Gulf of Maine Univalve Molluscs (8 Species)

Gulf of Maine Univalve Molluscs (8 species) may include:

Waved whelk (Buccinum undatum), common slipper shell (Crepidula fornicata), tortoiseshell limpet (Acmaea testudinalis), rough-mantled nudibranch (Cnchidoris bilamellata)

Common name: waved whelk    

Scientific name:  Buccinum undatum

Locations:  low water mark and deeper, on mussel beds and rocky shores

Seasonality:  available year round

Colors:  tan shells with creamy white foot, sometimes green with algal coating

Size:  2"  - 3"

Collected:  by hand or in whelk traps

Quantity:  sold by the each

Common name: common periwinkle snail    

Scientific name:  Littorina littorea

Locations: mid to low tide, on rocks, mussels, kelp, pilings, seaweeds

Seasonality:  available year round

Colors:  brown & black color

Size:  1/2” - 1"

Collected:  by hand

Quantity:  sold by the each

Common name: common slipper shell

Scientific name:  Crepidula fornicata

Locations:  rocks & stones, on shells - especially live scallops, mussels, crabs

Seasonality:  available year round

Colors:  white and pink

Size:  1/4"  - 1/2"

Collected:  by hand, knife to detach them from rocks

Quantity:  sold by the each

Common name: common jingle shell   

Scientific name:  Anomia simplex

Locations: floats, lobster traps, pilings, rocks, mussel shells, buoys, etc.  subtidal

Seasonality:  available year round

Colors:  white or tan or yellowed

Size:  1/4" -  1/2"

Collected:  by hand

Quantity:  sold by the each

Common name: tortoiseshell limpet

Scientific name:  Acmaea testudinalis

Locations:  grows on smooth rocks and shells in the lower intertidal

Seasonality:  available year round

Colors:  dark brown or black with streaks from top to bottom of shell

Size:  1/4" - 1+"

Collected:  by hand, knife to detach them from rocks

Quantity:  sold by the each 

Common name: Atlantic red chiton

Scientific name:  Ischnochiton ruber

Locations:  'pink' zone of encrusting coralline algae at the low water mark on sides/bottoms of rocks

Seasonality:  available year round

Colors:  pink, reddish, with blue-green margins

Size:  1/4" - 1.5"

Collected:  by hand

Quantity:  sold by the each

Common name: moon snail

Scientific name:  Lunatia heros

Locations: sandy beaches, low water, also caught in lobster traps

Seasonality:  available year round

Colors:  brown & tan shells

Size:  1" - 4"

Collected:  by hand

Quantity:  sold by the each

Common name: rough-mantled nudibranch

Scientific name:  Cnchidoris bilamellata

Locations:  undersides of large rocks in lower intertidal

Seasonality:  available year round

Colors:  brown & black with raised whitish bumps

Size:  1" - 2"

Collected:  by hand - pull them off rocks

Quantity:  sold by the each