Species

Invertebrates

Learn more about the invertebrates monitored by the LiMPETS program. The list below includes:

  • 17 core taxa that are monitored at as many sites as possible
  • 5 other taxa (denoted with *) that are monitored at only one or two sites

Go to Datasheets and Forms to find out which species are monitored at your LiMPETS site of interest.

Turban Snails(Tegula brunnea/funebralis)
Turban Snails
Description:
Shell is round, shaped like a turban, not pointed at the apex; can be dark purple, black, orange, or brown in color; usually to 3 cm in diameter; often aggregates in groups.
Distribution:
T. brunnea range is from Oregon to Santa Barbara (Channel Islands). T. funebralis range is from Vancouver Island to Central Baja California.
Habitat:
Turban snails are some of the best known snails along the coast; black turbans (T. funebralis) are very abundant in tidepools and on rocks in the high and mid tide zone of the rocky intertidal. Brown turbans (T. brunnea) are common in low intertidal zone and shallow subtidal rocky shores.
Diet:
Herbivore that eats microscopic films and macroscopic algae.
Fun Fact:
Turban snails are preyed upon by sea otters, rock crabs and the ochre sea star; also collected by humans for food.
Reason for Monitoring:
These are major grazers of algae in the intertidal. They are also harvested by people for food.
References:
Morris, R.H., D.P. Abbott, and E.C. Haderlie. 1980. Intertidal Invertebrates of California. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California.