First published 2013 Invasive: High impact Invasive: Documenting Ireland’s Wildlife Ireland’s Documenting Slipper limpet showing chain formation which aids with chain formation showing Slipper limpet © GBNNSS - Crown reproduction

Showing the tapering of the shell to a single point a single point the shell the tapering of to Showing CCW Brazier © Paul

Please report your sightings of this species at: this species of sightings your report Please http://invasives.biodiversityireland.ie

Marine Lough. in Belfast Localised in Ireland viable population recorded First Established. in 2009. was Calyptraeidae. chains which allows form to other each to Attach 200,000 produce Females quickly. reproduce them to Solitary individuals in Northern Europe. eggs a year self-fertile. become may

The shell, which can be up to 5cm in length can vary from from 5cm in length can vary The shell, which can be up to or brown pinkish with red and even yellow to cream/white blotches. female larger with older, one another to attach Slipper limpets and smaller on top. male specimens the bottom individuals at objects foot. with its muscular to attaches The species damp conditions. in cool, days several Can survive

Crepidula fornicata Crepidula

Slipper Limpet Slipper

Grouping: Attachment: Conditions:

Colour: Identifying features Identifying

Habitat: Species profile Species in Ireland: Distribution Status: name: Family Reproduction:

Cream colouring with darker markings showing growth growth markings showing with darker colouring Cream shell and a curved lines GBNNSS © RPS Group The National Biodiversity Data Centre Data Biodiversity National The Slipper Limpet Invasive: High impact

Threats

Can compete with oysters for food.

Can form dense colonies along the sea bed causing changes to the sediment structure.

High densities can cause sediment change to faeces, psuedofaeces and shell drift, which can impact negatively on existing flora diversity.

Their clustered formations on the sea bed can also smother bottom dwelling species.

Distribution of the slipper limpet in Ireland, the coloured scale bar indicates the density of records (Biodiversity Maps) Similar species

Native limpets (Patella species) have both a different shape and colouring to the invasive slipper limpet.

Other native limpet species have both a different shape and colouration © GBNNSS

Common limpet (Patella vulgata) covered in barnacles but still easily distinguishable from the slipper limpet Slipper limpet showing various colours and curved © O. Duffy shell - Crown © GBNNSS

View Ireland’s distribution of this species on http://maps.biodiversityireland.ie Biodiversity

National Biodiversity Data Centre fact sheet. Produced with funding from The Heritage Council Maps and the EPA STRIVE Programme 2007-2013 Text: Colette O' Flynn & Oisín Duffy (Version 1) November 2013.