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Malta Rocky Beaches
Limpets
Common Name: Limpets
Maltese Name: Mhar
Specific Name: Patella spp.
Family: Patellidae
Size: Varies between species
Colour: Varies between species
Habitat: Above waterline, at water's edge and below surface
Snails
Common Name: Horn Whelk
Maltese Name: Gharus
Specific Name: Buccinulum corneum
Family: Muricidae
Size: 5 cm
Colour: Variable shell colour, Body often bright orange
Habitat: Shallow and deep water
Status: Common
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Common Name: Stained Pisania
Maltese Name: No Name
Specific Name: Pisania maculosa
Family: Buccinidae
Size: 2 cm
Colour: Variable shell pattern, Black snail
Habitat: Intertidal rocky shore
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Common Name: Small Periwinkle
Maltese Name: Zibget il-Blat
Specific Name: Melarhaphe neritoides
Family: Littorinidae
Size: 7 mm
Colour: Variable
Habitat: Above waterline
Status: Very Common
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Common Name: Giant Worm Snail
Maltese Name: Farrett tar-Ramel
Specific Name: Serpulorbis arenaria
Family: Vermetidae
Size: 30 cm
Habitat: Attached to rocks or boulders
Status: Common
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Name: Common Gibbule
Maltese Name: Bebbuxu tal-Mazza
Specific Name: Osilinus turbinatus
Family: Trochidae
Colour: Green to Black with Black or Orange spots
Habitat: Rocky crevices
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Common Name: Atom Shell
Maltese Name: No Name
Specific Name: Omalogyra atomus
Family: Omalogynidae
Size: 1 mm
Colour: Variable
Habitat: Rock pools and shallow to deep water
Status: Common
Chitons
Common Name: Green Chiton
Maltese Name: Hanzir il-Bahar
Specific Name: Chiton olivaceus.
Family: Chitonidae
Size: 3-5 cm
Colour: Variable
Habitat: Shalloe water down to 20 m
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