Smooth periwinkle
Littorina obtusata
FOUND by mdenniston2009-07-17
Steuben
ID Confirmed
Quality checked by
Peer reviewed by
Field Notes
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.
Supporting Evidence
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.
Species Observation: Species Looked For
Did you find it?:
I think I found it
Scientific name:
Littorina obtusataCommon name:
Smooth periwinkle
Is it alive?:
Some dead & some alive
Count of individuals:
50+
Coverage:
Less than 1/4 covered
Reproduction:
How big is it?:
0 - 2 cm
Is it male or female?:
Can't tell
Sampling method:
Just looking around
Place Studied
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Latitude:
N 44.428280 °
Longitude:
W -67.911890 °
Observation Site Information
Name:
PetitTeam's visit to Petit Manan Point
Habitat:
Coastal - Rocky intertidal
Trip Information
Name:
Petit Manan Point
Trip date:
Fri, 2009-07-17 11:30
Town or city:
Steuben
Type of investigation:
Species and Habitat Survey
Ecosystem:
Coastal
Watershed:
Coastal Washington and Hancock Drainage
Sampling Method:
Just looking around
Nearest waterbody:
Dyer Bay
Time of high tide AM:
Fri, 2009-07-17 06:19
Time of high tide PM:
Fri, 2009-07-17 18:40
Time of low tide AM:
Fri, 2009-07-17 00:14
Time of low tide PM:
Fri, 2009-07-17 12:23
Habitat Observations
Species diversity:
30 different species
Evidence of vectors:
Boats
Walking trail
People
Recent disturbance
Water temperature:
14.7°C
pH:
8.0
Dissolved oxygen:
7.0mg/L
Salinity:
34.0ppt
Comments
i love the pictures
i love the picutures and the nice information you gave the readers!