Nerita

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Nerita
Nerita tessellata.jpg
A live Nerita tessellata on a rock in Guadeloupe
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Neritimorpha
Order: Cycloneritida
Superfamily: Neritoidea
Family: Neritidae
Subfamily: Neritinae
Genus: Nerita
Linnaeus, 1758
Type species
Nerita peloronta Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms [1]
  • Nerita (Adenerita)Dekker, 2000 · accepted, alternate representation
  • Nerita (Amphinerita)Martens, 1887 · accepted, alternate representation
  • Nerita (Argonerita)Frey & Vermeij, 2008 · accepted, alternate representation
  • Nerita (Cymostyla)Martens, 1887 · accepted, alternate representation
  • Nerita (Heminerita)Martens, 1887 · accepted, alternate representation
  • Nerita (Ilynerita)Martens, 1887 · accepted, alternate representation
  • Nerita (Lepidonerita)Vermeij, 1984 · accepted, alternate representation
  • Nerita (Linnerita)Vermeij, 1984 · accepted, alternate representation
  • Nerita (Lisanerita)Krijnen, 2002 · accepted, alternate representation
  • Nerita (Nerita) Linnaeus, 1758 · accepted, alternate representation
  • Nerita (Odontostoma)Mörch, 1852 (preoccupied by OdontostomaTurton, 1829)
  • Nerita (Peloronta)Oken, 1815
  • Nerita (Pila)Mörch, 1852 (objective junior synonym; preoccupied by PilaRöding, 1798)
  • Nerita (Ritena)Gray, 1858 · accepted, alternate representation
  • Nerita (Tenare)Gray, 1858 (objective junior synonym)
  • Nerita (Theliostyla)Mörch, 1852 · accepted, alternate representation
  • † NerititesSchlotheim, 1820 (invalid under Art. 20: name established for fossils, formed by adding the suffix -ites to the genus name Nerita.)
  • Puperita (Heminerita)Martens, 1887 (superseded combination)
  • RitenaGray, 1858
  • TheliostylaMörch, 1852
  • TurritaWagner, 1897

Nerita is a genus of medium-sized to small sea snails with a gill and an operculum, marine gastropod molluscs in the subfamily Neritinae of the family Neritidae, the nerites. [1]

Contents

This is the type genus of the family Neritidae.

Distribution and habitat

Species of Nerita can be found worldwide in tropical waters in the middle and upper intertidal zones. They are gregarious herbivores.

Description

The thick shell is broadly ovate or globular and low-spired. It has a smooth surface. The shells are spirally ribbed or show some axial sculpturing. The ventral side has a large columellar callus or parietal wall. The callus shows small pustules. The aperture and the edge of the columella are usually dentate with fine or robust teeth. The calcareus operculum is thick and can be smooth or with a granular structure. The whorls are covered with strong spiral cords.

Taxonomy

Several subgenera have been proposed over the course of time, but various authors in the past could not agree on the placement of many species. The subgeneric placement of the species of Nerita was revised by Vermeij in 1984. [2] However, inconsistencies still remain over the use and validity of many taxonomic names, [3] because species show a wide variety of colors, patterns and even details of shell morphology, which has given rise to many synonyms.

Species

Two views of shells of Nerita polita Nerita polita (Linne, 1758) (4574792797).jpg
Two views of shells of Nerita polita
Shell and opercula of Nerita peloronta Nerita peloronta Linnaeus, 1758 000.jpg
Shell and opercula of Nerita peloronta

Species within the genus Nerita include: [4] [5] [6]

Nerita litterata Nerita polita rumphii 001.jpg
Nerita litterata
A shell of Nerita trifasciata Nerita spengleriana 003.jpg
A shell of Nerita trifasciata

The Indo-Pacific Molluscan Database also includes the following species with names in current use [16]

Synonyms

References

  1. 1 2 MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Nerita Linnaeus, 1758. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=138254 on 2021-09-20
  2. ↑ Vermeij GJ. 1984. The systematic position of the Neritid prosobranch gastropod Nerita polita and related species. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 97: 688-692.
  3. 1 2 Siong Kiat Tan and Reuben Clements, Taxonomy and Distribution of the Neritidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in Singapore, Zoological Studies 47(4): 481-494 (2008)
  4. ↑ WoRMS : Nerita
  5. ↑ ITIS info at
  6. ↑ http://www.catalogueoflife.org/search_results.php?search_string=Nerita&match_whole_words=on [ dead link ]
  7. ↑ RMNH (Naturalis): Nerita apiata
  8. ↑ Malacolog :Nerita ascencionis
  9. ↑ Von Martens (1879)"Gattung neritina"; Verlag von Bauer & Raspe, Nürnberg, 1879
  10. ↑ M. Souleyet, Description de cing nouvelles espèces de Nérites fluviales provenant du voyage de la Bonite; Revue zoologique de la Société cuvierienne, Volume 5
  11. ↑ University of Guam: Nerita maculifera
  12. ↑ MNHN, Paris: Nerita maculifera
  13. ↑ GBIF : Neritidae
  14. ↑ GBIF: Nerita subgranosa
  15. ↑ MNHN, Paris: Nerita subgranosa
  16. ↑ OBIS : Nerita
  17. ↑ Chen, G.; Ye, Y.; Lu, C.; Li, R.; Weng, J.; Xu, Y. (2006). "Distribution of Littoraia melanostoma Gray (Littorinidae) and Nerita lineata Gmelin (Neritadae) in rehabilitated mangroves". Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao = The Journal of Applied Ecology (in Chinese). 17 (9): 1721–1725. PMID   17147188.

Further reading

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