Common Periwinkle

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iCommon Periwinkle

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Superorder:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Sorbeoconcha
Suborder:	Hypsogastropoda
Infraorder:	Littorinimorpha
Superfamily:	Littorinoidea
Family:	Littorinidae
Genus:	Littorina
Species:	Littorina littorea

Binomial name

Littorina littorea
(Linnaeus, 1758)

The Common Periwinkle, Littorina littorea, is a species of periwinkle.

Common Periwinkles are mainly found on rocky coasts or sandy or muddy habitats on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. They can also be found in brackish water. They also live in small tide pools which range from 1-2 meters. Edible or Common Periwinkles have long been gathered from the lower shore for food. Like its land relation, the snail, the periwinkle moves on a muscular, fleshy foot lubricated by a film of mucus. When not walking, it often nestles in a crack or gully and seals the gap between its shell and the rock with mucus. Tide pools provide food for periwinkles. The periwinkles are spiral shaped.

This species eats with the help of its radula. They use their radula to scrape algae from rocks.

Periwinkles are divided into two main types, the Black Periwinkle and the Large Periwinkle. Both of them live on the intertidal zone. The large ones live on the splash zone, an intertidal zone that is mostly dry, except for water that splashes up. Periwinkle's most fearsome natural enemy are sea birds near the coast. The Black Periwinkle, on the other hand, lives on very moist areas. When low tide, they produce a sticky substance that seals them and stops them from drying out.

Another type of Periwinkle is the Blue Periwinkle. Blue Periwinkles eat small plants such as lichen. The periwinkles scrape small bits of plant off the rocks with their rough tongue. Crabs, other snails, octopuses and birds all eat Blue Periwinkles.The scientific name for the blue periwinkle is Nodilittorina unifasciata.

Periwinkle is a delicacy in Asian cuisine. It is high in protein but low in fat contents. It is estimated that periwinkle is 15% protein, 2.4% fat and about 80% water.