Rochia nilotica (Linnaeus, 1767)
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Rochia nilotica
photo by Poppe, Guido and Philippe

Family:  Tegulidae (), subfamily: Trochinae
Max. size:  15 cm SHH (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthic; marine; depth range 0 - 20 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: from Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to as far east as French Polynesia, north to southern Japan and Hawaii, and south to Australia.
Diagnosis:  Shell conical, large, thick and very heavy. Body whorl almost smooth, with concave sides above a protuding, acutely rounded and thickened periphery. Base shell flat. Aperture squarish. Colouration: shell off-white, with large irregular axial reddish stripes (Ref. 128042).
Biology:  It is the most economically important gastropod species in the tropical West Pacific. It is both an important traditional food and a leading export item used as a source of mother-of-pearl material for buttons and jewelry. Many small sized artisanal fisheries for meat and shell exist in other islands of the area. Due to severe and frequent overfishing, management policies are often adopted and aquaculture trials are under way (Ref. 349). Maximum depth from Ref. 799. Typically found in shallow, high energy portions of barrier and reefs (Refs. 349, 128042). Feeds on filamentous algae and generally avoids bottoms of sand and living corals. Population density generally decreasing in deeper areas, while the mean size of individuals increases (Ref. 349).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 

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