''Nerita senegalensis'' is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
sea snail
Sea snail is a common name for slow-moving marine gastropod molluscs, usually with visible external shells, such as whelk or abalone. They share the taxonomic class Gastropoda with slugs, which are distinguished from snails primarily by the ...
, a marine
gastropod
The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda ().
This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, from freshwater, and from land. T ...
mollusk
Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is e ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Neritidae
Neritidae, common name the nerites, is a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized saltwater and freshwater snails which have a gill and a distinctive operculum.
MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Neritininae Poey, 1852. Accessed through: ...
.
Description
The length of the shell attains 13 mm.
Nerita senegalensis is a marine gastropod that appears to have a preference for specific levels of the shore. According to some laboratory and field experiments, displaced snails exhibit a general 'homing' behavior when displaced down-shore or up shore. However, cues involved in this migrational behavior have yet to be identified.
Distribution
This marine species occurs off
Gabon
Gabon (; ; snq, Ngabu), officially the Gabonese Republic (french: République gabonaise), is a country on the west coast of Central Africa. Located on the equator, it is bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north ...
and
Senegal
Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤠(Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤠ðž ...
.
References
* Gofas, S., Afonso, J.P. & Brandà o, M. (1985). Conchas e Moluscos de Angola = Coquillages et Mollusques d'Angola.
hells and molluscs of Angola Universidade Agostinho / Elf Aquitaine Angola: Angola. 140 pp. Printed without date.
* Rolán E., 2005. Malacological Fauna From The Cape Verde Archipelago. Part 1, Polyplacophora and Gastropoda
* Bernard P.A. (1984). Coquillages du Gabon
hells of Gabon Pierre A. Bernard: Libreville, Gabon. 140 pp, 75 plates, illus
External links
Gmelin J.F. (1791). Vermes. In: Gmelin J.F. (Ed.) Caroli a Linnaei Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Ed. 13. Tome 1(6). G.E. Beer, LipsiaeReeve, L. A. (1855). Monograph of the genus Nerita. In: Conchologia Iconica, or, illustrations of the shells of molluscous animals, vol. 9, pls 1-19, and unpaginated text. L. Reeve & Co., LondonPhilippi, R. A. (1849). Centuria tertia testaceorum novorum. Zeitschrift für Malakozoologie. 5(10
Neritidae
Gastropods described in 1791
Taxa named by Johann Friedrich Gmelin
{{Neritidae-stub