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Phylum Mollusca > Class Gastropoda > Family Neritidae
Lined nerite snail
Nerita articulata
Family Neritidae
updated Sep 2020
Where seen? This snail in a pin-striped suit is commonly seen in mangroves, often in large numbers. It may also be seen on rocky shores especially those near mangroves, on many of our shores. According to Tan & Clements, the Lined nerite is probably the most widely distributed of our nerites. Although also commonly seen on seawalls, it is most abundant in monsoon canals walls and mangrove trees, sometimes numbering in the hundreds in a single location. It is also known as Nerita lineata or N. balteata. Sites included many mainland shores, as well as Pulau Ubin and Pulau Semakau.

Features: 2-3cm. Shell thick heavy oval, spire does not stick out. Shell pattern beige, greyish or pinkish with fine, spiralling black ribs. The flat underside is smooth, white, sometimes with yellow patches. Small notched 'teeth', usually three, on the straight edge at the shell opening. Operculum thick, evenly covered in tiny bumps, pinkish with black blotches. Body pale with fine black bands on the foot and long thin black tentacles.

Berlayar, Jan 09

Tuas, May 07

Pulau Sarimbun, Mar 05
What does it eat? It grazes on algae. It appears to return to the same spot after a feeding bout. How it does this is not known, but possibly, it lays down a mucus trail that it follows back to its resting spot.

Lim Chu Kang, Apr 09

Sungei Buloh, Mar 05

Lined nerite snails on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

Other sightings on Singapore shores


Sembawang, Oct 20
Photo shared by Vincent Choo on facebook.
 

Links References
  • Tan Siong Kiat and Henrietta P. M. Woo, 2010 Preliminary Checklist of The Molluscs of Singapore (pdf), Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore.
  • Tan, S.K. & Clements, R. (2008) Taxonomy and distribution of the Neritidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) on Singapore. Zoological Studies 47(4): 481-494.
  • Tan, K. S. & L. M. Chou, 2000. A Guide to the Common Seashells of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre. 160 pp.
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