Adults and spawn on Laminaria stipe.
Adult L. vincta and Patella pellucida are the principal mollusc species in Britain that rasp through the tough outer layer of Laminaria to feed on the softer interior. When in large numbers, they may sever the stipe causing the loss of the top of the plant with any individuals on it; this stipe is almost cut through. Other species with weaker radulae, such as the Steromphala cineraria in this image, sometimes avail themselves of the access pits made by L. vincta.
The distinctive rings of L. vincta spawn may be yellow, pink or green.
Sublittoral, 5m depth, Loch Carron, Scotland. March 2013. :copyright: G. Brown.
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