Black Nerites swallow quite a bit of sand when eating algae.
Common name: Black Nerite
Scientific name: Nerita atramentosa
Photo: Dr I. Bennett
Other animals are also called 'periwinkles'. See if you can find out about them. How do periwinkles scrape their food off the rocks?
Rock pools and rock platforms
Black Nerite
Black Nerites are snails. Their shells are round and black. They can grow to 2.8 cm in height.
Black Nerites have smooth, round black shells.
Black Nerites live on rocky shores of southern Australia.
Black Nerites eat algae. They scrape small bits of plant off the rocks with their rough tongue.
Other snails, crabs, octopuses and birds eat Black Nerites.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2003
