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| shelled snails text index | photo index |
| Phylum Mollusca > Class Gastropoda > Family Neritidae |
| Ox-tongue
nerite snail Nerita albicilla Family Neritidae updated May 09 Where seen? This nerite snail with distinctive 'pimples' on the underside is often seen on many of our rocky shores and granite seawalls. They are usually found nearer the low water mark. The study by Tan & Clements (2008) found this snail on rocks, breakwaters, and seawalls in lower to middle intertidal zone. Sites included: Pulau Ubin, Changi, Tanah Merah, Marina South, Labrador, Sentosa, St. John's Island, Pulau Hantu, Pulau Salu, Raffles Lighthouse and Tuas. Features: 2-3cm. Shell sturdy and rounded, spire does not stick out and is flared at the shell opening. May be lightly grooved. Colour variable, generally dull colours. The flat underside is much longer that other Nerites and is pimpled with large rounded bumps. This texture resembles the tongue of an ox (Albicilla means 'ox-tongue'). The operculum is evenly covered in tiny bumps. The animal has fine black stripes and long thin black tentacles. Human uses: It is collected as food by coastal dwellers as well as for its shell for the shell trade. |
 Kusu Island, Jun 05  Underside |
 Sisters Islands, Jan 06 |
 Close up of shell opening and operculum. |
Ox-tongue nerite snails on Singapore shores
 Pulau Hantu, Feb 07  |
 Lazarus Island, Dec 06  |
 Sentosa, Apr 07  |
more photos of ox-tongue nerite snails on Singapore shores
northern shores
southern shores part 1 | part 2
Links
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Graham Brash, Singapore. 145 pp.|
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