Patellidae is a taxonomic family of true limpets, marine gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Patelloidea. (The superfamily Patelloidea should not be confused with the similar-sounding genus of true limpets Patelloida which is in the family Lottiidae within the superfamily Lottioidea, also part of the Patellogastropoda.)

The largest known limpet in the world is Scutellastra mexicana that can reach in length.

Taxonomy A cladogram showing phylogenic relations of Patellogastropoda based on molecular phylogeny research by Nakano & Ozawa (2007):

Genera There are four extant genera in the family Patellidae: Cymbula H. & A. Adams, 1854 Helcion Montfort, 1810 Patella Linnaeus, 1758 Scutellastra H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854

There are two exclusively fossil genera: † Berlieria de Loriol, 1903 † Proscutum P. Fischer, 1885

Synonyms Synonyms include the following: Ansates G.B. Sowerby II [ex Klein], 1839: synonym of Patella Linnaeus, 1758 Laevipatella Pallary, 1920: synonym of Cymbula H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854 Patellanax Iredale, 1924: synonym of Scutellastra H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854 (junior synonym) Patellidea Thiele, 1891: synonym of Scutellastra H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854 Patellona Thiele, 1891: synonym of Cymbula H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854 Patina Gray, 1847: synonym of Patella Linnaeus, 1758 Patinastra Thiele, 1891: synonym of Helcion Montfort, 1810 Penepatella Iredale, 1929: synonym of Scutellastra H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854 (junior synonym)

Human uses Some limpet species in this family are used as a food source in various countries.

A study of Patella caerulea found that this limpet reduced the cover of algae and barnacles on steel panels suspended in sea water in a commercial port, suggesting that the limpet could be used to inhibit fouling of ship hulls.Safriel U. N. & Erez N. 1987. Effect of limpets on the fouling of ships in the Mediterranean. Marine Biology, 95(4): 531-537.

See also Limpet

References

Nakano T. & Sasaki T. (2011) Recent advances in molecular phylogeny, systematics and evolution of patellogastropod limpets. Journal of Molluscan Studies 77: 203–217.

External links

Rafinesque, C. S. (1815). Analyse de la nature ou Tableau de l'univers et des corps organisés. [Book]. 1-224, (self-published) Palermo Bouchet, P. & Rocroi, J.-P. (2005). Classification and nomenclator of gastropod families. Malacologia. 47 (1-2): 1-397 Ridgeway, S.A., Reid, D.G., Taylor, J.D., Branch, G.M. & Hodgson, A.N., 1998. A cladistic phylogeny of the family Patellidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London, Series B, 353(1375), 1645-1671