The File Fleshy Limpet, Lucapinella limatula (Reeve, 1850), is one of the three species of Keyhole Limpets (family Fissurellidae) that may be found along the barrier island of Southwest Florida. It has a relatively small shell (about 10 mm, or a little less than an inch), with a relatively large "keyhole" orifice. As in other Keyhole Limpets, the orifice helps direct waste water away from the snail's head and gills. File Fleshy Limpets have "rays" of colors ranging from red to brown set against a cream or tan-colored background. A Fleshy Keyhole Limpet is capable of enveloping the entire shell with its body, hence the "fleshy" part of the common name ("file" refers to the presence of rough "scales" along the radial ribs of the shell.)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f077a_1f9b1a8823854c959253f576d676086e~mv2_d_1832_1208_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_646,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/7f077a_1f9b1a8823854c959253f576d676086e~mv2_d_1832_1208_s_2.jpg)
The shell in the photos was found by Susan J. Hewitt at Blind Pass, Sanibel on December 2015. Photos by José H. Leal.