Nerite Nerita plicata
Category
- Rocky Shores
Description
Nerita plicata is a marine gastropod belonging to the family of Neritidae. Its exterior is not as colourful as other species in its genus and can be white, fawn or pink with irregular black spots on its ribs. This shell has a low spire and can grow up to 30 mm in height; in some specimens its width can be equal to its height. It is a sculptured shell with 16 distinct spiral ribs[1].
[1] The Seashells of New South Wales, Des Beechey, Senior Fellow, Australian Museum, Release 25. Website at https://seashellsofnsw.org.au/Neritidae/Pages/Nerita_plicata%20.htm. Accessed 16.04.2019
Habitat and ecology
Nerita plicata is found throughout the Indo-West Pacific region. This species can be found in intertidal reefs and rocky shores. It lives high up in the intertidal zone at about the half tide mark[1]. This species of Nerita reproduces through copulation between the male and female. Females deposit egg capsules which eventually hatch into larvae.
Conservation and management
Nerita plicata has not been evaluated by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Did you know?
N. plicata has ridges on its shell that helps it stay cool when exposed at low tide by radiating heat away.
