Nov. 12, 2013 — The Ribbed Mediterranean Limpet is one of the most endangered invertebrates of the Mediterranean Sea and is classed as being in danger of extinction. Researchers at the Spanish National Museum of Natural Sciences have discovered their reproductive strategy, consisting in changing sex from male to female and vice versa, which improves their ability to adapt to changes in their environment.
The Ribbed Mediterranean Limpet, Patella ferruginea, shares the unfortunate privilege of being included in the Spanish Catalogue of Endangered Species, together with other better known species such as the Iberian Lynx and the Imperial Eagle, under the maximum protection category, 'in danger of extinction'.
This is why a National Strategy was formed in 2008 for this invertebrate, commonly known as the ribbed limpet, for the conservation of the species. Fines for fishing for shellfish with this limpet range between 60,000 and 300,000 euros.
"One of the problems involved in the recovery of the Patella ferruginea is the lack of knowledge regarding basic aspects of its biology. This is the first time we have encountered this part of its reproductive strategy on an experimental basis," Javier Guallart, main author of the project and researcher at the Spanish National Museum of Natural Science, said.
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