Nerita balteata Reeve, 1855

Mustapha, Nurshahida, Baharuddin, Nursalwa, Tan, Siong Kiat & Marshall, David J., 2021, The neritid snails of Brunei Darussalam: their geographical, ecological and conservation significance, Ecologica Montenegrina 42, pp. 45-61 : 48

Nerita balteata Reeve, 1855

Figs. 2M–N and 4G

Nerita balteata Reeve, 1855 : Species 28, plate vi, figs. 28a-28b.

Nerita articulata – Tan & Clements, 2008: 483, figs. 2-3, 2-4.

Nerita (Cymostyla) balteata – Eichhorst, 2016a: 455, pl. 113.

Material. UBDM.7.00020. Sample was collected from PB.

Abundance. Abundant.

Habitat. Arboreal species. On mangrove tree trunks, branches, roots and on muddy banks.

Local distribution. BM, PB, PK, PPt, SBe, and SBu.

Ecology and conservation. Despite being exploited, N. balteata remains abundant. They are renowned as a delicacy in the region ( Somchai 1995; Hamli et al. 2013), and thus are heavily collected for food consumption. At BM, the population was seen to decline and not recover. Snail populations at SBe and PK have declined apparently in response to the nearby bridge construction (2014-2019) and the eradication of mangroves. Although mangrove stands in the Brunei Bay are extensive (18,400 ha) and these snails have vast area for colonisation, the apparently slow colonising potential and slow growth rates undermine population re-establishment. This species should benefit from monitoring, but is considered to be of low conservation importance in the face of the extensive mangrove stands in Brunei Bay.

Biogeographical distribution. Western Coral Triangle in SB and BY and Sunda Shelf at TR, JH, SW and SG. N. balteata is commonly distributed in Indo-West Pacific ( Frey 2010b).

Figures

Figure 2. Neritidae species found associated with lower estuarine, mangroves and rocky shores of Brunei Darussalam, shown in apertural and abapertural view. A–B. Nerita albicilla Linnaeus, 1758. C–D. Nerita chamaeleon Linnaeus, 1758. E–F. *Nerita patula Récluz, 1841. G–H. *Nerita insculpta Récluz, 1841. I–J. Nerita litterata Gmelin, 1791. K– L. Nerita undata Linnaeus, 1758. M–N. Nerita balteata Reeve, 1855. O–P. Nerita planospira Anton, 1838. Q–R. *Nerita exuvia Linnaeus, 1758. S-T. *Nerita histrio Linnaeus, 1758. (*) indicates a new species record for Brunei Darussalam. Scale bar represents 3 mm.

Figure 4. Side view showing off spire plasticity amongst Nerita species found in Brunei Darussalam. A. Nerita albicilla Linnaeus, 1758. B. Nerita litterata Gmelin, 1791. C. Nerita insculpta Récluz, 1841. D. Nerita patula Récluz, 1841. E. Nerita chamaeleon Linnaeus, 1758. F. Nerita undata Linnaeus, 1758. G. Nerita balteata Reeve, 1855. H. Nerita planospira Anton, 1838. I. Neripteron violaceum (Gmelin, 1791). J. Neripteron cornucopia (Benson, 1836). K. Vittina coromandeliana (G. B. Sowerby I, 1836). L. Neritodryas dubia (Gmelin, 1791). M. Clithon oualaniense (Lesson, 1831). N. Neripteron spirale (Reeve, 1855). O. Nerita histrio Linnaeus, 1758. P. Nerita exuvia Linnaeus, 1758. Markings on I and J: the spire hangs further midway in N. cornucopia compared to N. violaceum. Scale bar on top represents 3 mm, unless stated otherwise.