Naria marginalis

, Naria marginalis, Naria marginalis

Afghanistan, Alaska, Algeria, Andaman and Nicobar, Angola, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Arctic, Argentina, Ascension Island, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores Islands, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Islands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Cocos Islands, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Corsica Island, Crete Island, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, El Salvador, England, Equatorial Guinea, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, Galapagos Islands, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macedonia, Madagascar, Madeira Islands, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, North Korea, Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Saint Martin, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sardinia Island, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Sicily Island, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uruguay, US Minor Islands, USA, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wales, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Amvrakikos Gulf, Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Aral Sea, Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Barents Sea, Bay of Bengal, Bay of Biscay, Beaufort Sea, Bering Sea, Black Sea, Bohai Sea, Cantabrian Sea, Celtic Sea, Chukchi Sea, Coral Sea, Dead Sea, English Channel, German Bight, Great Barrier Reef, Greenland Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Fonseca, Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Halmahera Sea, Iberian Sea, Indian Ocean, Java Sea, Korinthiakos Gulf, Labrador Sea, Levantine Sea, Lingayan Gulf, Mediterranean Sea, Moro Gulf, Okhotsk Sea, Pacific Ocean, Pagassitikos Gulf, Salish Sea, Saronikos Gulf, Scotia Sea, Sea of Azov, Sea of Marmara, Siberian Sea, South China Sea, Southern Ocean, Thermaikos Gulf, Yellow Sea

Naria marginalis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries. Naria marginalis is a common species found in many locations throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

Description & Characteristics

Naria marginalis is a medium-sized cowrie, typically reaching a maximum size of about 45 millimeters in length. The shell is ovate in shape and has a smooth, glossy surface. The dorsal surface of the shell is usually a pale brown or cream color, with a series of dark brown spots and blotches. The ventral surface of the shell is white and has a distinctive, raised margin that gives the species its name. The aperture of the shell is long and narrow, and the teeth on the inner lip are small and numerous.

Habitat and Occurrence

Naria marginalis is found in the intertidal zone and shallow subtidal waters of the Indo-Pacific region. It is a common species in many tropical and subtropical areas, including the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea. The species typically inhabits coral reefs, rocky shores, and seagrass beds, making it a prevalent presence in these aquatic ecosystems. Naria marginalis is commonly found in the neritic zone, the area of the ocean that extends from the shoreline to the edge of the continental shelf.

Taxonomy

The species Naria marginalis belongs to the Class: Gastropoda, Order: Littorinimorpha, and Family: Cypraeidae. The family Cypraeidae is a diverse group of marine snails that are characterized by their smooth, glossy shells. Cowries are found in a wide range of habitats around the world, and they are known for their beautiful and varied colors and patterns.

Feeding

Naria marginalis is a herbivorous species that feeds primarily on algae. The snail uses its radula, a ribbon-like structure in its mouth, to scrape algae off of rocks and other surfaces. Naria marginalis also feeds on detritus, which is decaying organic matter. The species plays an important role in the ecosystem by helping to control the growth of algae.

Associated Species

Image References

Leave a Comment