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Morula granulata
Granular Drupe
maka'awa
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click to enlarge
Chela
Zabin
Lab,
February 24
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Morula
Granulata
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Description:
Morula
Granulata
is a drupe that is covered with spirals of rounded bumps
on its shell. An adult's have a thickened outer
lip that with a continuous dark brown or black margin.
They grow to about 15 mm. and adhere to wet rocks at low
tide, completely exposed. It sometimes be confused
with Morula marginalba.
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Habitat:
It
can be found among tide pools and on reef flats from depths
ranging from the intertidal to five feet. Most abundant
on rocky limestone shores with good water movement.
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Range
(include invasive, native, endemic): The
Granular Drupe, Morula granulata, is found in the
Indo-West Pacific, from eastern Africa to northern Australia
to Queensland near the Great Barrier Reef.
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Trophic
information: Morula
granulata
isn't picky about food but do eat limpets, worm snails,
oysters, barnacles, and other dead molluscs.
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Safety:
This
snail isn't dangerous, but you should take precaution while
searching for it in crevices of rocks. Other harmful
organisms might be found there.
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Comments:
This
was one of the most common snails that were found in the
field and was easy to find in rocks and other exposed areas.
It might also be wise to bring a book or some kind of reference
so that you can identify Morula granulata because
it can be confused with Morula marginalba.
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Links
to Resources:
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