''Nerita'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of medium-sized to small

sea snail Sea snails are slow-moving marine (ocean), marine gastropod Mollusca, molluscs, usually with visible external shells, such as whelk or abalone. They share the Taxonomic classification, taxonomic class Gastropoda with slugs, which are distinguishe ...

s with a

gill A gill () is a respiration organ, respiratory organ that many aquatic ecosystem, aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow r ...

and an operculum, marine

gastropod Gastropods (), commonly known as slugs and snails, belong to a large Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, freshwater, and fro ...

mollusc Mollusca is a phylum of protostome, protostomic invertebrate animals, whose members are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 76,000 extant taxon, extant species of molluscs are recognized, making it the second-largest animal phylum ...

s in the subfamily Neritinae of the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Neritidae Neritidae, common name the nerites, is a Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic Family (biology), family of small to medium-sized saltwater and freshwater snails which have a gill and a distinctive Operculum (gastropod), operculum. MolluscaBase eds. (202 ...

, the nerites.MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Nerita Linnaeus, 1758. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=138254 on 2021-09-20 This is the

type genus In biological taxonomy, the type genus (''genus typica'') is the genus which defines a biological family and the root of the family name. Zoological nomenclature According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, "The name-bearin ...

of the family Neritidae.

Distribution and habitat

Species of ''Nerita'' can be found worldwide in tropical waters in the middle and upper

intertidal zone The intertidal zone or foreshore is the area above water level at low tide and underwater at high tide; in other words, it is the part of the littoral zone within the tidal range. This area can include several types of habitats with various ...

s. They are gregarious herbivores.

Description

The thick shell is broadly ovate or globular and low-spired. It has a smooth surface. The shells are spirally ribbed or show some axial sculpturing. The ventral side has a large

columella Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella (, Arabic: ) was a prominent Roman writer on agriculture in the Roman Empire. His in twelve volumes has been completely preserved and forms an important source on Roman agriculture and ancient Roman cuisin ...

r callus or parietal wall. The callus shows small pustules. The

aperture In optics, the aperture of an optical system (including a system consisting of a single lens) is the hole or opening that primarily limits light propagated through the system. More specifically, the entrance pupil as the front side image o ...

and the edge of the columella are usually dentate with fine or robust teeth. The calcareus operculum is thick and can be smooth or with a granular structure. The whorls are covered with strong spiral cords.

Taxonomy

Several subgenera have been proposed over the course of time, but various authors in the past could not agree on the placement of many species. The subgeneric placement of the species of ''Nerita'' was revised by Vermeij in 1984. However, inconsistencies still remain over the use and validity of many taxonomic names, Siong Kiat Tan and Reuben Clements, ''Taxonomy and Distribution of the Neritidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in Singapore'', Zoological Studies 47(4): 481-494 (2008)
/ref> because species show a wide variety of colors, patterns and even details of shell morphology, which has given rise to many synonyms.

Species

Species within the genus ''Nerita'' include: *'' Nerita adenensis'' Mienis, 1978 * '' Nerita albicilla''

Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné,#Blunt, Blunt (2004), p. 171. was a Swedish biologist and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the modern system of naming o ...

1758 Events January–March * January 1 – Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus (Carl von Linné) publishes in Stockholm the first volume (''Animalia'') of the 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae'', the starting point of modern zoologic ...

* '' Nerita alveolus'' Hombron & Jacquinot, 1848 * '' Nerita antiquata'' Récluz, 1841 * '' Nerita apiata'' Récluz, 1843 * '' Nerita argus'' Récluz, 1841 * '' Nerita ascensionis'' Gmelin, 1791 Malacolog :Nerita ascencionis
/ref> * ''

Nerita aterrima ''Nerita aterrima'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Neritidae. Description The shell grows to a length of 27 mm Distribution This species occurs in the Pacific Ocean off the Philippines and Western Au ...

'' Gmelin, 1791 * '' Nerita atramentosa'' Reeve, 1855 * '' Nerita balteata'' Reeve, 1855: probably congeneric with ''Nerita articulata'' * '' Nerita chamaeleon''

* '' Nerita chlorostoma'' Lamarck, 1816 * '' Nerita costata'' Gmelin, 1791 * '' Nerita costulata'' von dem Busch, 1844 * † '' Nerita craigi'' Symonds, Gain & Belliard, 2017 * '' Nerita dombeyi'' Récluz, 1841 * '' Nerita eichhorsti'' Krijnen, Gras & Vink, 2018 * '' Nerita ellyptica'' Le Guillou, 1841 * '' Nerita erythrostoma'' Eichhorst & Neville, 2004 * '' Nerita essingtoni'' Récluz, 1842 * '' Nerita exuvia''

* '' Nerita filosa'' Reeve, 1855 * † '' Nerita fortidentata'' Vermeij & Collins, 1988 * '' Nerita fragum'' Reeve, 1855 * '' Nerita fulgurans'' Gmelin, 1791 - Antillean nerite * '' Nerita fuliginata'' Reeve, 1855 * '' Nerita funiculata'' Menke, 1851 * '' Nerita gaimardii'' Souleyet, 1842 * '' Nerita grasi'' Eichhorst, 2016 * '' Nerita grisea'' Reeve, 1855 * '' Nerita grossa''

* '' Nerita guamensis'' Quoy & Gaimard, 1834 * '' Nerita helicinoides'' Reeve, 1855 * '' Nerita histrio''

* '' Nerita incerta'' Von dem Busch in Philippi, 1844 *'' Nerita insculpta'' Récluz, 1841 * '' Nerita incurva'' E. von Martens, 1887 * '' Nerita japonica'' Dunker, 1860 * '' Nerita lianae'' T. Cossignani, 2019 * '' Nerita lirellata'' Rehder, 1980 * '' Nerita litterata'' Gmelin, 1791 * '' Nerita longii'' Récluz, 1842 * '' Nerita luteonigra'' Dekker, 2000 * '' Nerita maculifera'' Le Guillou, 1841 * '' Nerita magdalenae'' Gmelin, 1791 * '' Nerita maura'' Récluz, 1842 * '' Nerita maxima'' Gmelin, 1791 * '' Nerita melanotragus'' E.A. Smith, 1884 * † '' Nerita minor'' Sandberger, 1861 * '' Nerita morio'' (G.B. Sowerby I, 1833) * '' Nerita neritopsoides'' Reeve, 1855 * '' Nerita nigerrima'' Dillwyn, 1817 * '' Nerita nigrita'' Röding, 1798 * '' Nerita novaeguineae'' Lesson, 1831 * '' Nerita ocellata'' Le Guillou, 1841 * '' Nerita olivaria'' Le Guillou, 1841 * '' Nerita orbignyana'' Récluz, 1841 * '' Nerita oryzarum'' Récluz, 1841 * '' Nerita patula'' Récluz, 1841 * '' Nerita peloronta''

- bleeding tooth * '' Nerita picea'' Récluz, 1841 * '' Nerita planospira'' Anton, 1839 * '' Nerita plicata''

* '' Nerita polita''

* '' Nerita quadricolor'' Gmelin, 1791 * '' Nerita quoyi'' Le Guillou, 1841 * '' Nerita sanguinolenta'' Menke, 1829 * '' Nerita scabricosta'' Lamarck, 1822 * '' Nerita semirugosa'' Récluz, 1841 * '' Nerita senegalensis'' Gmelin, 1791 * '' Nerita signata'' Lamarck, 1822 * '' Nerita striata'' Burrow, 1815 * '' Nerita subgranosa'' Mabille, 1895 * † '' Nerita symondsi'' Pacaud, 2017 * ''

Nerita tessellata ''Nerita tessellata'', sometimes known as the checkered nerite, is a species of tropical sea snail with a gill and an operculum (gastropod), operculum, a nerite, a marine (ocean), marine gastropod mollusk in the family Neritidae, the nerites. D ...

'' Gmelin, 1791 - checkered nerite * '' Nerita textilis'' Gmelin, 1791 * '' Nerita trifasciata'' Le Guillou, 1841 * '' Nerita umlaasiana'' Krauss, 1848 * '' Nerita undata''

(forms a complex) * '' Nerita undulata'' Gmelin, 1791 * '' Nerita versicolor'' Gmelin, 1791 - four-tooth nerite * '' Nerita vexillum'' Reeve, 1855 * '' Nerita vitiensis'' Hombron & Jacquinot, 1848 * '' Nerita winteri'' Philippi, 1844 * ''

Nerita yoldii ''Nerita yoldii'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk Mollusca is a phylum of protostomic invertebrate animals, whose members are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 76,000 extant species of molluscs are ...

'' Récluz, 1841 Nerita polita rumphii 001

The Indo-Pacific Molluscan Database also includes the following species with names in current use * '' Nerita articulata'' Gould, 1847 * '' Nerita bicolor'' Récluz, 1843 * '' Nerita corrosula'' Récluz, 1842 * '' Nerita maxima'' Gmelin, 1791 * '' Nerita nigrita'' Röding, 1798 * '' Nerita panayensis'' Récluz, 1844 * '' Nerita pfeifferiana'' Récluz, 1843 * '' Nerita phasiana'' Récluz, 1842 * '' Nerita radiata'' Récluz, 1841 * '' Nerita sayana'' Récluz, 1844 * '' Nerita tenebrosa'' Récluz, 1842

Synonyms

* ''Nerita amoena'' (Gould, 1847): synonym of '' Neripteron amoenum'' (A. Gould, 1847) (unaccepted combination) * ''Nerita amplisulcata'' Macsotay & Villarroel, 2001: synonym of '' Nerita versicolor'' Gmelin, 1791 * ''Nerita angularis'' Hombron & Jacquinot, 1854: synonym of ''Nerita (Ilynerita) planospira'' Anton, 1838 * ''Nerita annulata'' Reeve, 1855: synonym of ''Nerita (Argonerita) chamaeleon'' Linnaeus, 1758 * ''Nerita anthracina'' Von dem Busch, 1844: synonym of ''Nerita (Argonerita) ocellata'' Le Guillou, 1841 * ''Nerita arachnoidea'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of '' Natica arachnoidea'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''Nerita arcta'' Hombron & Jacquinot, 1854: synonym of ''Nerita (Amphinerita) insculpta'' Récluz, 1841 * ''Nerita arriaca'' Röding, 1798: synonym of ''Nerita (Linnerita) polita'' Linnaeus, 1758 * ''Nerita asperulata'' Récluz, 1843: synonym of ''Neripteron asperulatum'' (Récluz, 1843) synonym of '' Neritina asperulata'' (Récluz, 1843) (original combination) * ''Nerita atrata'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of '' Euchelus atratus'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''Nerita atrata'' Reeve, 1855: synonym of ''Nerita (Lisanerita) melanotragus'' E.A. Smith, 1884 * ''Nerita atropurpurea'' Récluz, 1841: synonym of ''Nerita (Ilynerita) planospira'' Anton, 1838 * ''Nerita australis'' Wood, 1828: synonym of ''Nerita (Linnerita) erythrostoma'' Eichhorst & Neville, 2004 * ''Nerita avellana'' Récluz, 1842: synonym of '' Clithon avellana'' (Récluz, 1842) * ''Nerita bensoni'' Récluz, 1850: synonym of '' Puperita bensoni'' (Recluz, 1850) * ''Nerita bifasciata'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of ''Nerita (Linnerita) polita'' Linnaeus, 1758 * ''Nerita birmanica'' Troschel, 1878 : synonym of '' Nerita balteata'' Reeve, 1855 (a junior synonym) * '' Nerita bisecta'' Reeve, 1855: synonym of '' Nerita magdalenae'' Gmelin, 1791 * ''Nerita bizonalis'' Lamarck, 1816: synonym of ''Nerita (Argonerita) chamaeleon'' Linnaeus, 1758 * ''Nerita bizonalis'' Mörch (non Lamarck), 1852: synonym of ''Nerita (Ilynerita) planospira'' Anton, 1838 * ''Nerita bruguierei'' Récluz, 1841: synonym of '' Neritina pulligera'' (Linnaeus, 1767) * ''Nerita candida'' W. Wood, 1825: synonym of '' Naticarius onca'' (Röding, 1798) * ''Nerita carbonaria'' Philippi, 1845: synonym of ''Nerita (Lisanerita) morio'' (G.B. Sowerby I, 1833) * ''Nerita chemnitzii'' Récluz, 1841: synonym of '' Nerita semirugosa'' Récluz, 1841 * ''Nerita chloroleuca'' Philippi, 1849: synonym of ''Nerita (Argonerita) chamaeleon'' Linnaeus, 1758 * ''Nerita chrysostoma'' Récluz, 1841: synonym of '' Nerita striata'' Burrow, 1815 * ''Nerita comma-notata'' Reeve, 1855: synonym of ''Nerita (Argonerita) aterrima'' Gmelin, 1791 * ''Nerita costata'' Brocchi, 1814: synonym of '' Clathrella clathrata'' (Philippi, 1844) * ''Nerita dacostae'' Récluz, 1844: synonym of '' Clithon sowerbianum'' (Récluz, 1843) * ''Nerita debilis'' Dufo, 1840 : synonym of '' Mienerita debilis'' (Dufo, 1840) * ''Nerita doreyana'' Quoy & Gaimard, 1834: synonym of ''Nerita (Linnerita) litterata'' Gmelin, 1791, synonym of '' Nerita litterata'' Gmelin, 1791 * ''Nerita dubia'' Turton, 1932: synonym of '' Neritina auriculata'' Lamarck, 1816 * ''Nerita flammulata'' Récluz, 1841: synonym of ''Nerita undulata'' Gmelin, 1791 * ''Nerita flava'' Mörch, 1852: synonym of ''Nerita (Linnerita) litterata'' Gmelin, 1791 * ''Nerita flavescens'' Dillwyn, 1817: synonym of ''Nerita (Linnerita) polita'' Linnaeus, 1758 * ''Nerita forskali'' Récluz, 1841: synonym of '' Nerita sanguinolenta'' Menke, 1829 * ''Nerita fulminea'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of '' Natica fulminea'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''Nerita georgina'' Récluz, 1841: synonym of ''Nerita (Amphinerita) insculpta'' Récluz, 1841 * ''Nerita grayana'' Récluz, 1843: synonym of ''Nerita undulata'' Gmelin, 1791 * ''Nerita grayana'' Récluz, 1844: synonym of '' Nerita essingtoni'' Récluz, 1842 * ''Nerita haneti'' Récluz, 1841: synonym of ''Nerita (Lisanerita) morio'' (G.B. Sowerby I, 1833) * ''Nerita hieroglyphica'' Dillwyn, 1817: synonym of ''Nerita (Linnerita) litterata'' Gmelin, 1791 * ''Nerita hilleana'' Dunker, 1871: synonym of ''Nerita (Amphinerita) insculpta'' Récluz, 1841 * ''Nerita hindsii'' Récluz, 1844 : synonym of ''Nerita'' (''Argonerita'') ''squamulata'' Le Guillou, 1841 * ''Nerita histrio'' Linnaeus, 1758 : synonym of ''Nerita'' (''Argonerita'') ''squamulata'' Le Guillou, 1841 * ''Nerita interrupta'' Récluz, 1843: synonym of '' Clithon faba'' (G. B. Sowerby I, 1836) * ''Nerita intricata'' Donovan, 1804: synonym of '' Payraudeautia intricata'' (Donovan, 1804) * ''Nerita islandica'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of '' Amauropsis islandica'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''Nerita jovis'' Récluz, 1843: synonym of '' Vittina jovis'' (Récluz, 1843) * ''Nerita junghuhni'' Schepman, 1901: synonym of ''Nerita (Amphinerita) olivaria'' Le Guillou, 1841 * ''Nerita laevilirata'' Sowerby, 1914: synonym of ''Nerita (Argonerita) chamaeleon'' Linnaeus, 1758 * ''Nerita larva'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of ''Nerita (Linnerita) litterata'' Gmelin, 1791 * ''Nerita leucozonias'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of '' Natica vitellus'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Nerita lineata'' Chemnitz, 1774 - lined nerite: synonym of '' Nerita balteata'' Reeve, 1855 * ''Nerita listeri'' Récluz, 1841: synonym of ''Nerita (Amphinerita) insculpta'' Récluz, 1841 * ''Nerita litoralis'' Turton, 1819: synonym of '' Littorina obtusata'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Nerita maculata'' Pease, 1867 : synonym of ''Nerita'' (''Argonerita'') ''argus'' Récluz, 1841 * ''Nerita mammilla'' Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of '' Polinices mammilla'' (Linnaeus, 1758) *'' Nerita marinduquenensis'' Vallejo, 2000: synonym of '' Nerita patula'' Récluz, 1841 * ''Nerita marmorata'' Hombron & Jacquinot, 1854: synonym of ''Nerita (Argonerita) chamaeleon'' Linnaeus, 1758 * ''Nerita marochiensis'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of '' Natica marochiensis'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''Nerita mascareignar'' Récluz, 1850: synonym of ''Nerita (Argonerita) aterrima'' Gmelin, 1791 * ''Nerita mauritiae'' Récluz, 1841: synonym of ''Nerita (Argonerita) aterrima'' Gmelin, 1791 * ''Nerita melanostoma'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of '' Mammilla melanostoma'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''Nerita menkeana'' Récluz, 1842: synonym of '' Clithon olivaceum'' (Récluz, 1843) * ''Nerita modesta'' Hombron & Jacquinot, 1854: synonym of ''Nerita (Argonerita) chamaeleon'' Linnaeus, 1758 * ''Nerita neritinoides'' Reeve, 1855: synonym of ''Nerita (Lisanerita) morio'' (G.B. Sowerby I, 1833) * ''Nerita nigra'' Dillwyn, 1817: synonym of ''Nerita (Linnerita) polita'' Linnaeus, 1758 * ''Nerita nodosa'' Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of ''Thais (Thais) nodosa'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Nerita obscur''a Hombron & Jacquinot, 1854: synonym of ''Nerita (Argonerita) ocellata'' Le Guillou, 1841 * ''Nerita opaca'' Röding, 1798: synonym of ''Nerita (Linnerita) polita'' Linnaeus, 1758 * ''Nerita orbignyana'' Récluz, 1841: synonym of ''Nerita (Linnerita) litterata'' Gmelin, 1791 * ''Nerita orientalis'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of '' Naticarius orientalis'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''Nerita pacifica'' Récluz, 1850: synonym of ''Nerita (Amphinerita) insculpta'' Récluz, 1841 * ''Nerita panayana'' Récluz, 1843: synonym of '' Nerita litterata'' Gmelin, 1791 * ''Nerita papilla'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of '' Eunaticina papilla'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''Nerita pennata'' Born, 1778: synonym of '' Vittina pennata'' (Born, 1778) * ''Nerita petechialis'' Mörch, 1852: synonym of ''Nerita (Argonerita) signata'' Lamarck, 1822 * ''Nerita pica'' Gould, 1859 : synonym of ''Nerita japonica'' Dunker, 1860 * ''Nerita picta'' Humphrey, 1797: synonym of ''Nerita (Linnerita) polita'' Linnaeus, 1758 * ''Nerita piscinalis'' O. F. Müller, 1774: synonym of '' Valvata piscinalis'' (O. F. Müller, 1774) * ''Nerita plexa'' Dillwyn : synonym of ''Nerita textilis'' Gmelin, 1791 * ''Nerita punctata'' Quoy & Gaimard, 1834: synonym of ''Nerita (Argonerita) aterrima'' Gmelin, 1791 * ''Nerita pygmaea'' Martens, 1889: synonym of ''Nerita (Argonerita) signata'' Lamarck, 1822 * ''Nerita reticulata'' Karsten, 1789: synonym of ''Nerita (Argonerita) signata'' Lamarck, 1822 * ''Nerita rudis'' Wood, 1828: synonym of ''Nerita (Argonerita) signata'' Lamarck, 1822 * ''Nerita rufa'' Montagu, 1808: synonym of '' Lunatia montagui'' (Forbes, 1838) * ''Nerita rufa'' Born, 1778: synonym of '' Natica vitellus'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Nerita rumphii'' Récluz, 1841: synonym of ''Nerita (Linnerita) litterata'' Gmelin, 1791 * ''Nerita rustica'' Nardo, 1847: synonym of ''

Littorina saxatilis ''Littorina saxatilis'', common name the rough periwinkle, is a species of small sea snail, a marine (ocean), marine gastropod mollusc in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles. First identified in the 1700s, it has been misidentifie ...

'' (Olivi, 1792) * ''Nerita samoensis'' Dunker, 1869: synonym of ''Nerita (Argonerita) signata'' Lamarck, 1822 * ''Nerita saturata'' Hutton, 1884: synonym of ''Nerita (Lisanerita) melanotragus'' E.A. Smith, 1884 * ''Nerita scabrella'' Philippi, 1849: synonym of ''Nerita (Argonerita) chamaeleon'' Linnaeus, 1758 * ''Nerita schmeltziana'' Dunker, 1869: synonym of ''Nerita (Argonerita) argus'' Récluz, 1841 * ''Nerita souleyetana'' Récluz, 1842: synonym of '' Clithon souleyetanum'' (Récluz, 1842) * ''Nerita spadicea'' (Gmelin, 1791): synonym of '' Natica spadicea'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''Nerita spengleriana'' Recluz, 1844: synonym of '' Nerita trifasciata'' Le Guillou, 1841 * ''Nerita squamulata'' Le Guillou, 1841: synonym of '' Nerita histrio'' Linnaeus, 1758 * ''Nerita stella'' Dillwyn, 1817: synonym of ''Nerita (Argonerita) squamulata'' Le Guillou, 1841 * ''Nerita stercusmuscarum'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of '' Natica stercusmuscarum'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''Nerita stricta'' Baird, 1873: synonym of ''Nerita (Amphinerita) insculpta'' Récluz, 1841 * ''Nerita succinea'' Récluz, 1841: synonym of '' Neritilia succinea'' (Récluz, 1841) * ''Nerita tomlini'' Turton, 1933: synonym of ''Neritina auriculata'' Lamarck, 1816 * ''Nerita tristis'' Pilsbry, 1901: synonym of ''Nerita helicinoides var. tristis'' Pilsbry, 1901 * ''Nerita vitellus'' Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of '' Natica vitellus'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Nerita vitiensis'' Hombron & Jacquinot, 1854: synonym of ''Nerita (Linnerita) litterata'' Gmelin, 1791 * ''Nerita vittata'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of '' Natica vittata'' (Gmelin, 1791)

Distribution and habitat

Description

Taxonomy

Species

Synonyms

References

Further reading