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.
Virgin Nerite
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Vitta virginea
Class:
Gastropoda
Order:
Cycloneritida
Family:
Neritidae
Image Voucher:
ANSP 397993
Ecological Information
Distribution:
Depth (m):
East Florida to Trinidad
0 to 1.5 meters
Diet:
Herbivore
Habitat:
Brackish, Freshwater; Mangrove swamps and grass flats
Misc. Facts
These snails lay their eggs on their own shell and the shells of other snails.
Citations
MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Vitta virginea (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=865834 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.
Andrews, J. (1971). Seashells of the Texas Coast. University of Texas Press.