Biology

Nerita plicata represents a common and broadly distributed species of marine intertidal snail, ranging throughout the rocky shores of the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.  The species is characterized by having planktonic veliger larvae, resulting in broad dispersal capabilities.  Upon settlement in the upper intertidal, juveniles and adults feed by scraping microalgae and cyanobacteria from hard, rocky substrate using a radula.  Sexes are separate, with males and females engaging in copulation; fertilization is internal.  Following mating, females deposit egg capsules containing multiple eggs that develop and hatch into veliger larvae.