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Home > Invertebrates
> Shells > Limpets
Updated 4/21/2026
Limpets & other
conical snails
| Limpets include several unrelated families with uncoiled
volcano-shaped shells that cling tightly to hard surfaces, where they
graze upon algae, detritus, or capture food particles using mucus.
Three species of endemic 'opihi, Cellana spp., thrive on rocky
shores and are gathered as a local delicacy. 'Opihi pickers lose
their lives due to high surf or falls each year, and State law prohibits
take of 'opihi shells smaller than 1.25 inches in diameter, and the flesh
alone must exceed 0.5 inch. |
Family
Nacellidae
HAWAII - ENDEMIC
Cellana sandwicensis 
HAWAIIAN LIMPET
'OPIHI 'ALINALINA
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Cellana
exarata
BLACKFOOT LIMPET
'OPIHI MAKA-IA-ULI |
| Cellana
talcosa
TALC
LIMPET 'OPIHI KO'ELE
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Family
Lottiidae
NORTHEAST PACIFIC
| Lottia
scutum
PLATE LIMPET
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Lottia pelta
SHIELD LIMPET |
Lottia sp.
LIMPET
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Family
Fissurellidae
Keyhole
Limpets
| Keyhole limpets have a perforated apex or marginal notch for waste products to exit and
the mantle may envelop the shell, giving it a slug-like
appearance. The family is especially prolific in cool
seas. |
HAWAII - ENDEMIC
| Tugali
oblonga
OBLONG KEYHOLE LIMPET
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INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII
| Diodora
cruciata
CROSS KEYHOLE LIMPET
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Diodora
rueppellii
RUPPELL'S KEYHOLE LIMPET
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| Diodora
octagona
OCTAGON KEYHOLE LIMPET
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Diodora
granifera
GRAINY KEYHOLE LIMPET
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CALIFORNIA
| Megathura crenulata
GIANT KEYHOLE LIMPET
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Family Hipponicidae
Hoof Shells
| These are small limpet-like snails that secrete a shelly base plate on rock,
larger shells, or sea urchin spines. They capture drifting food
particles with mucus and may feed upon fecal pellets of host species.
Hoof shells are very common but eaisly overlooked due to their small size
and tendency to be overgrown by coralline algae. |
HAWAII - ENDEMIC
| Antisabia imbricata
TILED HOOF SHELL
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CIRCUMTROPICAL / HAWAII
| Cheilea
equestris
FALSE CUP-AND-SAUCER
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INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII
| Antisabia
foliacea
LEAFY HOOF SHELL
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Pilosabia trigona
BEARDED HOOF SHELL
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Sabia
australis
SOUTHERN HOOF SHELL
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Family
Calyptraeidae
Slipper Shells
| Limpet-like shells with an internal shelf.
They capture drifting bits of organic matter using mucus threads.
Both Hawaii species arrived on the bottom of ships and are found within
harbors, attached to manmade objects or rubble. |
CIRCUMGLOBAL / HAWAII
|
Bostrycapulus aculeatus
SPINY SLIPPER LIMPET
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Crucibulum spinosum
SPINY CUP-AND-SAUCER |
Family
Siphonariidae
False Limpets
| These small limpet-like shells lack gills and breathe through a subtle gap or sinus on the right
side of the shell margin. Oxygen is absorbed directly through the
body wall. |
HAWAII - ENDEMIC
| Siphonaria
nuttallii
FALSE 'OPIHI
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INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII
|
Williamia radiata
RAYED SIPHON SHELL
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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
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JAPAN
| Haliotis
discus
DISK ABALONE Kuro-awabi
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Haliotis
diversicolor
FALSE ABALONE Tokobushi-awabi
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