Littoraria spp.

Family: Littorinoidea

Zone: These small mangrove periwinkle snails can be found from the landward Avicennia zone to to seaward Rhizophora zone.

Habitat: Generally found grazing on the stems, branches and especially leaves of all Kenyan mangrove tree species. Not found on the forest floor.

Food: Algae on leaves and bark.

feeding marks on the bark of an Anicennia marina tree

Ecological notes: Eaten by many tree climbing mangrove crabs (Reid, 1986).

Distinguishing characteristics: Small snails with thin shells. There are many species present in East Africa (up to 7 ?).

Geographical range: Worldwide.

References:

Reid, D.G., 1986. Intense predation by crabs on mangrove Littorinids. American Malacalogical Bulletin 4: 112.

Richmond, M.D., 1997. A guide to the Seashores of Eastern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean Islands. Sida / Department for Research Cooperation, SAREC. Zanzibar, Tanzania. 448 pp.

See mangrove books