''Littorina'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

of small sea snails,

marine Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean. Marine or marines may refer to: Ocean * Maritime (disambiguation) * Marine art * Marine biology * Marine debris * Marine habitats * Marine life * Marine pollution Military * ...

gastropod molluscs in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Littorinidae The Littorinidae are a taxonomic family of over 200 species of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Littorinimorpha, commonly known as periwinkles and found worldwide. Names In English-speaking countries, gastropod molluscs f ...

, the winkles or periwinkles.WoRMS (2011). Littorina Férussac, 1822. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=138135 on 2011-04-15 These small

snails A snail is, in loose terms, a shelled gastropod. The name is most often applied to land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs. However, the common name ''snail'' is also used for most of the members of the molluscan class Ga ...

live in the

tidal zone The intertidal zone, also known as the foreshore, is the area above water level at low tide and underwater at high tide (in other words, the area within the tidal range). This area can include several types of habitats with various species of ...

of rocky shores.

Overview

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located enti ...

there are about nine species in this genus, one of which is the rough periwinkle, ''

Littorina saxatilis ''Littorina saxatilis'', common name the rough periwinkle, is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles. First identified in the 1700s, it has been misidentified as a new ...

'' (Olivi, 1792). Another closely related (supposed) species ''Littorina tenebrosa'' (Montagu 1802) was thought to be distinct because of its different ecological requirements, but current studies have shown that it is not at all clear whether the two are indeed separate species or whether ''L. tenebrosa'' is perhaps merely an ecotype (an ecological form) of ''L. saxatilis''.Gosling, E.M. (2002). ''The periwinkle as a model in biodiversity studies: a geneticist's view.'' in Marine Biodiversity in Ireland and Adjacent Waters. Ulster Museum. publication no. 8 ''Littorina'' has given its name to the

Littorina Sea Littorina Sea (also Litorina Sea) is a geological brackish water stage of the Baltic Sea, which existed around 7500–4000 BP and followed the Mastogloia Sea, a transitional stage of the Ancylus Lake. This stage and form of the body of w ...

, the geologic precursor of the

Baltic Sea The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the North and Central European Plain. The sea stretches from 53°N to 66°N latitude and fr ...

Distribution

The periwinkles are found on the seashore in the

littoral zone The littoral zone or nearshore is the part of a sea, lake, or river that is close to the shore. In coastal ecology, the littoral zone includes the intertidal zone extending from the high water mark (which is rarely inundated), to coastal ...

and

sublittoral zone The neritic zone (or sublittoral zone) is the relatively shallow part of the ocean above the drop-off of the continental shelf, approximately in depth. From the point of view of marine biology it forms a relatively stable and well-illuminated ...

in all parts of the world. In the

Baltic Baltic may refer to: Peoples and languages *Baltic languages, a subfamily of Indo-European languages, including Lithuanian, Latvian and extinct Old Prussian *Balts (or Baltic peoples), ethnic groups speaking the Baltic languages and/or originatin ...

they live within the influence of freshwater, and frequently become distorted in consequence.

Description

The thick, pointed shell is turbinated and has few

whorls A whorl ( or ) is an individual circle, oval, volution or equivalent in a whorled pattern, which consists of a spiral or multiple concentric objects (including circles, ovals and arcs). Whorls in nature File:Photograph and axial plane floral d ...

. The

aperture In optics, an aperture is a hole or an opening through which light travels. More specifically, the aperture and focal length of an optical system determine the cone angle of a bundle of rays that come to a focus in the image plane. An ...

is rounded. The outer lip is acute. The

columella Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella (; Arabic: , 4 – ) was a prominent writer on agriculture in the Roman Empire. His ' in twelve volumes has been completely preserved and forms an important source on Roman agriculture, together with the ...

is rather flattened and imperforate. The operculum is paucispiral. The lingual teeth are hooked and trilobed. The uncini (small teeth on the

radula The radula (, ; plural radulae or radulas) is an anatomical structure used by molluscs for feeding, sometimes compared to a tongue. It is a minutely toothed, chitinous ribbon, which is typically used for scraping or cutting food before the food ...

) are hooked and dentated.

Species

The type species:''Turbo littoreus''

Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, t ...

1758 Events January–March * January 1 – Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus (Carl von Linné) publishes in Stockholm the first volume (''Animalia'') of the 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae'', the starting point of modern zoological ...

restricts the species in this genus to the northern hemisphere, moderate and cold zones. The tropical species belong in other genera of the same family Bandel, K. & D. Kadolsky (1982). Western Atlantic Species of Nodolittorina (Gastropda: Prosobranchia): comparative morphology and its functional, ecological, phylogenetic and taxonomic implications. Veliger 25 (1): 1-42. Species in the genus ''Littorina'' include * ''

Littorina aleutica ''Littorina aleutica'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae The Littorinidae are a taxonomic family of over 200 species of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Littorinimorpha ...

'' Dall, 1872 * ''

Littorina arcana ''Littorina arcana'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae The Littorinidae are a taxonomic family of over 200 species of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Littorinimorpha, ...

'' Hannaford-Ellis, 1978 * ''

Littorina brevicula ''Littorina brevicula'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae The Littorinidae are a taxonomic family of over 200 species of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Littorinimorph ...

'' (Philippi, 1844) * ''

Littorina compressa ''Littorina compressa'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae The Littorinidae are a taxonomic family of over 200 species of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Littorinimorph ...

'' Jeffreys, 1865 * ''

Littorina fabalis ''Littorina fabalis'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles. Description The maximum recorded shell length is 1.8 cm.Welch J. J. (2010). "The "Island Rule" and Dee ...

'' (Turton, 1825) * ''

Littorina horikawai ''Littorina horikawai'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class c ...

'' Matsubayashi & Habe in Habe, 1979 * ''

Littorina islandica ''Littorina islandica'' is an extinct species of sea snail, a marine gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). Thi ...

'' Reid, 1996

† A dagger, obelisk, or obelus is a typographical mark that usually indicates a footnote if an asterisk has already been used. The symbol is also used to indicate death (of people) or extinction (of species). It is one of the modern descendan ...

* ''

Littorina kasatka ''Littorina kasatka'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class com ...

'' Reid, Zaslavskaya & Sergievsky, 1991 * ''

Littorina keenae ''Littorina keenae'', the eroded periwinkle, is a species of sea snail Sea snail is a common name for slow-moving marine gastropod molluscs, usually with visible external shells, such as whelk or abalone. They share the taxonomic class ...

'' Rosewater, 1978 * '' Littorina littorea'' (

Common periwinkle The common periwinkle or winkle (''Littorina littorea'') is a species of small edible whelk or sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc that has gills and an operculum, and is classified within the family Littorinidae, the periwinkles.Reid, Dav ...

* ''

Littorina mandshurica ''Littorina mandshurica'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class ...

'' (Schrenk, 1861) * ''

Littorina natica ''Littorina natica'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class comp ...

'' Reid, 1996 * ''

Littorina obtusata ''Littorina obtusata'', common name the flat periwinkle, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles. Distribution This marine species occurs wherever brown seaweeds grow. It is ...

'' (

flat periwinkle Flat or flats may refer to: Architecture * Flat (housing), an apartment in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and other Commonwealth countries Arts and entertainment * Flat (music), a symbol () which denotes a lower pitch * Flat (soldier), ...

* ''

Littorina petricola ''Littorina'' is a genus of small sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.WoRMS (2011). Littorina Férussac, 1822. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespec ...

'' Arnold, 1908

* ''

Littorina plena ''Littorina plena'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by mar ...

'' Gould, 1849 * ''

Littorina remondii ''Littorina remondii'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class co ...

'' Gabb, 1866

* ''

'' (Olivi, 1792),

rough periwinkle ''Littorina saxatilis'', common name the rough periwinkle, is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles. First identified in the 1700s, it has been misidentified as a new s ...

* ''

Littorina scutulata ''Littorina scutulata'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles. This species lives lower on rocks than does ''L. planaxis'', and migrates up and down rocks with the tide ...

'' Gould, 1849, checkered periwinkle * ''

Littorina sitkana ''Littorina sitkana'' is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Littorinidae, the winkles. It is commonly found in the high tidal zone and the splash zone. Description The shell of this winkle has about ten co ...

'' Philippi, 1846 * ''

Littorina sookensis ''Littorina sookensis'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class c ...

'' Clark & Arnold, 1923

*''

Littorina squalida ''Littorina squalida'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class co ...

'' Broderip & Sowerby, 1829 * ''

Littorina subrotundata ''Littorina subrotundata'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This clas ...

'' (Carpenter, 1864) * ''

Littorina varia ''Littorina'' is a genus of small sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.WoRMS (2011). Littorina Férussac, 1822. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespec ...

'' * ''

Littorina zebra ''Littorina'' is a genus of small sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.WoRMS (2011). Littorina Férussac, 1822. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespec ...

'' ;Species brought into synonymy: * ''Littorina aestuarii'' Jeffreys, 1865: synonym of ''Littorina obtusata'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Littorina affinis'' d'Orbigny, 1839: synonym of ''

Tectarius striatus ''Tectarius striatus'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles. It is endemic to Macaronesia (Azores, Madeira, Savage Islands, Canary Islands and Cape Verde , natio ...

'' (King & Broderip, 1832) * ''Littorina angulifera'' is a synonym for ''

Littoraria angulifera ''Littoraria angulifera'' or the mangrove periwinkle is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Littorinidae, the winkles. MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Littoraria angulifera (Lamarck, 1822). Accessed through: W ...

'' (Lamarck, 1822) * ''Littorina arenica'' Jay, 1839: synonym of ''

'' (King & Broderip, 1832) * ''Litorina arenica'' Dunker, 1845: synonym of ''

'' (King & Broderip, 1832) * ''Littorina canariensis'' d'Orbigny, 1839: synonym of ''

'' (King & Broderip, 1832) * ''Littorina cingulifera'' R. W. Dunker, 1845: synonym of ''

Littoraria cingulifera ''Littoraria cingulifera'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class ...

'' R. W. Dunker, 1845 * ''Litorina globosa'' Dunker, 1845: synonym of ''

'' (King & Broderip, 1832) *'' Littorina granularis'' Gray, 1839: synonym of '' Echinolittorina miliaris'' (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833) * ''Littorina lamellosa'' Souverbie, 1861: synonym of ''

Fossarus lamellosus ''Fossarus lamellosus'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Planaxidae. Description Distribution This species occurs in the Red Sea and in the Indian Ocean off the Aldabra Aldabra is the world's second ...

'' (Souverbie, 1861) * ''Littorina marnat'' Potiez & Michaud, 1838: synonym of ''

Echinolittorina punctata ''Echinolittorina punctata'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity ...

'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''Littorina obesa'' (G.B. Sowerby, 1832): synonym of '' Littoraria coccinea'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''Littorina petraeus'' (Montagu, 1803): synonym of ''

Melarhaphe neritoides ''Melarhaphe neritoides'', common name : the small periwinkle, is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles. This species was previously known as ''Littorina neritoides' ...

'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Littorina planaxis'' G.B. Sowerby I, 1844: synonym of ''

'' (King & Broderip, 1832) * ''Littorina saxatilis jugosa'' Montagu, 1803: synonym of ''Littorina saxatilis'' (Olivi, 1792) * ''Littorina saxatilis nigrolineata'' Gray, 1839: synonym of ''Littorina saxatilis'' (Olivi, 1792) * ''Littorina striata'' is a synonym for ''

'' (King & Broderip, 1832) * ''Littorina undulata'' Gray, 1839: synonym of ''

Littoraria undulata ''Littoraria undulata'', common name the robust shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles. Description Up to 2 cm, with dull brown coloration, occasionally darker o ...

'' (Gray, 1839) * ''Littorina unifasciata antipodum'': synonym of ''

Austrolittorina antipodum ''Austrolittorina antipodum'', known as the banded periwinkle, is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod in the winkles and periwinkles family, Littorinidae. It is found in New Zealand. It occurs in New Zealand New Zealand ( ...

'' (Philippi, 1847) * ''Littorina ziczac'' is a synonym for ''

Echinolittorina ziczac ''Echinolittorina ziczac'', previously known as ''Littorina ziczac'', common name the "zebra periwinkle", is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Littorinidae. This species lives in the tropical Western Atlan ...

'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''Littorina zonaria'' Bean, 1844: synonym of ''Littorina saxatilis'' (Olivi, 1792)

References

* Reid D.G. (1996). ''Systematics and evolution of Littorina''. The Ray Society 463p {{taxonbar, from=Q83749 Gastropod genera Littorinidae