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Dieren en planten

Molluscs   Marine snails   Flat periwinkle   Freshwater snails   Nudibranch   Necklace shells   Periwinkles   Large sea snails   Other sea snails   

Flat periwinkle

size:

up to 17 millimeters wide

color:

many colors (yellow, orange, brown or green) depending upon the seaweed it lives on

food:

mainly brown seaweed

enemies:

crabs, such as shore crabs

reproduction:

sexual

  • Dut: Stompe alikruik (stompe krükel)
  • Lat: Littorina obtusata
  • Eng: Flat periwinkle
  • Ger: Flache Strandschnecke
  • Dan: Butspiret strandsnegl
print print
Flat periwinkle, foto fitis, sytske dijksen

Flat periwinkle

Flat periwinkles are smaller than common periwinkels, but stand out due to their bright colors. The shell can vary between yellow, orange, brown or green, and even blue-grey or dark brown fossils are found. Of all periwinkels, this species is the least resistant to dehydration during low tide. It lives deeper than other periwinkels. Should that happen, it crawls at its fastest snail rate under a seaweed or stone.

  • Distribution and habitat
    Flat periwinkle, Foto Fitis, www.fotofitis.nl

    Flat periwinkles are found on all West European coasts. It is very common in the delta area and the wadden region of the Netherlands. However, finds are rare along the Holland coast.