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Phylum Mollusca > Class Gastropoda > Family Neritidae
Polished nerite snail
Nerita polita
Family Neritidae
updated Sep 2020
Where seen?This nerite snail with a smooth shell is sometimes seen on our Southern shores, on rocky shores often near the high water mark. The study by Tan & Clements (2008) found this snail on intertidal rocks. They observed that the snail is nocturnal in habit and frequently found shallowly buried in sand against base of rocks during the day. Sites included: Changi, Sungei Bedok, Sentosa, St. John's Island, Tuas and Labrador.

Features: 3-4cm. Shell very thick and spherical, the spire doesn't stick out. Outer texture smooth without ribs, though not always glossy. Shell colour and pattern varies widely. The flat underside white, smooth and glossy, sometimes slightly wrinkled. Tiny notched 'teeth' on the straight edge at the shell opening, the uppermost one is squarish. Operculum thick, greenish grey smooth except for a border of fine bars at the edge. Body pale with fine black bands.

Labrador, Jun 08

Labrador, Jan 08

Not all have glossy shells.
Sentosa, May 08

Labrador, Jan 09

Sentosa, Dec 10
Human uses: In some places it is prized as food and for its attractive shell.

Polished nerite snails on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

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