littorina

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. The typical genus of Littorinidæ. L. litorea is the common periwinkle of Europe, which has recently become abundant on the Atlantic coast of the United States. It is used for food in some countries. In England several hundred tons are used annually. L. rudis is another species common to both continents. L. palliata of the New England coast is common on rocky shores, where it creeps over rockweed and eel-grass. It is very variable in color, either plain or marked with white, green, or brown. Further south a larger and sharper-pointed species, L. irrorata, is abundant. The generic name has been much more comprehensive than it is now, various species formerly included being now referred to other genera. Also written Litorina.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. (Zoöl.) A genus of small pectinibranch mollusks, having thick spiral shells, abundant between tides on nearly all rocky seacoasts. They feed on seaweeds. The common periwinkle is a well-known example. See periwinkle.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. type genus of the family Littorinidae: periwinkles