page_title: Nerita melanotragus
section_title: Habitat
hierarchical_section_title: Nerita melanotragus / Habitat
caption_attribution_description: English: Nerita melanotragus (underside) from Wenderholm, near Auckland, New Zealand. This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Graham Bould. This applies worldwide. In some countries this may not be legally possible; if so: Graham Bould grants anyone the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.
context_page_description: Nerita melanotragus, common name black nerite, is a medium-sized sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Neritidae, the nerites.
  There has been some confusion over the taxonomy of the genus Nerita in the Pacific region, however Nerita atramentosa and Nerita melanotragus are now recognised as separate species.
context_section_description: This species is commonly found on intertidal rocks, particularly in the mid to upper intertidal zone. It prefers to attach to sloped or vertical rock surfaces, or hang from the underside of rocks. This may be a method of thermoregulation, because if N. atramentosa is on a horizontal surface, it would absorb the maximum solar radiation, whereas on sloped or vertical surfaces it absorbs less energy (and thus heat).
caption: A shell of Nerita melanotragus, underside view
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