List of marine molluscs of Mozambique explained

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)^[1] (Port Alfred to Kenya)^[2] (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)^[3]

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)^[4]
• 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^[5]

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)^[6]
• 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)^[7]
• Striped bubble shell Hydatina physis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Eastern Cape to Mozambique)

Philinidae

• Sand slug Philene aperta (Linnaeus, 1767) (Cape Columbine to Mozambique)^[8]

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)^[9]

Chitonidae

• Black chiton Onithochiton literatus (Cape Point to Mozambique)

Cephalopoda

Cephalopods in Mozambique include:

Teuthida - Squid

Loliginidae

• Indian Ocean squid Uroteuthis duvauceli ^[10]

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)

See also

• List of non-marine molluscs of Mozambique

Lists of molluscs of surrounding countries:

• List of marine molluscs of Madagascar
• List of marine molluscs of South Africa
• List of marine molluscs of Tanzania

Further reading

• Bergh, R. (1907) "The Opisthobranchiata of South Africa". Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society 17(1): 1-144.

Notes and References

1. http://www.marinespecies.org/ WoRMS
2. Branch, G.M. Griffiths, C.L. Branch, M.L. Beckley, L.E. Two Oceans: A guide to the marine life of southern Africa. 5th impression, David Philip, Cape Town, 2000.
3. Steyn, D.G. & Lussi, M. 2005. Offshore Shells of Southern Africa
4. Kilburn, R. and Rippey, E. Sea Shells of Southern Africa MacMillan South Africa 1982
5. Nangammbi T. C. & Herbert D. G. (2008). "A new species of pheasant shell from the south-western Indian Ocean (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda: Phasianellidae: Tricolia)". African Invertebrates 49(2): 13-19. abstract
6. Liltved, William Rune. Cowries and their relatives of southern Africa: A study of the southern African Cypraeacean and Velutinaceac gastropod fauna, Gordon Verhoef, Seacomber Publications, 2000.
7. Gosliner, Terrence. Nudibranchs of southern Africa: A guide to Opisthobranch molluscs of southern Africa Sea Challengers, Monterey, 1987.
8. Zsilavecz, Guido. Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. SURG, Cape Town, 2007.
9. Day, J.H. A guide to marine life on South African shores. Balkema, Cape Town, 1969
10. Web site: Uroteuthis.