Kelp Snail

Description:

Predators of Norrisia norrisii include sea otters, starfish such as Pisaster ochraceus and Pisaster giganteus, California spiny lobster Panulirus interruptus, and drilling mollusks such as octopusand moon snails. When fleeing a predator on a sloping substrate or while crawling on kelp, a Norrisia norrisii may simply detach itself and roll or fall away from the predator. If detached from a giant kelp or other stipitate alga, Norrisia norrisii will quickly crawl towards another kelp upon reaching the bottom. Mortality on the bottom of the reef is much higher than on the giant kelp.