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Home > Invertebrates
> Shells > Limpets
Updated 1/23/2026
Family
Nacellidae
Limpets
| Limpets have umbrella-like shells and graze upon algae on rocky
shores. Four endemic species in Hawaii. Highly prized for food
and quite rare due to harvesting. Recently separated from the
Family Patellidae. |
HAWAII - ENDEMIC
Cellana sandwicensis 
HAWAIIAN LIMPET
'OPIHI 'ALINALINA
|
Cellana
exarata
DARK-FOOT LIMPET
'OPIHI MAKA-IA-ULI |
| Cellana
talcosa
TALC
LIMPET 'OPIHI KO'ELE
|
|
Family
Lottiidae
NORTHEAST PACIFIC
| Lottia
scutum
PLATE LIMPET
|
Lottia pelta
SHIELD LIMPET |
Lottia sp.
LIMPET
|
|
Family
Fissurellidae
Keyhole
Limpets
| Most keyhole limpets have a perforated apex or marginal notch for waste products to exit and
the mantle more or less envelops the shell, giving it a slug-like
appearance in life. The family is especially prolific in cool
seas. |
HAWAII - ENDEMIC
| Tugali
oblonga
OBLONG KEYHOLE LIMPET
|
|
|
|
|
INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII
| Diodora
cruciata
CROSS KEYHOLE LIMPET
|
Diodora
rueppellii
RUPPELL'S KEYHOLE LIMPET
|
| Diodora
octagona
OCTAGON KEYHOLE LIMPET
|
Diodora
granifera
GRAINY KEYHOLE LIMPET
|
| |
|
CALIFORNIA
| Megathura crenulata
GIANT KEYHOLE LIMPET
|
|
Family Hipponicidae
Hoof Shells
| Small limpet-shaped snails that secrete a shelly plate on hard
substrate, either rock or gastropod snails. Common but overlooked due to their small size. |
HAWAII - ENDEMIC
| Antisabia imbricatus
TILED HOOF SHELL
|
|
|
|
|
INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII
| Sabia
australis
SOUTHERN HOOF SHELL
|
Sabia
conica
CONICAL HOOF SHELL
|
|
Pilosabia trigona
BEARDED HOOF SHELL
|
|
|
|
|
Family
Siphonariidae
Siphonarid
Shells
| Small limpet-like shells with a subtle gap or sinus on the right side.
They are air breathers lacking gills. |
INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII
| Siphonaria
normalis
FALSE 'OPIHI
|
|
Family
Calyptraeidae
Slipper Shells
| Limpet-like shells with an internal shelf.
They capture drifting bits of organic matter using lots of mucus. |
CIRCUMGLOBAL / HAWAII
|
Bostrycapulus aculeatus
SPINY SLIPPER SHELL
|
Crucibulum spinosum
SPINY CUP-AND-SAUCER SHELL |
Family Haliotidae
Abalone
| Abalone have bowl- or ear-like shells with a row of pores. The
interior is lined with mother-of-pearl. Large species have been
depleted in many parts of their natural range due to fishing. A
few species are being raised in captivity for sale or stock
enhancement. None occur in Hawaii. |
NORTH PACIFIC
| Haliotis kamshatkana
PINTO or NORTHERN ABALONE
|
|
JAPAN
| Haliotis
discus
DISK ABALONE Kuro-awabi
|
Haliotis
diversicolor
FALSE ABALONE Tokobushi-awabi
|
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