Malacology
Malacology is the study of mollusks. This includes animals like octopus, snails, slugs, and clams. It is the second largest phylum of animals, making them one of the most successful groups on the planet. There are over 80,000 described species of mollusks with many more left to be discovered. Mullusca is composed of 8 recognized classes including Cephalopoda, Gastropoda, Polyplacophora, Scaphapoda, Monoplacophorans, the Aplacophorans, Caudofoveata and Solenogastres, and Bivalvia.
Bleeding Tooth Nerite
Linnaeus, 1758
Nerita peloronta
Class:
Gastropoda
Order:
Cycloneritida
Family:
Neritidae
Image Voucher:
ANSP 300851, ANSP 390920
Shell Information
Diameter (mm): 25-47
Dextral
Chirality:
This is a heavy globe shaped shell with a short pointed spire. The body whorl has regularly spaced spiral ribs. There are one to two distinct teeth at the center of the inner lip of the aperture usually surrounded by an orange or red stain that give the shell its name. The shell is tan to yellow with a wide range of axial zigzag patterns of black and red.
Description:
Ecological Information
Distribution:
Depth (m):
East Florida to Trinidad
0.5 to 0 meters
Diet:
Herbivore
Habitat:
Marine; Rocky intertidal zone
Misc. Facts
This snail is typically a nocturnal grazer.
Citations
MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Nerita peloronta Linnaeus, 1758. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=419504 on 2021-06-23
Rosenberg, G., F. Moretzsohn, and E. F. Garc�a. 29. Gastropoda (Mollusca) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 579�699 in Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico�Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas.
Morris, P. A. (1987). A field guide to shells: Atlantic and Gulf coasts and the West Indies (3rd ed.). Houghton Mifflin.