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| shelled snails text index | photo index |
| Phylum Mollusca > Class Gastropoda > Family Neritidae |
| Dubious
nerite snail Clithon oualaniensis Family Neritidae updated Dec 08 Where seen? This tiny snail is sometimes seen near monsoon drains and other sources of freshwater on some of our shores, sometimes among seagrasses. 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. It seems they prefer the upper reaches of monsoon drains leading to the sea or slow-moving, sheltered, shallow waters. 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." |
 Tuas, Nov 06  |
 East Coast, Nov 08 |
 Tanah Merah, Apr 05 |
 Underside |
Dubious nerite snails on Singapore shores
 East Coast, Nov 08  Long tentacles. |
 East Coast, Nov 08  Striped body. |
 East Coast, Nov 08  Many might be seen on seagrasses. |
 East Coast, Nov 08 |
 East Coast, Nov 08 |
 East Coast, Nov 08 |
 East Coast, Dec 08 |
 East Coast, Dec 08 |
more photos of dubious nerite snails on Singapore shores
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