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Purple Topshell

Gibbula umbilicalis

This attractive marine snail has a shell that can show hints of purple, green, or grey in a spiralled pattern. Around Lihou’s tidepools, it grazes on algal films, helping keep rock surfaces from becoming overgrown. If you gently turn stones at low tide, you may spot its distinctive whorl and sometimes a bright pink interior lip.

  • Habitat: Rocky shores, often in mid to lower intertidal zones.
  • When to See: Year-round
  • Length: Up to ~1.5 cm