Rock cerith (Cerithium rupestre)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Cerithium rupestre
- Common name
- Rock cerith
- Category
- Molluscs
- Family
- Cerithiidae
- Genus
- Cerithium
- Size
- 3–5 cm
- Depth
- 0–10 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky
- Behaviours
- detritivore
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean
Description
Cerithium rupestre reaches 5 cm. Small gastropod with a pointed conical 10 to 12-whorled shell, brown to beige, often zoned. Lives very close to the surface, in the Mediterranean intertidal zone and shallow rocky pools. Detritivore. Very common, easily seen at the waterline. Its empty shells are often used by the hermit crab Clibanarius erythropus.
Photo of Rock cerith
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Rock cerith?
- Rock cerith (Cerithium rupestre) reaches 3–5 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Rock cerith?
- Rock cerith is found between 0–10 m deep.
- Is the Rock cerith dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Rock cerith?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Rock cerith?
- Found in: East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean.
Other species in the family Cerithiidae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 139064)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 4362840)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia