Ornate Nerite, Nerita scabricosta

Ornate Nerite, Nerita scabricosta. Size: 2.1 cm (0.8 inches) x 1.6 cm (0.6 inches).

The Ornate Nerite, Nerita scabricosta (Lamarck, 1822), is a member of the Neritidae Family of Nerite Shells, that is also known as the Rough-ribbed Nerite. Their shells are solid and rounded with four whorls, with a sharply pointed apex and an exterior with sculpting consisting of numerous, rough, rounded, ribs that run along the whorls and a large aperture with a toothed outer lip and a wide toothed inner lip. The exterior of the shell is dark gray, with varying amounts of white specs or blotches; the interior is white, with varying amounts of yellow to tan blotching and the outer lip of the aperture has a black band. Ornate Nerites reach a maximum length of 5.1 cm (2.0 inches).

Ornate Nerites are found on rocks in the higher intertidal zone. They range from Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur to Peru, including the Cocos, Galapagos Islands and Revillagigedo Islands. They are found throughout the Sea of Cortez.

Synonyms include Nerita deshayesii, Nerita fuscata, Nerita multijugis, Nerita. ornata, and Nerita papilonacea.