Neritina pulligera (Linnaeus, 1767)

Diagnostic features

Neritids of the genus Neritina and similar genera such as Vittina have cap-shaped, globular, or semiglobose, shells with a low to flat spire that is often submerged by last whorl. The surface is generally smooth, sometimes with spines. The periostracum is usually thick or at least well developed. Colour may vary from black to multi-coloured often with distinct and complex colour patterns. Columella very pronounced, broad and shelf-like, sometimes with wing-like projections, and often brightly coloured; columellar edge smooth or with fine denticulations. There is no umbilicus. The operculum is ‘D’ shaped with a smooth glossy outer surface often spirally patterned, with a prominent internal often bi-lobed elongated peg (apophysis) and a low internal spiral raised area or bulge mid-way. Their cephalic tentacles are narrow with the eye situated on a short stalk next to the outer edge of the tentacle. The snout is short and truncated with a scalloped edge. The spermatophores are variable in length, with or without an enclosing envelope or an internal radial thread but never with an external filament. Vaginal duct long and leaves the vagina near the spermatophore sac. Penes are variable but generally an external long curved organ with a prominent lateral or terminal groove, there is never a penis pouch in the male head.

Neritina pulligera is a rather large species (length to about 40 mm) has a dark brown to black shell and an orange aperture. The spire is very low.

Classification

Neritina (Neritina) pulligera (Linnaeus, 1767)

Class Gastropoda

Infraclass Neritimorpha

Order Neritopsida

Suborder Neritina

Superfamily Neritoidea

Family Neritidae

Subfamily Neritininae

Genus Neritina Rafinesque, 1815 (Type speciesNerita pulligera Linnaeus, 1767) (Synonyms Neritella Gray, 1841;  Velatella Meek, 1873).

Original reference: Rafinesque C.S. [-Schmaltz]. (1815). Analyse de la Nature ou Tableau de l'univers et des corps organisés, pp. 1-224.

Subgenus Neritina

Original name: Nerita pulligera Linnaeus, 1767. In Linnaeus, C. 1767. Systema naturae, seu per regna tria naturae,secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. 12th edn Holmiae : Laurentii Salvii Part 2 pp. 533-1327 [1253].

Type locality: Indie fluviis (India).

Synonyms: Neritina petiti Récluz, 1841; Neritina knorri Récluz, 1841; Neritina iris Mousson, 1848; Neritina brugieri Sowerby, 1849; Neritina sanguina Sowerby, 1849; Neritina pulligera sulcata Tenison Woods, 1878.

Biology and ecology

Under rocks in holes, amongst dead leaves in fresh and brackish rivers. As with other neritids, egg capsules are small, oval and white.

Distribution

North Queensland, and also found in Asia, Madagascar, India, and some Pacific islands.

Notes

Widely distributed Indo-Pacific species that ranges into estuarine environments.

Further reading

Abdou, A., Galzin, R., Lord, C., Denys, G. P. J. & Keith, P. (2017). Revision of the species complex'Neritina pulligera' (Gastropoda, Cyclonetimorpha: Neritidae) using taxonomy and barcoding. Vie et Milieu 67: 149-161.

Beesley, P. L., Ross, G. J. B. & Wells, A., Eds. (1998). Mollusca: The Southern Synthesis. Parts A & B. Melbourne, CSIRO Publishing.

Benthem Jutting, W. S. S., van (1956). Systematic studies on the non-marine Mollusca of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. 5: Critical revision of the Javanese freshwater gastropods. Treubia 23: 259-477.

Brandt, R. A. M. (1974). The non-marine aquatic Mollusca of Thailand. Archiv Für Molluskenkunde 105: 1-423.

Cabat, A. R. & Finet, Y. (1992). Catalogue of the Neritidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) described by Constant A. Recluz including the location of the type specimens. Revue suisse de Zoologie 99: 223-253.

Davis, A. R. & Ponder, W. (2019). Biogeographic conundrum: Why so few stream nerite species (Gastropoda: Neritidae) in Australia? Freshwater Biology 64: 2084-2088.

Eichhorst, T. E. (2016). Neritidae of the World. Volumes 1 & 2. ConchBooks, Harxheim.

Haynes, A. (1988). Notes on the stream neritids (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia) of Oceania. Micronesica 21: 93-102.

Smith, B. J. (1992). Non-marine Mollusca. Pp. i-xii, 1-408 in W. W. K. Houston. Zoological Catalogue of Australia, 8. Canberra, Australian Government Publishing Service.