Patella (kind)

The Patella form one of Gastéropode edible Prosobranche which live in the zone of swinging of the tides.

Vernacular names

The species of this kinds carry the vernacular names: patellas, arapèdes, bernic, bernicles or barnacles. In fact regional denominations, according to interpretations, can indicate all the kind or the few species which live in the area in question. Patella being the generic name in France.

DDCCRF retains names:

Patella lugubris , Patella
Patella mexicana , Patella
Patella safiana , Patella
Patella cærulea , Arapède
Patella rustica , Arapède
Patella intermedia , Bernique
Patella ulyssiponensis , Bernique
Patella vulgata , Bernique

Description

The shell of this mollusc takes the shape of a “Chinese hat” applied against the rocks. The edges of the shell are imbricated perfectly in the asperities of the rock. Thus, with low Tide, the patella is not desiccated. Thanks to a circular Radula (kind of ribbon provided with small teeth), the patella grates small the Algue S on the surface of the rocks. They always turn over towards their starting place, where cockles to them used a circular groove in the rock. When they are fixed at the rock using their muscular foot, the shell is embedded in this groove, which will avoid to them being desiccated. In addition, no wave will be able to dislodge them.

Fish and culinary use

The patella is very easy to fish, since it is visible with low tide on the rocks. It is however necessary to be provided with a good knife.

Despite everything, it is fished very little, because its flesh is enough coriace. It can be used chopped all the same, for example in a sauce “bolognaise” with the patellas.

It is a particularly tasty seafood when it is poëlé in butter.

In Brittany particularly, it is consumed for a very long time and one often prepares it with the furnace with persillade. It is important to withdraw the antennas and the head before cooking the patellas without what they will have a bitter taste and will be particularly hard. With this intention, one presses the center of mollusc so as to make leave the antennas and the head, one can then easily extract them using a knife. Cooking is then carried out in ten minutes to the furnace.

List species

(undoubtedly incomplete)

On the French coasts of the English Channel and the Atlantic one finds, in addition to the common patella ( Patella vulgata )
Patella will aspera
Patella intermedia Pennant, of which the foot is black, the tentacles marginal (palléaux tentacles) white pure and the long radule (approximately 2 times the length of the shell) and hail, it life in a zone of distribution is limited (in Manche, in the west of the point of the Cotentin). Species rather attend the rocks of the coasts beaten by the waves they do not penetrate in bays sheltered nor in the estuaries.
Patella ulyssiponensis Gmelin, 1791, of which the foot is yellow and the short radule (approximately 1 time the length of the shell, it life in a zone of distribution is limited (in Handle, in the west of the point of Cotentin). Species rather attend the rocks of the coasts beaten by the waves they do not penetrate in bays sheltered nor in the estuaries.
In the Mediterranean, the kind Patella is mainly represented by the arapède, Patella cærulea Linnaeus.

List species

According to ITIS:

Patella asprea
Patella removed pressure from
Patella intermedia
Patella mexicana Broderip and Sowerby, 1829
Patella ulyssiponensis Gmelin, 1791
Patella vulgata

External bonds

Simple: Limpet

Random links: