black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Patella tarentina (Salis, 1793)
Synonyms: Patella caerulea vor. tenuistriata Weink.-Ostroumoff, 1893; P.caerulea
L.-Kobelt, 1898; P.pontica Mil.-Milashevich 1914, 1916; P.caeruleapontica Mil.-
Ilina, 1966).
Common names: Engl: Limpet; Bulg: Kitayska shapitsa; Russ: Blyudechko; Turk:
Cin sapkasi; Ukr: Blyudechko.
Taxonomic description. A sea snail with a shell resembling a Chinese cap, hence its
Bulgarian name. Shape of the shell almost circular, with the upper part slightly
shifted to the front end, which is noticeably narrower than the back end. Shell
sculptured with dense radial ribs, unequally high and dense and with thin concentric
growth circles. Edge of shell finely indented. Colour yellow-white with red-brown
rays. Length of shell up to 45 mm, breadth up to 30 mm, height up to 14 mm.
IUCN Status
World level:
Black Sea Regional level: EN
Subregion level: EN (Ukrainian sector)
Order DOCOGLOSSA
Family PATELLIDAE
Distribution. Black Sea, Sea of Azov, Mediterranean Sea.
Habitat type. Critical habitats. Limiting factors. A typical contourobiont,
inhabiting the rocky coast mediolittoral zone, except low salinity waters and areas
covered with ice in winter, even if only for a few hours. The main limiting factor is
the pollution of coastal waters, especially by toxic surfactants, including oil.
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