Adults and spawn on stump of severed 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 as has happened in this image. Other species with weaker radulae, such as the Rissoa parva, top right in this image, sometimes avail themselves of the access made by L. vincta.
Sublittoral, 5 m depth, Loch Carron, Scotland. March 2013. :copyright: G. Brown.
Full SPECIES DESCRIPTION: flic.kr/p/gTkfF4
Sets of OTHER SPECIES at: /.