It is a common species and is found among acorn barnacles[4] on vertical rock faces in high to mid-intertidal zones, on both exposed and sheltered coasts.

In California, young limpets, up to ten millimetres in diameter, often live on the opercular plates of gooseneck barnacles, Pollicipes polymerus and on mussel shells.

The differences in micro-habitat may be explained by its greater tolerance of exposure to desiccation during low tides in less protected sites because it is able to retain water better.

[6] In an experiment, when these two species were caged together with only vertical surfaces available, it was found that L. scabra grew at a much slower rate and achieved a much smaller maximum size than similar limpets in control plots.

It seems that the ability of L. digitalis to respond to seasonal changes by moving up and down the shore and utilising resources better give it an edge over the more static species which remains for life in its restricted home range.