Common slipper shell

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Common slipper shell
Crepidules groupe.jpg
A stack of Crepidula fornicata. The small one on the left is a male, the oval animal at the top left is a chiton.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
clade Littorinimorpha
Superfamily:
Calyptraeoidea
Family:
Calyptraeidae
Genus:
Crepidula
Species:
C. fornicata
Binomial name
Crepidula fornicata
(Linnaeus, 1758)

The common slipper shell, (Crepidula fornicata), has many other common names, including common Atlantic slippersnail, boat shell, quarterdeck shell, fornicating slipper snail, Atlantic slipper limpet and it is in Britain as the "common slipper limpet". This is a species of medium-sized sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails and cup and saucer snails.

Contents

Slipper limpet stack web (Paul Naylor 07041 351307).jpg

Description

10 fresh shells of Crepidula fornicata Crepidula fornicata.JPG
10 fresh shells of Crepidula fornicata

The size of the shell is 20–50 mm. [1] The maximum recorded shell length is 56 mm. [2]

This sea snail has an arched, rounded shell. On the inside of the shell there is a white "deck", which causes the shell to resemble a boat or a slipper, hence the common names. There is variability in the shape of the shell: some shells are more arched than others.

Groups of individuals are often found heaped up and fastened together, with the larger, older females below and the smaller, younger males on top. As a heap grows, the males turn into females (making them sequential hermaphrodites). [3]

Distribution

The species is native to the western Atlantic Ocean, specifically the Eastern coast of North America. Its distribution ranges from 48°N to 25°N; 97.2°W to 25°W [1] from as far north as Nova Scotia to as far south as the Gulf of Mexico. [1] It has been introduced accidentally to other parts of the world and has become problematic.

Nonindigenous distribution

Five views of a shell of Crepidula fornicata Crepidula fornicata 01.JPG
Five views of a shell of Crepidula fornicata
Ecomare - muiltje (pcd05035-muiltje-sd).jpg
Ecomare - muiltje (pcd04057-muiltje-sd).jpg

It was introduced to the state of Washington. [1] The species was, however, brought to Europe together with the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica . [1] In Belgium, the first slipper limpet was found on September 28, 1911, attached to an oyster in Ostend, and since the 1930s it is seen as a common species along the Belgian coast. [1]

The species is considered an invasive species in Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom. It has also spread to Norway and Sweden. [4] It is known to damage oyster fisheries. [5] The slipper limpet has few to no predators in Europe, and can thrive on several types of hard bottoms and shellfish banks. [1] A continued expansion to the north is probably inhibited by temperature: low temperatures during the winter can slow down or inhibit the development of the slipper limpet. [1] It has also been introduced to the Pacific Northwest and Japan. [6]

Human consumption

Culinary use

Many different avenues can be ventured upon to find the perfect target market and the best way to market these shellfish. Slipper limpets are a versatile food. They have the flavor and individualism to stand alone as a main course, an appetizer or be incorporated into many different dishes. Before, during and after cooking, slipper limpets produce a good amount of liquid which can be boiled down into broth or stock. The liquid itself could also be used as a clam juice substitute. We believe these shellfish delicacies have the potential to fill a niche in seafood market. If expressed to the public correctly, people will embrace this new shellfish and a demand for Crepidula fornicata will result in vastly increasing commercial and restaurant sales. Therefore, this shellfish and its recipes could become commercially important in the years to come. Recipes including limpets have been published in Scottish cookbooks; in Hawaii they are considered a delicacy and the Azores highly value them in their cultural dishes. [7]

Although considered an invasive species, there are attempts to harvest and market the snail in France. [8]

Ecology

Habitat

Although Crepidula fornicata is a species with cosmopolitan distribution, and can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions, populations are particularly well developed in wave protected areas such as bays, estuaries or sheltered sides of wave exposed islands. [9] Their distibution within the water coloumn has been shown to a minimum of 0m and a maximum of 70m. They are often found living stacked on top of one another on rocks, on horseshoe crabs, shells and on dock pilings.

Feeding habits

Generally for Calyptraeidae, feeding habits include planktonic and minute detrital food items through either suspension or deposit feeding.

Life cycle & reproduction

The species is a sequential hermaphrodite. The slipper limpet normally lives in stacks of up to 12 individuals, with the largest at the bottom and with increasingly smaller individuals stacked on top of one another. The largest and oldest animals, at the base of a pile are female, the younger and smaller animals at the top are male. If the females in the stack die, the largest of the males will become a female. [10] Breeding can occur between February and October with peak activity occurring in May and June. Roughly 80-90% of females spawn during May and June. Most slipper limpet females will spawn twice in a year, generally after neap tides.

As an invasive non-native species

Within The United Kingdom, the common slipper limpet is considered to be an invasive non-native species (INNS). [11] [12] The release of slipper limpets to the sea is an offence within England. This species has recorded around the coasts of Southern England and Wales as far north as Anglesey on the west coast and Spurn Point on the east coast. The slipper limpet has been recorded within the Thames Estuary amongst other brackish environments. First recorded in 1872, these non-native limpets arrived in England and Wales from America in a shipment of oysters. Their impacts to U.K ecosystems are still being investigated, however, there is growing evidence that this species is detrimental to native molluscs beds such as Queen scallop Aequipecten opercularis, Edible oyster Ostrea edulis , and Blue mussel Mytilus edulis . Common slipper limpets are currently being considered as a food source in efforts to reduce their spread from Southern England. [13]

Related Research Articles

Calyptraeidae Family of gastropods

The Calyptraeidae are a family of small to medium-sized marine prosobranch gastropods.

<i>Crepidula</i> Genus of gastropods

Crepidula, commonly known as the slipper snails, slipper limpets, or slipper shells, is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Calyptraeidae. This family includes the slipper snails (Crepidula), hat snails (Calyptraea), spiny slipper snails (Bostrycapulus), and cup-and-saucer snails (Crucibulum) as well as Crepipatella, Siphopatella, Grandicrepidula, and Maoricrypta.

<i>Crepipatella</i> Genus of gastropods

Crepipatella is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails and cup-and-saucer snails.

<i>Crepidula adunca</i> Species of gastropod

Crepidula adunca, common name the "hooked slippersnail" is a species of sea snail or "slipper snail", a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails and cup-and-saucer snails.

<i>Calyptraea chinensis</i> Species of gastropod

Calyptraea chinensis, common name the Chinese hat snail or Chinese hat shell, is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails.

Crepidula atrasolea is a species of small sea snail, a slipper snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and hat snails.

Crepidula badisparsa is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails.

Crepidula cachimilla is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails.

Crepidula carioca is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails.

<i>Crepidula convexa</i> Species of mollusc

Crepidula convexa is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails. The maximum recorded shell length is 20 mm.

Crepidula depressa is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and hat snails.

Crepidula intratesta is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails.

<i>Crepidula maculosa</i> Species of gastropod

Crepidula maculosa is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails.

Crepidula margarita is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails.

<i>Crepidula moulinsii</i> Species of gastropod

Crepidula moulinsii is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese pant snails.

<i>Crepidula plana</i> Species of gastropod

Crepidula plana, common name the eastern white slippersnail, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and hat snails. This species is characterized by a flat white shell, a white body, and development that includes a planktotrophic larval stage. This species often occurs inside large gastropod shells that are inhabited by hermit crabs. In this case the shells are often extremely flat, and often recurved.

<i>Crepidula porcellana</i> Species of gastropod

Crepidula porcellana, common name the slipper limpet, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails.

Crepidula ustulatulina is a species of small sea snail, a slipper snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails.

<i>Crepidula walshi</i> Species of gastropod

Siphopatella walshi, common name : the eastern white slipper limpet, is a species of small sea snail, a slipper snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails.

References

This article incorporates CC-BY-SA-3.0 text from the reference [1]

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Gofas, S. (2010). Crepidula fornicata (Linnaeus, 1758). In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=138963 on January 13, 2011
  2. ↑ Welch J. J. (2010). "The "Island Rule" and Deep-Sea Gastropods: Re-Examining the Evidence". PLoS ONE 5(1): e8776. doi : 10.1371/journal.pone.0008776.
  3. ↑ "Crepidula fornicata (Linnaeus, 1758)". CIESM.org. Retrieved February 20, 2015.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  4. ↑ Global Invasive Species Database
  5. ↑ "Joint Nature Conservation Committee". Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
  6. ↑ "Marine Life Information Network for Britain and Ireland". Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
  7. ↑ "[[Roger Williams University]]'s report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  8. ↑ Lalita Clozel (March 12, 2014), "In France, a Quest to Convert a Sea Snail Plague Into a Culinary Pleasure", The New York Times
  9. ↑ https://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/1554
  10. ↑ Global Invasive Species Database
  11. ↑ http://www.nonnativespecies.org/factsheet/factsheet.cfm?speciesId=1028
  12. ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/slipper-limpets-not-permitted-to-be-used-as-bait-or-disposed-at-sea
  13. ↑ https://www.cornwallgoodseafoodguide.org.uk/fish-guide/slipper-limpet.php
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