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Glite Dictionary
Patella

Patella

9.0
A small sea animal with a hard shell that sticks to rocks like a limpet
  • noun
  • /pəˈtɛlə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Patella
  • The Patella genus includes several species commonly found on rocky European shores.

Examples

  • The shell of Patella is often used in studies of marine adaptation.

  • The Patella is often found on rocky shores.

  • Scientists studied the life cycle of Patella to understand limpet development.

  • Many Patellae can be seen during low tide.

  • The patella is a type of marine mollusc that clings tightly to rocks along the coast.

  • You can often find a patella in tidal pools, where they feed on algae and other small organisms.

  • During my visit to the beach, I spotted a patella adhering to the rocky shore.

Compounds

Patella vulgata
  • Specialized
9.5

A small sea animal with a hard cone shell that clings to rocks and is eaten in some coastal areas

Surface Forms

Patella singular
Patellae plural

Etymology

Patella comes from the Latin word patella, which means 'little plate' or 'dish'. The limpets in this group have shells that look like small plates, so they were given that name.