About Nerita atramentosa Reeve, 1855
Nerita atramentosa Reeve, 1855 is a nerite species with a shell that ranges between 12 mm and 32 mm in size. This species is endemic to the southern coastlands of Australia, including South Australia, southern Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. It occurs west of Wilsons Promontory in western Victoria, alongside South Australia and southern Western Australia. The closely related species Nerita melanotragus is found in eastern Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. This nerite is commonly found on intertidal rocks, especially in the mid to upper intertidal zone. It prefers to attach to sloped or vertical rock surfaces, or hang from the underside of rocks. This positioning behavior may act as a method of thermoregulation: individuals on horizontal rock surfaces absorb the maximum amount of solar radiation, while those on surfaces at a greater angle to the sun absorb less heat energy. Nerita atramentosa exhibits trail following behavior. It feeds by scraping epilithic algae using its radula. Nerites of this species are preyed upon by reef crabs (Ozius truncatus).
