PORT PHILLIP BAY


Black Nerite 

Nerita atramentosa Reeve, 1855

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

See below for information.

Source: Museum Victoria (2006) Melbourne's wildlife: a field guide to the fauna of greater Melbourne. Museum Victoria and CSIRO Publishing.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Mollusca
Subphylum:
Conchifera
Superclass:
Visceroconcha
Class:
Gastropoda
Subclass:
Orthogastropoda
Superorder:
Neritimorpha
Order:
Neritopsina
Suborder:
Cycloneritimorpha
Superfamily:
Neritoidea
Family:
Neritidae
Subfamily:
Neritinae
Genus:
Nerita
Subgenus:
Melanerita
Species:
atramentosa

General Description

Shell black, smooth and rounded. Opening white with a black cover (operculum). Shell up to 3 cm long.

Biology

Black Nerites are one of only two members of their group of molluscs found in southern Australia. The second species has a brown operculum covering the shell opening and occurs in eastern Victoria.

Habitat

Mid to high intertidal areas of rocky shores.

Reefs

Coastal shores

Distribution guide

New Zealand and southern Australia.

Species Group

Sea snails and shells › Snails

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

3 cm

Diet

Herbivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Patullo, B.

Blair Patullo is Online Producer for marine projects at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Patullo, B., 2011, Black Nerite, Nerita atramentosa, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 05 May 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/10939

Text: creative commons cc by licence