Neritidae [Neritidae]

Description

Neritidae, commonly known as nerites, is a family of predominantly marine gastropod mollusks. This family is characterized by its diverse and often brightly colored shells. Neritids are found in a wide range of environments from freshwater to marine systems, but the majority are marine species. They typically inhabit intertidal and shallow subtidal zones, often seen on rocks, mangroves, and coral reefs. Members of this family have a unique larval stage known as the veliger stage, during which they are planktonic before settling and metamorphosing into the adult form. Their diet mainly consists of algae, which they scrape off surfaces using a specialized structure called a radula.