<I>Patella vulgata</I>, the common limpet

Patella vulgata upper side (left) and underside (right).

Sperm and eggs are readily isolated from male and female forms of this species. Upon mixing the gametes together embryogenesis can be followed through to hatching of the ciliated larva.

The eggs and larva are 150 microns in diameter. Patella development was first studied within our field trip at Dale by Josephine Kirby, Claire Poole, Kate Robson and Becky Mason, in Sep. '01.

A time-lapse of video of Patella Cleavage.