A. S. Byatt

In my mind's eye, Shakespeare is a huge, hot sea-beast, with fire in his veins and ice on his claws and inscrutable eyes, who looks like an inchoate hump under the encrustations of live barnacle-commentaries, limpets and trailing weeds.

English Novelist

Limpets can attach to other surfaces like boat hulls, not exclusively rocks.

Not just rocks

Limpets produce a powerful natural adhesive, which makes them an analogy for a strong grip.

Natural Adhesive

Limpets are often mentioned in discussions on marine life and eco-system health.

Eco-friendly focus

Used to describe someone who won't leave, signifying persistence or annoyance.

Persistence

A metaphorical usage implying clinginess, usually in informal situations.

Colloquial Context

When describing a person, it's understood as behavior and not a physical attribute.

Not Literal

 didn't quite not to make of the little baboon I don't know if it ended up eating it afterwards but if he killed its mother but a lion adopting a limpet I don't think so I don't know maybe one of the viewers out there seen something

Safari Live - Day 166 PIPE...

 the males have even learnt the art of eating limpets they either prize the shells off the rocks with their long canines or simply