List of marine molluscs of Mozambique

The list of marine molluscs of Mozambique is a list of saltwater species that form a part of the molluscan fauna of Mozambique. This list does not include the land or freshwater molluscs.



Gastropoda
Gastropods in Mozambique include:

Patellogastropoda
Patellidae - True limpets
 * Cellana radiata capensis (Gmelin, 1791) (Port Alfred to Kenya) (syn. Cellana capensis Gmelin, Helcioniscus capensis (Gmelin, 1790), Patella capensis Gmelin, 1791)
 * Variable limpet Helcion concolor Krauss, 1848 (Eastern Cape to Mozambique)
 * Patella flexuosa (Quoy & Gaimard, 1834) (Northern KwaZulu-Natal to Mzambique) (syn. Scutellastra flexuosa)
 * Patella pica Reeve, 1854 (Zululand to Mozambique) (syn. Scutellastra pica)

Vetigastropoda
Pleurotomariidae
 * Bayerotrochus africanus (Tomlin, 1948) (Central KawZulu-Natal to Mozambique)

Haliotidae - Abalone
 * Haliotis clathrata Reeve, 1846 (Mozambique)
 * Haliotis ovina Gmelin 1791 (Northern KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)
 * Haliotis pustulata Reeve, 1846 (Northern KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)

Fissurellidae - Keyhole limpets
 * Amblychilepas dubia (Reeve, 1849) (KwaZulu-Natal south coast to southern Mozambique)
 * Diodora calyculata (Krauss, 1848) (Port Alfred to southern Mozambique)
 * Diodora crucifera (Pilsbry, 1890) (Port Alfred to northern Indian Ocean)
 * Diodora natalensis (Krauss, 1848) (Port Alfred to Mozambique) (syn. Fissurella natalensis Krauss, 1848)
 * Emarginula sibogae (Schepman, 1908) (KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique) but genus given in this reference as Emarginella. Corrected using http://www.marinespecies.org/
 * Macroschisma africana Tomlin, 1932 (Western Transkei to Mozambique)
 * Scutus unguis (Linne, 1758) (East London to KwaZulu-Natal and tropical Indo-Pacific)

Trochidae
 * Clanculus puniceus (Philippi, 1846) (KwaZulu-Natal south coast to tropical Indo-Pacific)

Turbinidae - Turban shells
 * Bolma bathyraphis (E.A. Smith, 1899) (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Turbo argyrostomus Linnaeus, 1758 (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Turbo chrysostomus Linnaeus, 1758 (northern KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Crowned turban shell Lunella coronata (Gmelin, 1791) (Central KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique) (syn. Turbo coronatus Gmelin, 1790)

Phasianellidae
 * Pheasant shell Tricolia capensis (Dunker, 1846) (Namibia to Mozambique) (syn. Phasianella capensis Dunker, 1846)
 * Tricolia neritina (Dunker, 1846) (Namibia to Mozambique) (syn. Phasianella neritina Dunker, 1846)
 * Tricolia retrolineata Nangammbi & Herbert, 2008 - southern Mozambique

Neritimorpha
Neritidae - Nerites
 * Blotched nerite Nerita albicilla Linnaeus, 1758 (Eastern cape to Mozambique)
 * Nerita plicata Linnaeus, 1758 (Western Transkei to tropics)
 * Nerita polita Linnaeus, 1758 (East London to tropical Indo-Pacific)
 * Textile nerite Nerita textilis Gmelin, 1791 (Transkei to Mozambique)

Caenogastropoda
Hipponicidae - Hoof limpets
 * Horse's hoof Hipponix conicus (Schumacher, 1817) (Cape Point to Mozambique)

Littorinidae
 * Striped periwinkle Littoraria glabrata (Philippi, 1846) (Transkei to Mozambique) (Syn. Littorina kraussi Rosewater, 1970, Littorina glabrata Philippi, 1846)
 * Estuarine periwinkles Littoraria scabra group. (Eastern Cape to Mozambique)
 * Nodular periwinkle Nodilittorina natalensis Philippi, 1847 (Eastern Cape to Mozambique)

Assimineidae
 * Assiminia ovata Krauss, 1848 (Knysna to Mozambique)

Vermetidae - Worm shells
 * Colonial worm shell Dendropoma corallinaceum (Tomlin, 1939) (Orange river to Transkei) (syn. Vermetus (Stoa) corallinaceus Tomlin, 1939)

Turritellidae
 * Turritella carinifera Lamarck, 1799 (Western Cape to southern Mozambique)
 * Turritella chrysostomus Linnaeus, 1758 (northern KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)

Potamididae
 * Truncated mangrove snail Cerithidea decollata Linnaeus, 1758 (Eastern Cape to Mozambique)
 * Mangrove whelk Terebralia palustris Bruguière (Central KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)

Cerithiidae
 * Knobbed horn shell Rhinoclavis sinensis Gmelin, 1791 (Transkei to Mozambique)
 * Cerithium citrinum Sowerby, 1855 (Durban to Mozambique)
 * Cerithium crassilabrum (East London to Mozambique)
 * Cerithium echinatum Lamarck, 1822 (northern KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Rhinoclavis articulata (Adams & Reeve, 1850) (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Rhinoclavis diadema Houbrick, 1978 (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)

Xenophoridae
 * Stellaria gigantea (Schepman, 1909) (Central KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)
 * Stellaria solaris (Linnaeus, 1764) (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Xenophora corrugata (Reeve, 1842) (Northern KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Xenophora pallidula (Reeve, 1842) (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Xenophora tulearensis Stewart & Kosuge, 1993 (Central KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)

Cypraeidae - True cowries
 * Ring cowrie Cypraea annulus Linnaeus, 1758 (Algoa Bay to Mozambique)
 * Arabic cowrie Cypraea arabica Linnaeus, 1758 (Algoa Bay to Mozambique)
 * Cypraea barclayi Reeve, 1857 (Cape St Blaize and north/east) (syn. Erronea barclayi (Cape St Blaize to Mozambique))
 * Cypraea broderipii Sowerby II, 1832 (Port Edward and north) (syn. Lyncina broderipii (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique))
 * Snake's head cowrie Cypraea caputserpentis Linnaeus, 1758 (Still Bay to Mozambique)
 * Carnelian cowrie Cypraea carneola Linnaeus, 1758 (Jeffreys Bay to Mozambique)
 * Orange cowrie Cypraea citrina Gray, 1825 (Jeffreys Bay to Mozambique)
 * Cypraea cribraria Linnaeus, 1758 (Jeffreys Bay and Mozambique) (syn. Cribraria cribraria comma)
 * Eroded cowrie Cypraea erosa Linnaeus, 1758 (Knysna estuary to Mozambique)
 * Kitten cowrie Cypraea felina Gmelin, 1791 (Port Alfred to Mozambique)
 * Cypraea fultoni Sowerby III, 1903 (Haga Haga and north) (Sub-species Barycypraea fultoni amorimi and Barycypraea fultoni massiera(both Mozambique))
 * Honey cowrie Cypraea helvola Linnaeus, 1758 (Jeffreys Bay to Mozambique)
 * Cypraea isabella Linnaeus, 1758 (Coffee Bay and north) (syn. Luria isabella (Wild Coast to Mozambique))
 * Cypraea mappa Linnaeus, 1758 (Park Rynie) (syn. Leporicypraea mappa (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique))
 * Cypraea marginalis Dillwyn, 1827 (Jeffreys Bay and north) (syn. Erosaria marginalis (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique))
 * Money cowrie Cypraea moneta Linnaeus, 1758 (Transkei to Mozambique) (Durban and north)
 * Cypraea nucleus Linnaeus, 1758 (Scottburgh and north) (syn. Staphylaea nucleus (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique))
 * Cypraea owenii Sowerby II, 1837 (Coffee Bay and north) (syn. Bistolida owenii vasta (Wild Coast to Mozambique))
 * Cypraea scurra Gmelin, 1791 (Scottburgh and north) (syn. Mauritia scurra (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique))
 * Stippled cowrie Cypraea staphylaea Linnaeus, 1758 (Mngazana to Mozambique)
 * Cypraea stolida Linnaeus, 1758 (Scottburgh and north) (syn. Bistolida stolida diauges (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique))
 * Cypraea talpa Linnaeus, 1758 (Park Rynie and north) (syn. Talparia talpa (Northern Wild Coast to Mozambique))
 * Tiger cowrie Cypraea tigris Linnaeus, 1758 (Transkei to Mozambique) (Algoa Bay and north)
 * Erosia ocellata (Linnaeus, 1758) (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique))
 * Erronea chinensis (Gmelin, 1791) (Jeffreys Bay to Mozambique))
 * Erronea succinata (Lamarck, 1810) (Northern KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique))

Ovulidae
 * Calpurnus verrucosus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Sodwana Bay and Mozambique)
 * Ovula costellata Lamarck, 1810 (Sodwana Bay and Mozambique)
 * Ovula ovum (Linnaeus, 1758) (Sodwana Bay and Mozambiqueh)
 * Phenacovolva longirostrata (Sowerby I, 1828) (Whale Rock (Transkei) to Mozambique)
 * ?Phenacovolva poppeii Fehse, 2000 (KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)
 * Phenacovolva rugosa (Cate and Azuma, 1973) (Park Rynie and Mozambique)
 * Volva volva Linnaeus, 1758 (Pumila (southern KwaZulu-Natal) to Mozambique)

Velutinidae
 * Coriocella nigra Blainville, 1824 (Wild Coast to Mozambique)

Triviidae - Trivia
 * Tear drops or Riceys Trivia pellucidula Gaskoin, 1846 (Jeffreys Bay to Mozambique)

Naticidae - Necklace shells
 * Eunaticina perobliqua (Dautzenberg & Fischer, 1906) (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Mammilla fibrosa (Eydoux & Souleyet, 1852) (Mozambique)
 * Natica arachnoidea (Gmelin, 1791) (Mozambique)
 * Natica lineata (Roding, 1798) (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Naticarius alapapilionis (Roding, 1798) (northern Wild Coast to Mozambique)
 * Naticarius manceli (Josseaume, 1874) (northern KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)
 * Naticarius onca (Roding, 1798) (northern KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)
 * Neverita albumen (Linnaeus, 1758) (Durban to Mozambique)
 * Neverita perselephanti (Link, 1807) (KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)
 * Comma necklace shell Notocochlis gualteriana Récluz, 1844. (Syn. Natica gualteriana) (Eastern Cape to Mozambique)
 * Moon shell Polinices didyma Röding, 1798 (Mossel Bay to Mozambique)
 * Polinices mammilla Linnaeus 1758 (Transkei to Mozambique)
 * Polinices paciae Bozzetti, 1997 (Northern KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Polinices priamus (Recluz, 1844) (Mozambique)
 * Polinices sebae (Recluz, 1844) (KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)
 * Polinices simiae (Deshayes, 1838) (Wild Coast to Mozambique)
 * Polinices syrphetodes (Kilburn, 1976) (KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)
 * Sinum delessertii (Recluz, 1843) (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Sinum haliotoideum (Linnaeus, 1758) (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Sinum laevigatum (Lamarck, 1822) (Durban to Mozambique)
 * Sinum quasimodoides Kilburn, 1976 (Northern KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)
 * Tanea euzona (Recluz, 1844) (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Tanea hilaris (Sowerby, 1914) (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Tectonatica violacea (Sowerby, 1825) (Northern KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)

Tonnidae - Cassinae - Helmet shells
 * Casmaria erinacea (Linnaeus, 1758) (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Casmaria ponderosa (Gmelin, 1791) (Northern KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Cassis cornuta (Linnaeus, 1758) (Northern KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Galeodea keyteri (Kilburn, 1975) (Northern KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Oocorys sulcata Fischer, 1883 (eastern seaboard of South Africa and Mozambique)
 * Checkerboard bonnet shell Phalium areola (Linnaeus, 1758) (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Phalium fimbria (Gmelin, 1791) (Northern KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Phalium glaucum (Linnaeus, 1758) (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Semicassis bisulcata (Schubert & Wagner, 1829) (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Semicassis bulla fernandesi (Kilburn, 1975) (Central KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Semicassis craticulata (Euthyme, 1885) (Jeffreys Bay to Mozambique)
 * Semicassis faurotis (Jousseaume, 1888) (Kwazulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Semicassis microstoma (von Martens, 1903) (Central Kwazulu-Natal to Mozambique)

Janthinidae - Violet shells
 * Bubble raft shell or Violet snail Janthina janthina Linnaeus, 1758 (Cape Columbine to Mozambique)

Bursidae
 * Granular frog shell Bursa granularis Röding, 1798 (Transkei to Mozambique)

Ranellidae
 * Pink lady Charonia lampas pustulata Euthyme, 1889 (Cape Point to Mozambique)
 * Furry ridged triton Cabestana cutacea africana Adams A. 1855 (Namibia to southern Mozambique)

Muricidae
 * Branched murex Chicoreus inflatus Lamarck, 1822. (Syn. Chicoreus ramosus) (Central KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)
 * Mulberry shell Morula granulata Duclos, 1832 (Eastern Cape to Mozambique)
 * Short-spined murex Murex brevispina Lamarck, 1822 (Central KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)
 * Salmon lipped whelk Purpura persica Linnaeus, 1758 (Syn. Purpura panama) (Transkei to Mozambique)
 * Thais bufo Lamarck 1822 (Transkei to Indo-Pacific)
 * Thais (Mancinella) alouina Röding, 1798. (Syn. Mancinella alouina) (Transkei to Indo-Pacific)
 * Thais savignyi Deshayes, 1844 (Zululand to Indo-Pacific)

Mitridae - Mitres
 * Mitra litterata Lamarck, 1811 (West Transkei to Mozambique)

Strombidae - Strombs
 * Lambis chiragra arthritica Roding, 1798 (Northern KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)
 * Lambis crocata crocata (Link, 1807) (Northern KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)
 * Lambis digitata (Perry, 1811) (Northern KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)
 * Lambis lambis(Linnaeus, 1758) (Northern KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)
 * Lambis scorpius indomarisAbbott, 1961 (Mozambique)
 * Lambis truncata truncata(Lightfoot, 1768) (Northern KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)
 * Variable stromb Strombus mutabilis Swainson, 1821 (Eastern Cape to Mozambique)
 * Strombus wilsonorum Abbott, 1967 (KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique)

Nassariidae

Dogwhelks
 * Shielded dogwhelk Nassarius arcularius plicatus (Röding, P.F., 1798) (Central KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)
 * Tick shell Nassarius kraussianus (Dunker, R.W., 1846) (Namaqualand to Mozambique)

Plough shells
 * Annulated plough shell Bullia annulata Lamarck, 1816 (Cape Columbine to Mozambique)
 * Bullia mozambicensis E. A. Smith, 1878 (KwaZulu-Natal south coast to Mozambique)
 * Pleated plough shell Bullia natalensis Krauss, C.F., 1848 (Transkei to Mozambique)

Olividae - Olive shells
 * Carolinian olive shell Oliva caroliniana Duclos, 1835 (Transkei to Mozambique)

Conidae - Cone shells
 * Hebrew cone Conus ebraeus Linnaeus, 1758 (Transkei to Mozambique)
 * Livid cone Conus lividus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792 (Transkei to Mozambique)
 * Sponsal cone Conus sponsalis Hwass in Bruguière, 1792 (Transkei to Mozambique)
 * Textile cone Conus textile Linnaeus, 1758 (Natal northwards)

Heterobranchia
Architectonicidae
 * Variegated sundial shell Heliacus variegatus (Gmelin, 1791) (Eastern Cape to Mozambique)

Siphonariidae - False limpets
 * Siphonaria nigerrima Smith, 1903 (Zululand to Mozambique)
 * Siphonaria tenuicostulata Smith, 1903 (Durban to Mozambique)

Hydatinidae
 * Polka-dot bubble shell Micromelo undata (Brughiere, 1792) (Transkei to Mozambique)
 * Striped bubble shell Hydatina physis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Eastern Cape to Mozambique)

Philinidae
 * Sand slug Philene aperta (Linnaeus, 1767) (Cape Columbine to Mozambique)

Anaspidea
Aplysiidae
 * Shaggy sea hare Bursatella leachi leachi (Blainville. 1817) (Cape Columbine to Mozambique)
 * Shaggy sea hare Bursatella leachi africana (Engel, 1927)
 * Wedge sea hare Dolabella auricularia (Solander, 1786) (Mossel Bay to Mozambique)

Notaspidea
Pleurobranchidae
 * Lemon pleurobranch Berthellina citrina (Ruppell and Leuckart, 1828) (Cape Point to Mozambique)

Nudibranchia - Nudibranchs
Hexabranchidae
 * Spanish dancer Hexabranchus sanguineus (Ruppell and Leuckart, 1828) (KwaZulu-Natal south coast to Mozambique)

Bivalvia
Bivalves in Mozambique include:

Mytilidae - Mussels
 * Estuarine mussel Arcuatula capensis (Cape Agulhas to Mozambique)
 * Brack-water mussel Brachidontes virgiliae (Eastern Cape to Mozambique)
 * Semistriated mussel Brachidontes semistriatus (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique)
 * Ear mussel Modiolus auriculatus (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique)
 * Brown mussel Perna perna (Cape Point to Mozambique)
 * Ledge mussel Septifer bilocularis (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique)

Arcidae - Ark clams
 * Arca avellana Lam? (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique)
 * Oblique ark shell Barbatia obliquata (Cape Columbine to Mozambique)

Noetiidae
 * Striarca symmetrica (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique)

Pinnidae - Pen shells
 * Pinna muricata (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique)

Gryphaeidae
 * Hyotissa numisma(Transkei to Mozambique)

Ostreidae - True oysters
 * Natal rock oyster Saccostrea cuccullata (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique) (syn. Crassostrea cucculata)
 * Cape rock oyster Striostrea margaritacea (Cape Point to Mozambique)

Anomiidae - Saddle oysters
 * Saddle oyster Anomia achaeus (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique)

Pteriidae - Pearl oysters
 * Cape pearl oyster Pinctada capensis (Capr Agulhas to Mozambique)

Pectinidae - Scallops
 * Dwarf fan shell Chlamys tincta (Cape Columbine to Mozambique)

Cardiidae - Cockles
 * Cockle Trachycardium flavum (Central KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)
 * Trachycardium rubicundum (Eastern Transkei to Mozambique)

Tridacnidae - Giant clams
 * Giant clam Tridacna squamosa (Northern KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)

Mactridae - Trough shells
 * Smooth trough shell Mactra glabrata (Cape Columbine to Mozambique)

Carditidae
 * Rectangular false cockle Cardita variegata (Mossel Bay to Mozambique)

Solenidae
 * Solen cylindraceus (Transkei to Mozambique)

Lucinidae
 * Smooth platter shell Loripes clausus Philippi 1848 (Mossel Bay to Mozambique)

Unionidae
 * Toothless platter shell Anodontia edentula Linnaeus 1758 (Mossel Bay to Mozambique)

Lasaeidae
 * Dwarf rusty clam Lasaea adansoni turtoni (Cape Point to Mozambique)Gmelin 1791

Tellinidae
 * Littoral tellin Macoma litoralis (Mossel Bay to Mozambique)

Teredinidae
 * Shipworm Bankia carinata (Mossel Bay to Mozambique)

Donacidae - Wedge shells
 * Donax bipartitus (East London to Mozambique)
 * Round ended wedge shell Donax burnupi (Cape Point to Mozambique)
 * Slippery wedge shell Donax lubricus (Port Alfred to Mozambique)
 * Ridged wedge shell Donax madagscariensis (Transkei to Mozambique)

Psammobiidae - Sunset clams
 * Sunset clam Hiatula lunulata (Transkei to Mozambique)

Veneridae - Venus shells
 * Dosinia hepatica (Mossel Bay to Mozambique)
 * Beaked clam Eumarcia paupercula (Mossel Bay to Mozambique)
 * Ribbed venus Gafrarium pectinatum alfredense (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique)
 * Meretrix meretrix(only recorded from Mozambique)
 * Zigzag clam Pitar abbreviatus (Cape Point to Mozambique)
 * Tivela polita (Transkei to Mozambique)
 * Warty venus Venus verrucosa(Namibia to Mozambique)

Polyplacophora
Chitons (Polyplacophora) in Mozambique include:

Ischnochitonidae
 * Dwarf chiton Ischnochiton oniscus (Cape Columbine to Mozambique)

Chitonidae
 * Black chiton Onithochiton literatus (Cape Point to Mozambique)

Cephalopoda
Cephalopods in Mozambique include:


 * Teuthida - Squid

Loliginidae
 * Indian Ocean squid Uroteuthis duvauceli


 * Sepiida - Cuttlefish

Sepiidae
 * Common cuttlefish Sepia vermiculata Quoy and Gaimard, 1832 (Orange river to Mozambique)


 * Spirulida - Ram's horn squid

Spirulidae
 * Ram's horn shell Spirula spirula Linnaeus 1758 (Eastern Cape to Mozambique)