Vittina natalensis, commonly known as spotted nerite or zebra nerite,[2][3] is a species of small freshwater snail with an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Neritidae, the nerites.[4] It returns to brackish waters to reproduce. This is a popular aquarium snail, sold because it looks attractive and eats algae in freshwater tanks, but can only reproduce in saltwater or brackish water conditions.[3]
| Vittina natalensis | |
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_-_Neritidae_-_Mollusc_shell.jpeg)
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| Vittina natalensis shells | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Neritimorpha |
| Order: | Cycloneritida |
| Family: | Neritidae |
| Genus: | Vittina |
| Species: | V. natalensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Vittina natalensis (Reeve, L.A., 1845)
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| Synonyms | |
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Distribution
editThis species is endemic to the coastal plain of East Africa -- Kenya, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, and Tanzania.[1] Its specific name natalensis refers to the region of Natal, South Africa.
Human use
editThis species is a common choice of algae-eating snail among freshwater aquarists. In the aquarium trade, the striped shell of this species has caused it to be known as the tiger snail, zebra snail, or zebra nerite. (The name zebra nerite is however misleading, because there are several species of nerite that have that common name, including Puperita pupa, a small marine nerite from the tropical western Atlantic.) The stripes in some individuals may display as zigzags, dashes or spots.[citation needed] In an aquarium, the shell of this species grows to about 2.5 cm (one inch) in diameter. This snail prefers an aquarium temperature of 22 to 26 °C.[citation needed]
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Vittina natalensis in an aquarium -
Vittina natalensis moving over aquarium glass
References
edit- ^ a b Appleton, C.; Kristensen, T.K.; Lange, C.N.; Stensgaard, A-S. & Van Damme, D. (2010). "Neritina natalensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T14628A4451314. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T14628A4451314.en.
- ^ Perissinotto, Renzo; Miranda, Nelson; Raw, Jacqueline; Peer, Nasreen (2014-09-15). "Biodiversity census of Lake St Lucia, iSimangaliso Wetland Park (South Africa): Gastropod molluscs". ZooKeys (440): 1–43. doi:10.3897/zookeys.440.7803. ISSN 1313-2970. PMC 4196252. PMID 25317060.
- ^ a b "Nerite Snail (Neritina natalensis): Ultimate Care Guide". Fish Laboratory Aquatics. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- ^ MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Vittina natalensis (Reeve, 1855). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1353177 on 2021-09-26
- Eichhorst T.E. (2016). Neritidae of the world. Volume 2. Harxheim: Conchbooks. pp. 696–1366
External links
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