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Ox-tongue
nerite snail
Nerita albicilla
Family Neritidae
updated
Sep 2020
Where
seen? This
nerite snail with distinctive 'pimples' on the underside is often
seen on many of our rocky shores and granite seawalls. It is usually
found nearer the low water mark. The study by Tan & Clements (2008)
found this snail on rocks, breakwaters, and seawalls in lower to middle
intertidal zone. Sites included: Pulau Ubin, Changi, Tanah Merah,
Marina South, Labrador, Sentosa, St. John's Island, Pulau Hantu, Pulau
Salu, Raffles Lighthouse and Tuas.
Features: 2-3cm. Shell thick heavy, a
flattened oval narrower at end and wider at front, spire does not
stick out at all. The flat underside is much longer that other nerites,
smooth white or yellowish and pimpled with large rounded bumps. These
bumps resembles the tongue of an ox (Albicilla means 'ox-tongue').
Small
ridged 'teeth' on the straight edge at the shell opening. Larger shells
with two rounded 'teeth' on both sides of the shell opening. Operculum thick, evenly covered in tiny bumps, pinkish or yellowish
sometimes with darkish portion. Body pale with fine black bands on
the foot and long thin black tentacles. |
Sisters Island, Jan 06 |
Sisters Islands, Jan 06 |
Pulau Semakau, Feb 09 |
| Many patterns: The shell may be lightly grooved, sometimes glossy. The shell pattern can vary widely from bold spirals to mottled or plain. Some can be white and chalky from exposure and carry barnacles. |
Sentosa, Apr 07 |
Berlayar Creek, Apr 09 |
Pulau Jong, Nov 08 |
| Human uses: It is collected as
food by coastal dwellers as well as for its shell for the shell trade. |
| Ox-tongue
nerite snails on Singapore shores |
| Other sightings on Singapore shores |
Pulau Biola, Dec 09
Photo shared by Ivan Kwan on flickr. |
East Coast (PCN), May 21
Photo shared by Vincent Choo on facebcok. |
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Links
References
- Tan Siong
Kiat and Henrietta P. M. Woo, 2010 Preliminary
Checklist of The Molluscs of Singapore (pdf), Raffles
Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore.
- Tan, S.K.
& Clements, R. (2008) Taxonomy
and distribution of the Neritidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) on Singapore.
Zoological Studies 47(4): 481-494.
- Tan, K. S.
& L. M. Chou, 2000. A
Guide to the Common Seashells of Singapore. Singapore
Science Centre. 160 pp.
- Abbott, R.
Tucker, 1991. Seashells
of South East Asia.
Graham Brash, Singapore. 145 pp.
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