02 Patella pellucida. Growth Stage 2 (GS2). July 2012. Littoral. North Yorkshire, England. © P. Lightfoot.

02 Patella pellucida.  Growth Stage 2 (GS2). July 2012. Littoral. North Yorkshire, England. © P. Lightfoot.

Newly settled juveniles, less than 2 mm long on red, calcareous algae encrusting rock. Smooth, very shallow, pear-shape saucer. The apex at the anterior initially has a minute spiral protoconch (surviving larval shell) which is sealed off and lost soon after metamorphosis. The summit of the shell is further back. Aperture rim is on a single plane conforming to the flat surface of encrusting algae. Almost transparent, showing viscera. Two or three longitudinal rows of iridescent blue dashes.