User:Asalvio/Nerita picea

= Nerita picea =

Nerita Picea, also called Black Nerite or Pipipi in Hawaiian, is a species of marine gastropod mollusc in the family Neritidae commonly found in clusters on the high part of the intertidal zone. This species found all through out the Hawai'i coastline and is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. In Hawai‘i black nerite are an enjoyed snack when boiled.

Description
Nerita picea is a marine snail that is ovate in shape. N. picea are dark blue to black in color on the outside while internally the shell is white. N. picea range in size from 5-20mm when mature.

Classification
"Black nerite" are gastropods in the order Cycloneritida belonging to the subclass Neritimorpha in the family Neritidea.

Distribution
The Nerita picea is a species endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.

Habitat
The habitat of Black Nerite consists of the higher sections of the intertidal zone usually found in clusters in the crevices and pockets of the rocky shoreline.

Human use
In Hawaiian culture, Nerita picea or Pipipi are often eaten boiled, as part of a soup, or eaten raw.

Morphology
Nerita picea have a rather solid calcareous shell with little ridges that gives texture to the shell. The shell of the Nerita picea is a darker color showing as black with the shell having more of an ovate shape and a flatter bottom. N. picea range in size from 5-20mm when mature.