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When limpets die, do they remain attached to the rocks or do they just fall off?

Thank you all in advance.

2007-03-29 03:57:23 · 4 answers · asked by Bo 3 in Environment

4 answers

They go to that big intertidal rock in the sky!

2007-03-29 04:03:12 · answer #1 · answered by bumblecherry 5 · 0 0

They fall off. The flesh is usually eaten, but the shell either gets washed up (look along a beach for them) or broken down and contributes to the substrate. Some areas of coast the substrate is composed of broken shells.

A variety of species eat limpets (dead or alive) crabs, shannies, wrasse and starfish are just some examples, though these species will feed on anything suitable.

If you watch a starfish approach a living limpet the limpet rises up and starts gyrating its shell to try to catch the starfish arm between the shell edge and rock.

2007-03-29 11:14:58 · answer #2 · answered by Tim C 3 · 0 0

Limpets attach themselves to rocks using their muscles to create a suction, and through secretion of a sticky substance that functions as glue. The suction disappears immediately when the limpet dies, and the glue may last up to a day or so before it breaks down.

2007-03-29 15:08:15 · answer #3 · answered by formerly_bob 7 · 0 0

Not sure, have never seen a dead one.

It's a good name for a band though.

2007-03-29 11:06:05 · answer #4 · answered by tanya800 2 · 0 0

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