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Dubious
nerite snail
Clithon oualaniensis
Family
Neritidae
updated Mar 09
Where
seen? This
tiny snail is sometimes seen near monsoon drains and other sources
of freshwater on some of our shores, sometimes among seagrasses. It
seems to prefer the upper reaches of monsoon drains leading to the
sea or slow-moving, sheltered, shallow waters. The study by Tan &
Clements (2008) found this snail on sandy banks of mangrove streams,
on sand in drains and canals, intertidal muddy sand banks, and on
mud in mangroves. Sites included: Sarimbun, Punggol, Pulau Ubin, Pasir
Ris, Sungei Changi, Changi, Tanah Merah, Sungei Bedok, Marina East,
Kallang and Tuas.
Features: 0.3-0.5cm. The spherical
shell is thin and smooth with a semi-circular shell opening. Plain
background with delicate black lines in various designs; from simple
lines to more complex patterns. It is said no two shells are identical.
Like other Nerite snails, it has a striped body and long tentacles.
What does it eat? This tiny snail
grazes on algae.
Status and threats: This beautiful
snail is listed as 'Vulnerable' on the Red List of threatened animals
of Singapore. According to the Singapore Red Data Book: "Populations
along the original shores have been wiped out by reclamation."
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Tuas, Nov 06 
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East Coast, Nov
08
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Tanah Merah, Apr 05
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Underside
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Dubious
nerite snails on Singapore shores

East Coast, Nov 08
Long
tentacles.
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East Coast, Nov 08 
Striped body.
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East Coast, Nov 08 
Many might be seen on seagrasses.
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East Coast,
Nov 08
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East Coast,
Nov 08
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East Coast,
Nov 08
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Do they lay eggs
on one another?
Sentosa, Apr 09
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Sentosa, Apr
09
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Sentosa, Apr
09
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Their eggs on
the seagrasses?
East Coast, Dec 08
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East Coast,
Dec 08
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Sentosa, Apr
09
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Links
References
- Tan, K. S.
& L. M. Chou, 2000. A
Guide to the Common Seashells of Singapore. Singapore
Science Centre. 160 pp.
- Davison,
G.W. H. and P. K. L. Ng and Ho Hua Chew, 2008. The Singapore
Red Data Book: Threatened plants and animals of Singapore.
Nature Society (Singapore). 285 pp.
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