Cerithium matukense

Lore & Background

This species occurs in the western Pacific and the Indian Ocean, near the Philippines, Fiji, New Caledonia, Borneo, Guam, and the Kermadecs, and has been found near Hawaii. Its shell is notably slender and elongate, with straight-sided whorls that give it a turreted profile. The snail’s cephalic tentacles are thick, and its eyes are tiny and black.

Reader's Guide

Cerithium matukense is a member of the Cerithiidae family, a group of marine gastropods commonly known as ceriths. Its distribution across the western Pacific and Indian Ocean, including remote locations such as the Kermadecs and Hawaii, indicates a wide-ranging presence in tropical and subtropical waters. The species is thought to feed on algae and detritus, a typical diet for many ceriths that graze on organic matter. The shell morphology—turreted, slender, with numerous straight-sided whorls—is characteristic of the genus Cerithium and aids in identification. The species has been documented in taxonomic works such as the monograph of the genus Cerithium in the Indo-Pacific, reflecting its place within the broader study of cerithiid diversity. Its occurrence in both shallow and deeper marine environments contributes to the ecological understanding of benthic gastropod communities in these regions.

Did You Know?

• The shell can reach 70.5 mm in length and 18.2 mm in width.
• The snail has a short, wide snout and tiny black eyes.
• It is thought to eat algae and detritus.