Drilling predation on neritid egg capsules by the muricid snail Reishia clavigera

• Published in: Journal of molluscan studies Vol. 79; no. 2; pp. 139 - 146
• Main Authors: Fukumori, Hiroaki, Chee, Su Yin, Kano, Yasunori
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-05-2013
• Subjects: Caenogastropoda; Gastropoda; Marine; Mollusca; Muricidae; Nerita japonica; INW, Japan
• ISSN: 0260-1230; 1464-3766
• DOI: 10.1093/mollus/eyt007

The egg capsules of neritid snails (Gastropoda: Neritimorpha) are made of a tough inner organic layer and an outer calcareous layer for further reinforcement. Such hard capsules are less susceptible to mechanical damage compared with soft or thin capsules of other gastropods, and there have been only a few reports of predation on neritid eggs. Here, we describe drilling predation on the reinforced egg capsule of Nerita japonica by Reishia clavigera (Caenogastropoda: Muricidae) on a high intertidal rocky shore in central Japan. The muricid makes a small, elliptical drill hole in the capsule lid by the use of both an accessory boring organ (ABO) and a radula, as it does in mollusc and barnacle shells. The etching around the hole by the acid secretion from the ABO, which can be observed under a dissecting microscope and by scanning electron microscopy, should provide an effective way to identify muricid predation on neritid eggs, probably not only by R. clavigera but also by other species in the warm temperate to tropical regions all over the world. Reishia clavigera made drill holes in c. 14% of the capsules, making it possibly the main cause of mortality for neritid eggs at the study site. However, this mortality rate is lower than those previously reported for caenogastropod eggs with softer capsules. All penetrated capsules of N. japonica were white (rather than brownish) and newly laid, suggesting that their acid-resistant organic layer had yet to harden at the time of radular rasping. The thick organic layer and calcareous coating are an effective armour, not only against the usual type of grazing but also against more sophisticated predation involving the chemical and mechanical boring of Muricidae.