Scutellastra longicosta, the long-spined limpet or the duck's foot limpet, is a species of true limpet, a marine gastropodmollusk in the familyPatellidae, one of the families of true limpets.[1] It is native to the coasts of South Africa where it is found on the foreshore. It cultivates a species of crustose brown algae in a "garden".
Scutellastra longicosta has about eleven long, spiked ribs giving it a star-shaped outline. It grows to a diameter of about 70 mm (2.8 in). The inner surface is glossy white or bluish-white and often has a narrow black rim.[2]
Scutellastra longicosta is a territorial limpet occupying a permanent position and cultivating the brown alga Ralfsia verrucosa in a "garden" which it defends from other herbivores.[3] The productivity of the cultivated algae is about 30% higher than it is when the algae grow elsewhere. It has been shown that Scutellastra cochlear, a closely related limpet, fertilises its algal garden with urea that accumulates round the rim of its shell when the limpet is exposed to the air at low tide and this may also be the case with Scutellastra longicosta. The cultivation of the garden is a form of mutualism as both limpet and alga derive benefit from the arrangement.[4]
Larvae of Scutellastra longicosta tend to settle on the shells of larger limpets and the juveniles graze the encrusting alga that grows there. When they are large enough they move onto the rocks and graze on coralline algae before eventually setting up their own gardens. These are established by grazing hard to remove any algae growing on a rock surface and allowing settlement of R. verrucosa, this limpet's favoured food. The algal growth is then regularly grazed and maintained as turf, being fertilised by the limpet's faeces and by mucus. The garden is defended from other herbivores which the limpet pries off the surface with its spines. A 7 centimetres (2.8 in) limpet can "farm" an area of about 150 square centimetres (23 sq in), occupies a scar near the centre, and seldom moves out of this area. Gardens seldom overlap and even though the limpet is encouraging the growth of a single species of alga, there may be greater algal diversity in the area than might otherwise occur. This is because, while defending their gardens, the limpets drive off herbivores from the patches of rock between their gardens, giving algae settling there a greater chance of flourishing. Limpets experimentally removed from their territories and transplanted to nearby locations were found to have homing abilities and find their way back to their original gardens. Various predators feed on this limpet, especially the African oystercatcher.[3]
^ abStruik (ed.) (2008). Two Oceans: A Guide to the Marine Life of Southern Africa. p. 134. ISBN9781770076334. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
^ abcHeidt, A.; Khalsa, A.; Myers, S.; Trinh, T.; Wade, V. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
^Maneveldt, G. W.; Keats, D. W. (2008). "Effects of herbivore grazing on the physiognomy of the coralline alga Spongites yendoi and on associated competitive interactions". African Journal of Marine Science. 30 (3): 581–593. doi:10.2989/AJMS.2008.30.3.11.645. hdl:10566/707. S2CID 53599141.
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December 01, 2023
scutellastra, longicosta, long, spined, limpet, duck, foot, limpet, species, true, limpet, marine, gastropod, mollusk, family, patellidae, families, true, limpets, native, coasts, south, africa, where, found, foreshore, cultivates, species, crustose, brown, al. Scutellastra longicosta the long spined limpet or the duck s foot limpet is a species of true limpet a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Patellidae one of the families of true limpets 1 It is native to the coasts of South Africa where it is found on the foreshore It cultivates a species of crustose brown algae in a garden Scutellastra longicostaScutellastra longicostaScientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum MolluscaClass Gastropoda unranked clade PatellogastropodaSuperfamily PatelloideaFamily PatellidaeGenus ScutellastraSpecies S longicostaBinomial nameScutellastra longicosta Lamarck 1819 1 Synonyms 1 Patella Scutellastra longicostaLamarck 1819 Patella digitataFischer von Waldheim 1807 Patella longicostaLamarck 1819 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Behaviour 4 ReferencesDescription editScutellastra longicosta has about eleven long spiked ribs giving it a star shaped outline It grows to a diameter of about 70 mm 2 8 in The inner surface is glossy white or bluish white and often has a narrow black rim 2 Distribution and habitat editThis species can be found on the eastern and southern coasts of South Africa Its range extends from Richards Bay round Cape Province to the Cape of Good Hope 2 It is found in the mid to lower intertidal zone on rocky surfaces 3 Behaviour editScutellastra longicosta is a territorial limpet occupying a permanent position and cultivating the brown alga Ralfsia verrucosa in a garden which it defends from other herbivores 3 The productivity of the cultivated algae is about 30 higher than it is when the algae grow elsewhere It has been shown that Scutellastra cochlear a closely related limpet fertilises its algal garden with urea that accumulates round the rim of its shell when the limpet is exposed to the air at low tide and this may also be the case with Scutellastra longicosta The cultivation of the garden is a form of mutualism as both limpet and alga derive benefit from the arrangement 4 Larvae of Scutellastra longicosta tend to settle on the shells of larger limpets and the juveniles graze the encrusting alga that grows there When they are large enough they move onto the rocks and graze on coralline algae before eventually setting up their own gardens These are established by grazing hard to remove any algae growing on a rock surface and allowing settlement of R verrucosa this limpet s favoured food The algal growth is then regularly grazed and maintained as turf being fertilised by the limpet s faeces and by mucus The garden is defended from other herbivores which the limpet pries off the surface with its spines A 7 centimetres 2 8 in limpet can farm an area of about 150 square centimetres 23 sq in occupies a scar near the centre and seldom moves out of this area Gardens seldom overlap and even though the limpet is encouraging the growth of a single species of alga there may be greater algal diversity in the area than might otherwise occur This is because while defending their gardens the limpets drive off herbivores from the patches of rock between their gardens giving algae settling there a greater chance of flourishing Limpets experimentally removed from their territories and transplanted to nearby locations were found to have homing abilities and find their way back to their original gardens Various predators feed on this limpet especially the African oystercatcher 3 References edit a b c Scutellastra longicosta Lamarck 1819 Retrieved through World Register of Marine Species on 29 November 2013 a b Struik ed 2008 Two Oceans A Guide to the Marine Life of Southern Africa p 134 ISBN 9781770076334 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a last has generic name help a b c Heidt A Khalsa A Myers S Trinh T Wade V Territoriality in the South African Intertidal Limpet Scutellastra longicosta PDF Archived from the original PDF on 3 December 2013 Retrieved 29 November 2013 Maneveldt G W Keats D W 2008 Effects of herbivore grazing on the physiognomy of the coralline alga Spongites yendoi and on associated competitive interactions African Journal of Marine Science 30 3 581 593 doi 10 2989 AJMS 2008 30 3 11 645 hdl 10566 707 S2CID 53599141 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Scutellastra longicosta Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Scutellastra longicosta amp oldid 1107388483, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
