Strange Limpet

I thought I knew most of the local critters in theses waters. Any idea what this bizarre limpet is and wether or not it eats coral.

 

Keyhole Limpet. Not sure if it's reef-safe, though. I've had one in my tank for nearly 3 years now, and it has never gone near any corals, but just like Asterina Stars, there are different species that look quite similar to the untrained eye.

 

bump

 

no idea on type but it is very cool looking

 

Well I spent 45 minutes looking last night. So many limpet types whewwww. So to narrow it down, you implied this was a local invert? Did you collect it and put it your tank or was it a hitch-hiker from rock locally collected? The shell appears to have ridges no?

Hopefully pagojoe will come along and ID.

 

Thanks for the effort. Yes, it was a hitchhiker on a dead clam shell I collected about 150 yards off Ft. Lauderdale beach.

This thing is weird, it doesn't look like any limpet I've seen before. Its shell has some almost see-through ridges, and it's flesh is highly tasseled near the foot.

I sent Pagojoe a message this morning, and maybe I'll do the same to JohnM at Reef cleaners.

My fingers are crossed for a herbivore.

 

Cool, hope it is a herbivore too.

Here is a good link if your interested.

http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/Siphonaria_pectinata.htm

 

While you're waiting for Pagojoe to chime in, I will add this- unofficially I had heard that some species may harm corals (we all know how that can go sometimes. ). Officially, I found this:

"Keyhole limpets are in essence herbivorous, feeding primarily on algae, but are also detritus feeders. A few species in the genera Diodora and Emarginella are carnivorous, feeding on sponges. Puncturella has been reported to digest diatoms and detritus. Puncturella aethiopica feeds mainly on Foraminifera." IOW, none actually prey on corals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fissurellidae#Feeding_habits

 

Thanks Bill, I don't see the typical "keyhole" on this guy. Again, I've never seen anything like it before, but yes it's dietary habits are a concern.

 

Sorry, pagojoe has been on vacation! There are actually a couple of Florida species that have been accused of eating or at least tasting of soft corals, including zoanthids. Those are the "Fleshy Limpets," and I'm not sure whether it's ever been confirmed, but it's certainly possible. Yours isn't one of those species, so I don't think it's likely to be a problem. If your limpet behaves like its closest Indo-Pacific relatives, it will feed on cryptic sponges and diatoms.

Cheers,



Don