| Family: |
Potamididae (swamp-ceriths and horn shells) |
| Max. size: |
4.5 cm SHL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthic; brackish; marine |
| Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: from India and Sri Lanka to Papua New Guinea; north to Japan and south to central Queensland. |
| Diagnosis: |
Shell small, with 8 to 9 whorls, and flat sided, with sutures being slightly impressed. Two channels on upper whorls and four on the body whorl are crossed by axial ribs, giving the shell a beaded appearance. A distinct rib is present on the body whorl of adult shells. Outer lip flared in adults, columella smooth, and the siphonal canal is short. Shell is yellowish, channels darker, and whitish near the outer edge of aperture. Operculum is light brown and horny. |
| Biology: |
Abundant on mud flats, in brackish or supersalted fishponds. Occur in the low to mid intertidal sections of protected bays. Also found on sand, seaward of mangroves (Ref. 128877). Locally, numbers of about 500 individuals per square meter can occur. Usually living in the upper bottom layer of mud which is almost liquid (Ref. 349). Detritus feeder (Ref. 751). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
| Country info: |
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