Calyptraeidae

The Calyptraeidae family, commonly known as slipper shells or slipper limpets, are marine gastropod mollusks found in shallow waters worldwide. These snails are characterized by a humped or flattened shell with a distinctive deck-like partition inside. Adults typically attach themselves to rocks or inhabit empty shells of other mollusks. A notable characteristic of slipper shells is their sequential hermaphroditism; they begin life as males and later transform into females. They reproduce through internal fertilization, with females releasing thousands of microscopic larvae that disperse before settling on the ocean floor. Some species, like the Atlantic slipper shell (C. fornicata), have become invasive in certain areas, causing issues in oyster beds. The family name originates from the Greek word kalyptra, meaning "covering" or "hood".12