Eelgrass limpet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eelgrass limpet |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lottia
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| Species: |
alveus
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| Synonyms | |
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The Lottia alveus, also known as the eelgrass limpet or bowl limpet, was a type of sea snail. It was a small limpet, which is a marine (ocean) gastropod mollusk. This species belonged to the family Lottiidae, known as the Lottia limpets. It lived in the western Atlantic Ocean.
The eelgrass limpet is now completely extinct. This means there are no more living eelgrass limpets left anywhere in the world. However, until the late 1920s, this limpet was very common. People could easily find it at low tide in areas with eelgrass plants. These areas were usually sheltered spots along the northeastern coast of North America.
Where the Eelgrass Limpet Lived
This limpet was found in many places along the coast. It lived from Labrador, Canada, all the way south to New York.
Scientists think it might have become extinct as much as 60 years before anyone even noticed. This shows how quickly some species can disappear.
Its Special Home: Eelgrass Beds
This small limpet had a very specific home. It used to live on the long, green blades of a plant called Zostera marina. This plant is a type of seagrass. The limpet relied on this seagrass for both its home and its food.
Why the Eelgrass Limpet Disappeared
The extinction of the Lottia alveus was not directly caused by people. Instead, this tiny limpet disappeared because its only home and food source vanished. This was the eelgrass plant, Zostera marina.
In the early 1930s, a terrible "wasting disease" hit the seagrass beds. This disease was caused by a type of slime mold called Labyrinthula. It destroyed almost all the eelgrass along the coastline.
Some eelgrass plants lived in brackish water. This is water that is a mix of fresh and salt water. The disease did not spread to these brackish water areas. So, the eelgrass was able to survive there. However, the eelgrass limpet could only live in normal saltwater. It could not survive in brackish water. Because of this, the limpet could not escape the disease and sadly died out.
