''Cellana sandwicensis'', common name the yellow-foot ʻopihi, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of edible true limpet, a marine gastropod mollusc in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Nacellidae Nacellidae is a taxonomic family of sea snails or true limpets, marine gastropod molluscs in the subclass Patellogastropoda. Taxonomy Nacellidae was the only family in the superfamily Nacelloidea as described by Bouchet & Rocroi (2005), ...

, one of the families of true limpets.

Distribution

This species is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

to the islands of

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...

. ''Cellana sandwicensis'' has been found in Taiwanese coastal waters, possibly spread by larvae transported in ship ballast water.

Habitat

This limpet lives lower in the intertidal zone than ''

Cellana exarata ''Cellana exarata'', common name the black-foot ʻopihi and Hawaiian blackfoot is a species of edible true limpet, a marine (ocean), marine gastropod mollusc in the family (biology), family Nacellidae, one of the families of true limpets. ‘Opih ...

'', the black-foot ʻopihi. They are found, strongly attached, sometimes with considerable force, with their foot to rocks or other hard substrates. They feed by grazing on algae.

Description

The large, muscular foot of the animal is yellow in the center but gray on its margin. The white head is short with one pair of tentacles with dark pigments on the backside. The flattened shell is dark green on the outside and silvery white on the inside. Its shape is almost oval and its

apex The apex is the highest point of something. The word may also refer to: Arts and media Fictional entities * Apex (comics), a teenaged super villainess in the Marvel Universe * Ape-X, a super-intelligent ape in the Squadron Supreme universe *Apex, ...

is situated somewhat lower than the central. The ribs radiate from the central and extend beyond the margin.

Human use

This species is used as a food item. It is considered a higher quality food than the black-foot ʻopihi.

Legislation

In 2009, the Hawaii Legislature approved a bill that would have banned the harvest of ʻopihi (limpets) on the island of

Oahu Oahu () ( Hawaiian: ''Oʻahu'' ()), also known as "The Gathering Place", is the third-largest of the Hawaiian Islands. It is home to roughly one million people—over two-thirds of the population of the U.S. state of Hawaii. The island of O� ...

for five years. The bill was successfully vetoed by governor

Linda Lingle Linda Lingle (''née'' Cutter; June 4, 1953) is an American politician, who was the sixth governor of Hawaii from 2002 until 2010. She was the first Republican governor of Hawaii since 1962. Lingle was also the state's first female and first J ...

.Hawaii Legislature websit

/ref> ;Gallery File:Cellana sandwicensis 002.jpg, apical view File:Cellana sandwicensis 001.jpg, basal view

References

* Severns, M. (2011). ''Shells of the Hawaiian Islands - The Sea Shells''. Conchbooks, Hackenheim. 564 pp. page(s): 36 {{Taxonbar, from=Q3168465 Nacellidae Endemic fauna of Hawaii Molluscs of Hawaii Molluscs of the Pacific Ocean Gastropods described in 1861 Edible molluscs