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| shelled snails text index | photo index |
| Phylum Mollusca > Class Gastropoda > Family Neritidae |
| Chameleon
nerite snail Nerita chamaeleon Family Neritidae updated Aug 10 Where seen? This colourful round snail is commonly seen on our rocky shores. It is often seen in large groups and is more active at night or cool days at low tide. The study by Tan & Clements (2008) found this snail on rocks, breakwaters, and seawalls. Sites included: Pulau Ubin, Changi, Tanah Merah, Marina South, Labrador, Sentosa, Pulau Bukom, St. John's Island, Pulau Hantu, Pulau Semakau, Pulau Salu, Tuas. Features: 2-3cm. Shell sturdy and rounded with thick ribs. Spire doesn't stick out a lot. The flat underside is white with a few ridges that seem to match up with the start of the ribs on the upperside. Near the white shell opening there may be a few short parallel ridges. The outer lip has little regular bumps, often with one large 'tooth' at a corner. Operculum evenly covered in tiny bumps. Unlike its reptile namesake the Chameleon, this snail can't change the colour of its shell. But different individual snails on the shore may each have different shell colours and patterns, including some bright colours such as orange. The living animal has fine black stripes and long thin tentacles. Sometimes confused with other similar nerites. Here's a comparison of these similar nerite snails and how to tell them apart. Human uses: It is collected as food by coastal dwellers as well as for its shell for the shell trade. |
 Sisters Island, Nov 05  Ribs appear to start from the white underside. |
 Pulau Hantu, Feb 08 |
 Outer lip may have one large 'tooth' in a corner. |
 A few short parallel ridges near the shell opening. |
Chameleon nerite snails on Singapore shores
 Pulau Ubin, May 08 |
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 Changi, Jun 08  |
 Belayar Creek Nov 07  |
 Kusu Island, Feb 08  |
more photos of chameleon nerite snails on Singapore shores
northern shores | southern shores
Links
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Graham Brash, Singapore. 145 pp.|
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