Patellidae is a taxonomic family of true limpets, marine gastropod in the superfamily Patelloidea.[
(The superfamily Patelloidea should not be confused with the similar-sounding genus of true limpets Patelloida which is in the family Lottiidae within the superfamily Lottioidea, also part of the Patellogastropoda.)
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The largest known limpet in the world is Scutellastra mexicana that can reach in length.
Taxonomy
A cladogram showing phylogenic relations of Patellogastropoda based on molecular phylogeny research by Nakano & Ozawa (2007):
Genera
There are four extant genera in the family Patellidae:[
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There are two exclusively fossil genera:[
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Synonyms
Synonyms include the following:[
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Ansates G.B. Sowerby II ex, 1839: synonym of Patella Linnaeus, 1758
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Laevipatella Pallary, 1920: synonym of Cymbula H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854
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Patellanax Iredale, 1924: synonym of Scutellastra H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854 (junior synonym)
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Patellidea Thiele, 1891: synonym of Scutellastra H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854
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Patellona Thiele, 1891: synonym of Cymbula H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854
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Patina Gray, 1847: synonym of Patella Linnaeus, 1758
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Patinastra Thiele, 1891: synonym of Helcion Montfort, 1810
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Penepatella Iredale, 1929: synonym of Scutellastra H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854 (junior synonym)
Human uses
Some limpet species in this family are used as a food source in various countries.
A study of Patella caerulea found that this limpet reduced the cover of and on steel panels suspended in sea water in a commercial port, suggesting that the limpet could be used to inhibit fouling of ship hulls.[Safriel U. N. & Erez N. 1987. Effect of limpets on the fouling of ships in the Mediterranean. Marine Biology, 95(4): 531-537. ]
See also
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Nakano T. & Sasaki T. (2011) Recent advances in molecular phylogeny, systematics and evolution of patellogastropod limpets. Journal of Molluscan Studies 77: 203–217.
External links
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Rafinesque, C. S. (1815). Analyse de la nature ou Tableau de l'univers et des corps organisés. [Book]. 1-224, (self-published) Palermo
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Bouchet, P. & Rocroi, J.-P. (2005). Classification and nomenclator of gastropod families. Malacologia. 47 (1-2): 1-397
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Ridgeway, S.A., Reid, D.G., Taylor, J.D., Branch, G.M. & Hodgson, A.N., 1998. A cladistic phylogeny of the family Patellidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London, Series B, 353(1375), 1645-1671
