The « Textile Nerite » is a common neritid with striking pattern; it has a rather wide distribution in the western Indian Ocean ranging from eastern South Africa to the Red Sea. It is a grazing herbivore living attached on hard substrates of rocky shores, in the littoral zone; often quite high on the shore. It is very variable in size and also in pattern; although average size is about 30mm. giant specimens may exceed 50mm. The specimen depicted here is rather large, but unfortunately without the granulose operculum. Intertidal in rock crevice, Toliara, Madagascar, 44.0mm.

35mm. Thick, heavy, dull, much broader than taJl, spire depressed. Columella has 2 or 3 weak teeth; callus pad densely granulated; outer lip strongly ridged inside. Coarsely wrinkled, spiral cords. White or orange-yellow dashes on black; apertural area white, callus pad tinged orange. Often heavily eroded. Operculum densely granulated. Habitat: intertidal on rocks.

35mm. Thick, heavy, dull, much broader than taJl, spire depressed. Columella has 2 or 3 weak teeth; callus pad densely granulated; outer lip strongly ridged inside. Coarsely wrinkled, spiral cords. White or orange-yellow dashes on black; apertural area white, callus pad tinged orange. Often heavily eroded. Operculum densely granulated. Habitat: intertidal on rocks.