Littorina obtusata was FOUND
We are happy because we get to do our research at one of our favorite summer places with our family team. We love exploring among the rocks and we love that our dog gets to be a scientist right along with us! The waves are crashing on the foggy shore and cooked lobster shells lie wedged among the rocks. We hear seagulls calling above the crashing waves as a foghorn blows in the distance. The barnacles make gurgling noises as we walk over them. The air has a moist and salty smell. Walking on the rocks and seaweed was tricky and slippery! We were surprised and a little disappointed that we could only find 2 live crabs, both of them green crabs. We believe there are many rock crabs, Jonah crabs and green crabs here because their shells are common on the rocks, but live ones are very hard to find. Periwinkles and dog whelks are everywhere among the barnacles and seaweed.
We found many smooth periwinkles ranging in color from gray to red to yellow. Their shells and whorls were very smooth with a very flat spire that did not come to a sharp point.
When we turned the smooth periwinkles over, we noticed that the opening of the shell was tear-shaped and the color of the shell around the opening was white or very light colored compared to the rest of the shell.
When we compared the smooth periwinkle (on left) to the common periwinkle (on right), it was easy to see how much flatter the spire of the smooth periwinkle was.
Boats
Walking trail
People
Recent disturbance
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i love the pictures
i love the picutures and the nice information you gave the readers!