Habitat: Rocky intertidal zone and rocky reefs of central California to Baja California.
Size: 13 cm (5 in) shell length
Position in food web: Omnivorous: feeds on algae and tunicates. Prey for fish, sea stars, and sea otters.
Interesting facts:
Giant keyhole limpets have a hole on their dorsal (top) side to facilitate excretion of waste products and to pass water over their gills. True limpets do not have this hole.
Some of the coastal tribes used the shells for money and for hair decorations
Like the chestnut cowrie, giant keyhole limpets have a mantle, which covers it shell to prevent predators from being able to grip on to the limpet.
Relatives: clams, octopuses, and nudibranchs