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  • Puperita (Heminerita)Martens, 1887 (superseded combination)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

Related Research Articles

<i>Bulla</i> (gastropod) Genus of gastropods

Bulla is a genus of medium to large hermaphrodite sea snails, shelled marine opisthobranch gastropod molluscs. These herbivorous snails are in the suborder Cephalaspidea, headshield slugs, and the order Opisthobranchia.

<i>Buccinum</i> Genus of gastropods

Buccinum is a genus of medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Buccinidae, the true whelks.

<i>Trochus</i> Genus of gastropods

Trochus is a genus of medium-to large-sized, top-shaped sea snails with an operculum, of the family Trochidae, the top snails.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neritidae</span> Family of gastropods

Neritidae, common name the nerites, is a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized saltwater and freshwater snails which have a gill and a distinctive operculum. The family Neritidae includes marine genera such as Nerita, marine and freshwater genera such as Neritina, and freshwater and brackish water genera such as Theodoxus.

<i>Neritina</i> Genus of gastropods

Neritina, is a genus of small aquatic snails with an operculum in the family Neritidae, the nerites. They are as well marine, as brackish water, and sometimes freshwater gastropod mollusks

<i>Turbo</i> (gastropod) Genus of molluscs

Turbo is a genus of large sea snails with gills and an operculum, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Polinices</i> Genus of gastropods

Polinices is a genus of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the subfamily Polinicinae of the family Naticidae, commonly known as moon snails.

<i>Natica</i> Genus of gastropods

Natica is a genus of small to medium-sized predatory sea snails, marine gastropods in the subfamily Naticinae of the family Naticidae, the moon snails. The genus was erected by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in 1777.

<i>Clithon</i> Genus of gastropods

Clithon is a genus of freshwater snails or brackish snails that have an operculum, aquatic gastropod molluscs in the family Neritidae, the nerites.

<i>Patella</i> (gastropod) Genus of gastropods

Patella is a genus of sea snails with gills, typical true limpets, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Patellidae, the true limpets.

Fusus is a genus of small to large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails and tulip snails.

<i>Strigatella</i> Genus of gastropods

Strigatella is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Strigatellinae of the family Mitridae.

<i>Nerita polita</i> Species of gastropod

Nerita polita is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Neritidae.

<i>Nerita undata</i> Species of gastropod

Nerita undata is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Neritidae.

<i>Neripteron</i> Genus of gastropods

Neripteron is a genus of brackish water and freshwater snails, an aquatic gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Neritininae of the family Neritidae, the nerites.

<i>Vittina</i> Genus of gastropods

Vittina is a genus of brackish water and freshwater snails with an operculum, aquatic gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Neritininae of the family Neritidae, the nerites.

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 / Zhongguo Sheng Tai Xue Xue Hui, Zhongguo Ke Xue Yuan Shenyang Ying Yong Sheng Tai Yan Jiu Suo Zhu Ban (in Chinese). 17 (9): 1721–1725. PMID   17147188.

Further reading