West Indian Top Snail (Cittarium pica) (Linnaeus, 1758)

 

Synonyms:Cittarium picoides, Livona pica, Livona picoides, Meleagris pica, Trochus picoides, Turbo pica, magpie shell

 

 

Cittarium pica is found throughout the Caribbean Sea, from Yucatan and the Florida Keys to Colombia Venezuela, and Trinidad and Tobago; reintroduced in Bermuda. C. pica inhabits the intertidal and shallow subtidal zones in exposed and moderately sheltered rocky shores, and it is most abundant at the water's edge. It has a large, conical, dextral shell (90-120 mm) with a checkering pattern of white and black markings. Herbivorous, scrapes the algal growths off rocks. C. pica has been overharvested in parts of its range.

 

		D48587 West Indian Top Snail (Cittarium pica) South Bimini, Bahamas Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D48219 West Indian Top Snail (Cittarium pica) West Indian Fuzzy Chiton (Acanthopleura granulata) South Bimini, Bahamas Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D48588 West Indian Top Snail (Cittarium pica) South Bimini, Bahamas Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
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