About Drupa ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758)
The shell of Drupa ricinus (previously referred to as Sistrum ricinus) measures between 19 mm and 32 mm. The shell is solid and narrow, with a dirty white base color marked by dark brown or black nodules, and has an attractive appearance. This species is a marine snail that occupies the lower eulittoral zone, living under boulders and on reef crests. It can also be found on reef flats and rocks, above the tide lines of lagoons and inner reefs, at depths ranging from 1 to 20 meters. Drupa ricinus is a predatory species that feeds on worms and mollusks, including barnacles, bivalves, and other snails. To hunt its prey, it uses a radula to drill a hole into the prey's shell. This species is distributed across the entire tropical Indo-Pacific, with confirmed populations in the Galápagos Islands, Australia, and Hawaii.
