches of rock between cunjevoi, Galeolaria worm tubes, and large algae. Subtidally, it is more abundant in patches of rock kept bare by the grazing of sea urchins.

The diet of Patelloida alticostata consists of the thin film of microalgae on the rock surface and very small pieces of filamentous green macroalgae. In Victoria and Western Australia, coralline macroalgae forms a significant part of its diet. The species faces competition from Cellana tramoserica, which can out-compete Patelloida alticostata for micro-algal food in the intertidal zone. Additionally, Cellana can accidentally kill larvae in its feeding path, preventing other limpets from establishing in its habitat

Sexes are separate in Patelloida alticostata, and gametes are broadcast into the sea. Fertilization results in trochophore larvae, which transform into veligers during 60 hours of swimming, followed by settlement over three or more days. Larvae are cast up on rocky shores by waves, wind, and tides, with only those that settle in suitable habitat surviving. In New South Wales, spawning occurs three times a year, in March, May, and October, while in Victoria, it occurs in December and January

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