Neritina turrita

Neritina turrita is a species of aquatic snail, a gastropod mollusk in the family Neritidae.

Neritina turrita
Neritina turrita shell.

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Neritimorpha
clade Cycloneritimorpha
Superfamily:
Neritoidea
Family:
Neritidae
Subfamily:
Neritininae
Tribe:
Neritinini
Genus:
Neritina
Species:
N. turrita
Binomial name
Neritina turrita
(Gmelin, 1791)
Synonyms[2]

Nerita turrita Gmelin, 1791 (original combination)
Vittina turrita (Gmelin, 1791)
Neritina palmae Dall, 1885

Distribution

Neritina turrita is Indo-Pacific in distribution, with specimens recorded from locations including Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, the Pacific Islands, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Japan.[3]

Description

Native to brackish tidal waters such as mangrove swamps, this snail is also classified as Vittina turrita[4], and is sold in the freshwater aquarium trade under the common name "tiger nerite" or "tiger snail."[5] Adults may thrive in fresh water with sufficient dissolved minerals. The species has separate male and female individuals; females lay eggs, which hatch into larvae that can survive only in brackish water. Adults grow to about 2.5 cm, and show a pale tan body with a darker tan shell, sometimes brownish or reddish, marked by black bands of varied width. The head has two short antennae which protrude from beneath the shell, each with a small eye at the base (generally invisible benath the shell). Nerites are slow-moving snails that travel over rocks or hard substrates and do not burrow. Like other members of its genus, the species grazes on algae which it rasps from surfaces with its radula. It may opportunistically feed on other debris, but does not pursue animal food.[6] Because a variety of common names including "zebra nerite" can be used to refer to both species, it is sometimes confused with Neritina natalensis.

Apertural view of a shell of Neritina turrita. Scale bar is 10 mm.
Abapertural view of a shell of Neritina turrita. Scale bar is 10 mm.
Narrow banded form of Neritina turrita.

Human use

Neritina turrita is common in the pet trade for freshwater aquaria. It is considered a desirable snail for home aquarists because of its attractive pattern, compatible requirements with common freshwater aquarium fish, and the fact that it consumes algae without eating plants or overpopulating in home freshwater tanks. [1][7]

References
  1. Van Damme, D. (2016). Neritina turrita. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T91290016A91290023. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T91290016A91290023.en. Downloaded on 30 December 2017.
  2. Rosenberg, G. (2013). Neritina turrita (Gmelin, 1791). In: MolluscaBase (2017). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=737532 on 2017-12-30
  3. "WMSD - Worldwide mollusc species DB - Neritina turrita". www.bagniliggia.it. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  4. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Neritina turrita (Gmelin, 1791)". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  5. "Nerite snail: care, size, lifespan, tankmates, breeding". Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  6. Michael (2019-02-03). "Nerite Snails – Detailed Guide: Care, Diet and Breeding". Shrimp and Snail Breeder. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  7. Ng, T. H., Tan, S. K., Wong, W. H., Meier, R., Chan, S. Y., Tan, H. H., & Yeo, D. C. (2016). "Molluscs for sale: assessment of freshwater gastropods and bivalves in the ornamental pet trade". PLoS ONE 11(8): e0161130. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0161130


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