About Cerithidea decollata (Linnaeus, 1767)
Description: Adult Cerithidea decollata have thick shells that are approximately 3 cm long, with 5 whorls and around 20 axial ribs on each whorl. A key distinguishing feature of adult individuals is the broken-off tip of the shell, though this feature can be hard to identify in some specimens. Ecology: This species is common in coastal mangrove forests, particularly near Avicennia marina trees, in the western Indian Ocean, including Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa and Madagascar. Juveniles are rarely encountered, so little information is available about their ecology. Adult Cerithidea decollata feed on small organic particles (detritus) and seagrasses carried in by the tide. They inhabit gently sloping intertidal zones that experience two high tides and two low tides each day. There are large differences in flooding duration and sea level between the two daily high tides, across different seasons, and between locations closer to and farther from the shoreline.
