Hi Dominic, Well there are some elements of this story that I would consider suspect. First of all, the details of the species' introduction into Europe sound rather ludicrous. Crepidula fornicata (the common "slipper limpet" or "boat shell") probably did hitch a ride to Europe on the bottoms of ships, but that happened a long time before the 1940's. Linnaeus described the species in 1758, and (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) I believe he described it from European specimens, not American ones. Undoubtedly the presence of Crepidula in Europe dates back to the first transatlantic ship crossings - because Crepidula does attach to any hard surface in the water, including the undersides of ships and boats. Also, consider that the "landing craft" which, according to the article, carried the snails ashore were carried in larger ships, high and dry, and any attached Crepidula would have become desiccated and died. As for the incredible reproductive rate described in the article, a few considerations. It is certainly true that a recently introduced species can sometimes go on a reproductive binge in its new habitat, which would never occur in the original habitat, to which it was well adapted. However, since this species has peacefully resided in Europe for hundreds of years, why is it suddenly overreproducing at this particular time, and more to the point, in the particular place described in the article? The species exists in Europe at least from Iceland to Portugal (I'm not sure if it gets into the Mediterranean), and its reproduction doesn't seem to get out of hand anywhere else. That would cause me to ask what factors in the shallow bay around Mont St Michel are causing this phenomenon. Possibly water pollution, with a great increase in the algae which Crepidula feed on? Also, I am rather puzzled about the reference to production of great masses of slime?? I have seen many areas with heavy growths of Crepidula (though nothing approaching what the article described), and there is no slime on or around the snails. Of course their soft parts, inside the shell, are slimy like any other mollusk, but they don't normally excrete it into the water - except - when exposed to a polluting irritant in the water. Is the "slime" simply the decomposing soft parts of millions of animals, resulting from some mass mortality event? Keep your eyes open for any followup articles. I'd be interested in any additional information. Regards, Paul Monfils Rhode Island, U.S.A.