Dusky Tegula

Tegula pulligo

Tegula pulligo is a medium-sized sea snail characterized by its solid, conical shell, which can range in size from 19 mm to 41 mm. The shell is deeply umbilicate with a dull purplish or brown coloration, often displaying orange streaks when worn. It features seven whorls that are flattened, with the upper whorls being finely spirally striate. The aperture of the shell is very oblique and smaller than typical for its genus. This species is primarily found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, inhabiting areas from Alaska to Baja California, Mexico. It typically resides on rocky shores and kelp, thriving in the intertidal zone to depths of about 3 meters. Most encounters with this species occur in shallow waters, where it can be found grazing on kelp and other algal growths. The Dusky Tegula is herbivorous, primarily feeding on algae. Its life cycle includes a reproductive strategy typical of many marine gastropods, where it is gonochoric and a broadcast spawner. The embryos develop into planktonic trocophore larvae before transitioning into juvenile veligers and eventually mature adults. While it enjoys a relatively stable habitat, it is vulnerable to predation from various marine animals, including sea stars, whelks, and octopus, especially when it falls off kelp onto the ocean floor. Divers may encounter the Dusky Tegula while exploring kelp forests or rocky substrates. The species is not listed as threatened, but it has not been evaluated by the IUCN. Its presence at multiple dive sites indicates that it is a common sight for divers in its range, making it a familiar species in the underwater landscape.