Invertebrate · GBIF taxon 5192789
Common Atlantic Slippersnail
Crepidula fornicataAlso known as Common Slipper Shell, Boat Shell, Quarterdeck Shell, Atlantic Slipper Limpet
Common Atlantic slippersnails form curved mating stacks on rocks and oyster shells, where individuals change sex from male to female as they grow larger. The bottommost shell anchors the chain to the seafloor while filter feeding on suspended plankton from passing ocean currents. Native to the western Atlantic, these resilient mollusks have established dense invasive populations across European coastline ecosystems.
MarineFilter FeederMollusk
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Phytoplankton
- Microalgae
- Organic detritus
Predators
- Sea stars
- Shorebirds
- Crabs
ThreatsCoastal pollution, dredging, and habitat destruction
HabitatsShallow coastal waters, estuaries, bays, and intertidal mudflats
Life span5–10 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderLittorinimorpha
- FamilyCalyptraeidae
- GenusCrepidula
- SpeciesCrepidula fornicata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Look for piled shells clinging to rocks, pilings, or live oysters along low-tide shorelines.
- Handling: Gentle handling of loose shells is safe, but avoid prying live animals off surfaces to prevent harm.
Substrate Host Unknown / CC-BY · cc-by
Predator (c) Bernard Picton, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Bernard Picton · cc-by
Close Relative H. Zell / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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