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Nerita

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.

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. However, inconsistencies still remain over the use and validity of many taxonomic names, because species show a wide variety of colors, patterns and even details of shell morphology, which has given rise to many synonyms.

Species

Species within the genus Nerita include:

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

Synonyms

  • Nerita amoena <small>(Gould, 1847)</small>: synonym of Neripteron amoenum <small>(A. Gould, 1847)</small> (unaccepted combination)
  • Nerita amplisulcata <small>Macsotay & Villarroel, 2001</small>: synonym of Nerita versicolor <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>
  • Nerita angularis <small>Hombron & Jacquinot, 1854</small>: synonym of Nerita (Ilynerita) planospira <small>Anton, 1838</small>
  • Nerita annulata <small>Reeve, 1855</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) chamaeleon <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>
  • Nerita anthracina <small>Von dem Busch, 1844</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) ocellata <small>Le Guillou, 1841</small>
  • Nerita arachnoidea <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>: synonym of Natica arachnoidea <small>(Gmelin, 1791)</small>
  • Nerita arcta <small>Hombron & Jacquinot, 1854</small>: synonym of Nerita (Amphinerita) insculpta <small>Récluz, 1841</small>
  • Nerita arriaca <small>Röding, 1798</small>: synonym of Nerita (Linnerita) polita <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>
  • Nerita asperulata <small>Récluz, 1843</small>: synonym of Neripteron asperulatum <small>(Récluz, 1843)</small> synonym of Neritina asperulata <small>(Récluz, 1843)</small> (original combination)
  • Nerita atrata <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>: synonym of Euchelus atratus <small>(Gmelin, 1791)</small>
  • Nerita atrata <small>Reeve, 1855</small>: synonym of Nerita (Lisanerita) melanotragus <small>E.A. Smith, 1884</small>
  • Nerita atropurpurea <small>Récluz, 1841</small>: synonym of Nerita (Ilynerita) planospira <small>Anton, 1838</small>
  • Nerita australis <small>Wood, 1828</small>: synonym of Nerita (Linnerita) erythrostoma <small>Eichhorst & Neville, 2004</small>
  • Nerita avellana <small>Récluz, 1842</small>: synonym of Clithon avellana <small>(Récluz, 1842)</small>
  • Nerita bensoni <small>Récluz, 1850</small>: synonym of Puperita bensoni <small>(Recluz, 1850)</small>
  • Nerita bifasciata <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>: synonym of Nerita (Linnerita) polita <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>
  • Nerita birmanica <small>Troschel, 1878</small> : synonym of Nerita balteata <small>Reeve, 1855</small> (a junior synonym)
  • Nerita bisecta <small>Reeve, 1855</small>: synonym of Nerita magdalenae <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>
  • Nerita bizonalis <small>Lamarck, 1816</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) chamaeleon <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>
  • Nerita bizonalis <small>Mörch (non Lamarck), 1852</small>: synonym of Nerita (Ilynerita) planospira <small>Anton, 1838</small>
  • Nerita bruguierei <small>Récluz, 1841</small>: synonym of Neritina pulligera <small>(Linnaeus, 1767)</small>
  • Nerita candida <small>W. Wood, 1825</small>: synonym of Naticarius onca <small>(Röding, 1798)</small>
  • Nerita carbonaria <small>Philippi, 1845</small>: synonym of Nerita (Lisanerita) morio <small>(G.B. Sowerby I, 1833)</small>
  • Nerita chemnitzii <small>Récluz, 1841</small>: synonym of Nerita semirugosa <small>Récluz, 1841</small>
  • Nerita chloroleuca <small>Philippi, 1849</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) chamaeleon <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>
  • Nerita chrysostoma <small>Récluz, 1841</small>: synonym of Nerita striata <small>Burrow, 1815</small>
  • Nerita comma-notata <small>Reeve, 1855</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) aterrima <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>
  • Nerita costata <small>Brocchi, 1814</small>: synonym of Clathrella clathrata <small>(Philippi, 1844)</small>
  • Nerita dacostae <small>Récluz, 1844</small>: synonym of Clithon sowerbianum <small>(Récluz, 1843)</small>
  • Nerita debilis <small>Dufo, 1840</small> : synonym of Mienerita debilis <small>(Dufo, 1840)</small>
  • Nerita doreyana <small>Quoy & Gaimard, 1834</small>: synonym of Nerita (Linnerita) litterata <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>, synonym of Nerita litterata <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>
  • Nerita dubia <small>Turton, 1932</small>: synonym of Neritina auriculata <small>Lamarck, 1816</small>
  • Nerita flammulata <small>Récluz, 1841</small>: synonym of Nerita undulata <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>
  • Nerita flava <small>Mörch, 1852</small>: synonym of Nerita (Linnerita) litterata <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>
  • Nerita flavescens <small>Dillwyn, 1817</small>: synonym of Nerita (Linnerita) polita <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>
  • Nerita forskali <small>Récluz, 1841</small>: synonym of Nerita sanguinolenta <small>Menke, 1829</small>
  • Nerita fulminea <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>: synonym of Natica fulminea <small>(Gmelin, 1791)</small>
  • Nerita georgina <small>Récluz, 1841</small>: synonym of Nerita (Amphinerita) insculpta <small>Récluz, 1841</small>
  • Nerita grayana <small>Récluz, 1843</small>: synonym of Nerita undulata <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>
  • Nerita grayana <small>Récluz, 1844</small>: synonym of Nerita essingtoni <small>Récluz, 1842</small>
  • Nerita haneti <small>Récluz, 1841</small>: synonym of Nerita (Lisanerita) morio <small>(G.B. Sowerby I, 1833)</small>
  • Nerita hieroglyphica <small>Dillwyn, 1817</small>: synonym of Nerita (Linnerita) litterata <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>
  • Nerita hilleana <small>Dunker, 1871</small>: synonym of Nerita (Amphinerita) insculpta <small>Récluz, 1841</small>
  • Nerita hindsii <small>Récluz, 1844</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) squamulata <small>Le Guillou, 1841</small>
  • Nerita histrio <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) squamulata <small>Le Guillou, 1841</small>
  • Nerita interrupta <small>Récluz, 1843</small>: synonym of Clithon faba <small>(G. B. Sowerby I, 1836)</small>
  • Nerita intricata <small>Donovan, 1804</small>: synonym of Payraudeautia intricata <small>(Donovan, 1804)</small>
  • Nerita islandica <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>: synonym of Amauropsis islandica <small>(Gmelin, 1791)</small>
  • Nerita jovis <small>Récluz, 1843</small>: synonym of Vittina jovis <small>(Récluz, 1843)</small>
  • Nerita junghuhni <small>Schepman, 1901</small>: synonym of Nerita (Amphinerita) olivaria <small>Le Guillou, 1841</small>
  • Nerita laevilirata <small>Sowerby, 1914</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) chamaeleon <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>
  • Nerita larva <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>: synonym of Nerita (Linnerita) litterata <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>
  • Nerita leucozonias <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>: synonym of Natica vitellus <small>(Linnaeus, 1758)</small>
  • Nerita lineata <small>Chemnitz, 1774</small> - lined nerite: synonym of Nerita balteata <small>Reeve, 1855</small>
  • Nerita listeri <small>Récluz, 1841</small>: synonym of Nerita (Amphinerita) insculpta <small>Récluz, 1841</small>
  • Nerita litoralis <small>Turton, 1819</small>: synonym of Littorina obtusata <small>(Linnaeus, 1758)</small>
  • Nerita maculata <small>Pease, 1867</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) argus <small>Récluz, 1841</small>
  • Nerita mammilla <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>: synonym of Polinices mammilla <small>(Linnaeus, 1758)</small>
  • Nerita marinduquenensis <small>Vallejo, 2000</small>: synonym of Nerita patula <small>Récluz, 1841</small>
  • Nerita marmorata <small>Hombron & Jacquinot, 1854</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) chamaeleon <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>
  • Nerita marochiensis <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>: synonym of Natica marochiensis <small>(Gmelin, 1791)</small>
  • Nerita mascareignar <small>Récluz, 1850</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) aterrima <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>
  • Nerita mauritiae <small>Récluz, 1841</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) aterrima <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>
  • Nerita melanostoma <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>: synonym of Mammilla melanostoma <small>(Gmelin, 1791)</small>
  • Nerita menkeana <small>Récluz, 1842</small>: synonym of Clithon olivaceum <small>(Récluz, 1843)</small>
  • Nerita modesta <small>Hombron & Jacquinot, 1854</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) chamaeleon <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>
  • Nerita neritinoides <small>Reeve, 1855</small>: synonym of Nerita (Lisanerita) morio <small>(G.B. Sowerby I, 1833)</small>
  • Nerita nigra <small>Dillwyn, 1817</small>: synonym of Nerita (Linnerita) polita <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>
  • Nerita nodosa <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>: synonym of Thais (Thais) nodosa <small>(Linnaeus, 1758)</small>
  • Nerita obscura <small>Hombron & Jacquinot, 1854</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) ocellata <small>Le Guillou, 1841</small>
  • Nerita opaca <small>Röding, 1798</small>: synonym of Nerita (Linnerita) polita <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>
  • Nerita orbignyana <small>Récluz, 1841</small>: synonym of Nerita (Linnerita) litterata <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>
  • Nerita orientalis <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>: synonym of Naticarius orientalis <small>(Gmelin, 1791)</small>
  • Nerita pacifica <small>Récluz, 1850</small>: synonym of Nerita (Amphinerita) insculpta <small>Récluz, 1841</small>
  • Nerita panayana <small>Récluz, 1843</small>: synonym of Nerita litterata <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>
  • Nerita papilla <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>: synonym of Eunaticina papilla <small>(Gmelin, 1791)</small>
  • Nerita pennata <small>Born, 1778</small>: synonym of Vittina pennata <small>(Born, 1778)</small>
  • Nerita petechialis <small>Mörch, 1852</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) signata <small>Lamarck, 1822</small>
  • Nerita pica <small>Gould, 1859</small>: synonym of Nerita japonica <small>Dunker, 1860</small>
  • Nerita picta <small>Humphrey, 1797</small>: synonym of Nerita (Linnerita) polita <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>
  • Nerita piscinalis <small>O. F. Müller, 1774</small>: synonym of Valvata piscinalis <small>(O. F. Müller, 1774)</small>
  • Nerita plexa <small>Dillwyn, 1817</small>: synonym of Nerita textilis <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>
  • Nerita punctata <small>Quoy & Gaimard, 1834</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) aterrima <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>
  • Nerita pygmaea <small>Martens, 1889</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) signata <small>Lamarck, 1822</small>
  • Nerita reticulata <small>Karsten, 1789</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) signata <small>Lamarck, 1822</small>
  • Nerita rudis <small>Wood, 1828</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) signata <small>Lamarck, 1822</small>
  • Nerita rufa <small>Montagu, 1808</small>: synonym of Lunatia montagui <small>(Forbes, 1838)</small>
  • Nerita rufa <small>Born, 1778</small>: synonym of Natica vitellus <small>(Linnaeus, 1758)</small>
  • Nerita rumphii <small>Récluz, 1841</small>: synonym of Nerita (Linnerita) litterata <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>
  • Nerita rustica <small>Nardo, 1847</small>: synonym of Littorina saxatilis <small>(Olivi, 1792)</small>
  • Nerita samoensis <small>Dunker, 1869</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) signata <small>Lamarck, 1822</small>
  • Nerita saturata <small>Hutton, 1884</small>: synonym of Nerita (Lisanerita) melanotragus <small>E.A. Smith, 1884</small>
  • Nerita scabrella <small>Philippi, 1849</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) chamaeleon <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>
  • Nerita schmeltziana <small>Dunker, 1869</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) argus <small>Récluz, 1841</small>
  • Nerita souleyetana <small>Récluz, 1842</small>: synonym of Clithon souleyetanum <small>(Récluz, 1842)</small>
  • Nerita spadicea <small>(Gmelin, 1791)</small>: synonym of Natica spadicea <small>(Gmelin, 1791)</small>
  • Nerita spengleriana <small>Recluz, 1844</small>: synonym of Nerita trifasciata <small>Le Guillou, 1841</small>
  • Nerita squamulata <small>Le Guillou, 1841</small>: synonym of Nerita histrio <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>
  • Nerita stella <small>Dillwyn, 1817</small>: synonym of Nerita (Argonerita) squamulata <small>Le Guillou, 1841</small>
  • Nerita stercusmuscarum <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>: synonym of Natica stercusmuscarum <small>(Gmelin, 1791)</small>
  • Nerita stricta <small>Baird, 1873</small>: synonym of Nerita (Amphinerita) insculpta <small>Récluz, 1841</small>
  • Nerita succinea <small>Récluz, 1841</small>: synonym of Neritilia succinea <small>(Récluz, 1841)</small>
  • Nerita tomlini <small>Turton, 1933</small>: synonym of Neritina auriculata <small>Lamarck, 1816</small>
  • Nerita tristis <small>Pilsbry, 1901</small>: synonym of Nerita helicinoides var. tristis <small>Pilsbry, 1901</small>
  • Nerita vitellus <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>: synonym of Natica vitellus <small>(Linnaeus, 1758)</small>
  • Nerita vitiensis <small>Hombron & Jacquinot, 1854</small>: synonym of Nerita (Linnerita) litterata <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>
  • Nerita vittata <small>Gmelin, 1791</small>: synonym of Natica vittata <small>(Gmelin, 1791)</small>

References

Further reading

  • Récluz, C. 1841. Description de quelques nouvelles espèces de Nérites vivantes (2e partie, suite et fin). Revue Zoologique 4: 333-343
  • Reeve, L. 1855. Monograph of the genus Nerita. Conchologia Iconica 9: pls. 1-19
  • Tan K. S. & Lee S. S. C. (April 2009) "Neritid egg capsules: are they all that different?" Steenstrupia 30(2): 115–125. Copenhagen, Denmark. ISSN 0375-2909. PDF