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.
Checkered Nerite
Gmelin, 1791
Nerita tessellata
Class:
Gastropoda
Order:
Cycloneritida
Family:
Neritidae
Image Voucher:
ANSP 188225
Shell Information
Diameter (mm): 12.5-25
Dextral
Chirality:
This is a heavy globe shaped shell with a round spire. It has spiral ribs with a thin groove running between each rib. The grooves are gray in color while the ribs are white with black axial lines giving them their checkered appearance. The inner aperture has multiple small teeth.
Description:
Ecological Information
Distribution:
Depth (m):
East Florida to Brazil
0.5 to 3 meters
Diet:
Herbivore
Habitat:
Marine; Rocky intertidal zone
Misc. Facts
Citations
MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Nerita tessellata Gmelin, 1791. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=419505 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.