Common limpets (Patella vulgata) on a rock at low tide. Limpets are marine gastropods which attach themselves to rocks for protection and feeding. Common limpets have a conical shell, underneath which is the soft mollusc body, attached to the rock. When submerged by the tide, limpets move around to graze on algae, and then return to their starting point to reattach to the rock. The tight seal with the rock helps prevent the limpets from drying out at low tide. The common limpet is found on coasts from the Arctic Circle to southern parts of Europe. The shell can be up to 6 centimetres across. Photographed in July in Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales.

Photo website with Rights Managed and Royalty Free stock photos, images, illustrations and footage available for download immediately for commercial and editorial uses. Aflo is a leading independent supplier and producer of stock pictures and visual content. Search and find high quality images and video for design, print, web-use and publishing. Buy photos from our extensive collection of model released and property released sports images. Search some of the most beautiful travel and landscape pictures from our own photographers and license from our large collection of content, modern and archive, focusing on Japan. We provide free research. Register for personal account management and for full use of our Stock Photography website and start to download images now.