171
Table 11.4
Up-to-date list of species, identifying characters, their habitat and distribution
Name
Key character for identifi cation
Habitat
Distribution
Neritina
( Neritina
) pulligera
(Linn.)
The last whorl is so greatly expanded that
earlier whorls are completely enclosed; wide
columellar callus, outer lip with deep orange
band
Found in rivers and streams, near the upper
limit of tidal infl uence and on stones
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
and Tamil Nadu
Neritina
( Dostia
) platyconcha
(Annandale
and Prashad)
Shell thin, translucent, broadly oval, slightly
truncated posterior, columellar plate separated
from the lower margin of the shell and extend
more than half way across its mouth
Rivers (tidal mudfl ats)
Known from type locality
only (Kahadak river)
Feed as grazer on diatoms.
Neritina
( Dostia
) violacea
(Gmelin)
Shell thick, ovate, crepidula shape, whorls 2,
spire minute anteriorly twisted inwards,
protruding out as a beak; periostracum
yellowish brown
Found in creeks and rivers with tidal infl uence,
adhering to the roots and branches of the trees
and also creeping on the mud fl ats
Andaman Islands, Andhra
Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat,
Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha,
Tamil Nadu and West Bengal
Neritina
( Neripteron
) auriculata
(Lamarck)
Shell semiglobular, aperture wide. Periostome
broad and produced into two auricles or wings
at the upper and lower columellar sides
The species neither survive in higher salinity
nor occur in pure freshwater (tidal mudfl ats) of
estuarine
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
and Tamil Nadu
Feed as grazer on diatoms
Neritina
( Vittina
) perottetiana
(Recluz)
Shell semi-globose and smooth, operculum thin
and externally light grey, inner columellar
margin straight with 5–10 denticulation or
sometimes smooth
Hill streams
Tamil Nadu (endemic to
Western Ghats only)
Neritina
( Vittina
) smithi
(Wood)
Shell oval, whorls 5, apex blunt, columellar
margin with 13–15 teeth. Shell glistering, white
or dull brown with strong black, longitudinal,
undulating and interrupting lines and bands
Amphibious life style in the upper tidal zone,
Gangetic estuary attached with rocks or bricks.
They preferred shadowed loam and mud under
dense woody riparian vegetation (Nessman
2007)
Tributaries of the Bay of
Bengal, Ganga estuaries,
downstream of Hugli River in
West Bengal: Barrackpore
Neritina
( Vittina
) turrita
(Gmelin)
Shell thick, oblong, globose, whorls 4; inner
columellar margin with 16–17 distinct teeth
Tidal mud fl ats, attached with tree roots, coral
reef boulders
Nicobar Islands: Kamorta and
Car Nicobar
Neritina
( Vittina
) variegata
Lesson
Shell oval, short and distinct spire, smooth
surface with black spiral bands or zigzag
markings, columellar callus with orange spots,
inner with 8–11 denticles
Tidal mud fl ats attach with stones and tree roots Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Neritodryas subsulcata
(Sowerby)
Shell blackish brown with yellowish brown
markings. Sculpture consists of conspicuous
broad spiral ribs with distinct grooves in
between and crossed by longitudinal striation
Tidal mud fl ats, attached with tree roots, coral
reef boulders, stones, Jetties’ wall
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(continued)
11 Freshwater Molluscs of India
Table 11.4
Up-to-date list of species, identifying characters, their habitat and distribution
Name
Key character for identifi cation
Habitat
Distribution
Neritina
( Neritina
) pulligera
(Linn.)
The last whorl is so greatly expanded that
earlier whorls are completely enclosed; wide
columellar callus, outer lip with deep orange
band
Found in rivers and streams, near the upper
limit of tidal infl uence and on stones
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
and Tamil Nadu
Neritina
( Dostia
) platyconcha
(Annandale
and Prashad)
Shell thin, translucent, broadly oval, slightly
truncated posterior, columellar plate separated
from the lower margin of the shell and extend
more than half way across its mouth
Rivers (tidal mudfl ats)
Known from type locality
only (Kahadak river)
Feed as grazer on diatoms.
Neritina
( Dostia
) violacea
(Gmelin)
Shell thick, ovate, crepidula shape, whorls 2,
spire minute anteriorly twisted inwards,
protruding out as a beak; periostracum
yellowish brown
Found in creeks and rivers with tidal infl uence,
adhering to the roots and branches of the trees
and also creeping on the mud fl ats
Andaman Islands, Andhra
Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat,
Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha,
Tamil Nadu and West Bengal
Neritina
( Neripteron
) auriculata
(Lamarck)
Shell semiglobular, aperture wide. Periostome
broad and produced into two auricles or wings
at the upper and lower columellar sides
The species neither survive in higher salinity
nor occur in pure freshwater (tidal mudfl ats) of
estuarine
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
and Tamil Nadu
Feed as grazer on diatoms
Neritina
( Vittina
) perottetiana
(Recluz)
Shell semi-globose and smooth, operculum thin
and externally light grey, inner columellar
margin straight with 5–10 denticulation or
sometimes smooth
Hill streams
Tamil Nadu (endemic to
Western Ghats only)
Neritina
( Vittina
) smithi
(Wood)
Shell oval, whorls 5, apex blunt, columellar
margin with 13–15 teeth. Shell glistering, white
or dull brown with strong black, longitudinal,
undulating and interrupting lines and bands
Amphibious life style in the upper tidal zone,
Gangetic estuary attached with rocks or bricks.
They preferred shadowed loam and mud under
dense woody riparian vegetation (Nessman
2007)
Tributaries of the Bay of
Bengal, Ganga estuaries,
downstream of Hugli River in
West Bengal: Barrackpore
Neritina
( Vittina
) turrita
(Gmelin)
Shell thick, oblong, globose, whorls 4; inner
columellar margin with 16–17 distinct teeth
Tidal mud fl ats, attached with tree roots, coral
reef boulders
Nicobar Islands: Kamorta and
Car Nicobar
Neritina
( Vittina
) variegata
Lesson
Shell oval, short and distinct spire, smooth
surface with black spiral bands or zigzag
markings, columellar callus with orange spots,
inner with 8–11 denticles
Tidal mud fl ats attach with stones and tree roots Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Neritodryas subsulcata
(Sowerby)
Shell blackish brown with yellowish brown
markings. Sculpture consists of conspicuous
broad spiral ribs with distinct grooves in
between and crossed by longitudinal striation
Tidal mud fl ats, attached with tree roots, coral
reef boulders, stones, Jetties’ wall
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(continued)
11 Freshwater Molluscs of India