Clithon corona facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Clithon corona
Clithon corona from the Philippines
Clithon corona shell. Scale bar is 10 mm.
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Neritimorpha
Order:	Cycloneritida
Family:	Neritidae
Genus:	Clithon
Species:	C. corona
Binomial name
Clithon corona (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Synonyms
Clithon variabilis Lesson, 1831 Nerita cardinalis Le Guillou, 1841 (invalid: junior homonym of Nerita cardinalis Röding, 1798) Nerita corona Linnaeus, 1758 (original combination) Nerita keraudrenii Le Guillou, 1841 Nerita montacuti Récluz, 1843 Nerita montaguana Récluz, 1850 Nerita obscurata Récluz, 1842 Nerita recluziana Le Guillou, 1841 Neritina aspera Philippi, 1845 Neritina brevispina Lamarck, 1822 Neritina coronoides Lesson, 1831 Neritina corrugata Hombron & Jacquinot, 1848 Neritina deltoidea Mousson, 1870 Neritina discors Martens, 1878 Neritina flexuosa Hombron & Jacquinot, 1848 Neritina hapa Hombron & Jacquinot, 1848 Neritina monilifera Martens, 1878 Neritina musiva Hombron & Jacquinot, 1848 Neritina paya Gassies, 1858 Neritina rhitidophora Tapparone Canefri, 1893 Neritina ruida Mousson, 1857 Neritina subrugata Baird, 1873 Neritina unidentata Récluz, 1850 Neritina vitiana Mousson, 1870

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Clithon corona is a fascinating type of snail that lives in both brackish water (a mix of fresh and salt water) and freshwater. It's often called the horned nerite snail because of the unique, spiky bumps on its shell. This snail is an aquatic animal, meaning it lives in water. It belongs to a group of gastropod mollusks called nerites. Like many snails, it has an operculum, which is like a little trapdoor that can close off its shell opening.

About the Horned Nerite Snail

A close-up view of a Clithon corona shell.

The Clithon corona snail has a distinctive shell. It usually has a rounded shape with a flattened bottom. The most noticeable feature is the series of horn-like spines or bumps that stick out from the shell's edge. These horns can vary in size and number. The shell's color and patterns can also differ greatly, often showing stripes, spots, or zigzag designs in shades of black, brown, yellow, or orange. This makes each snail look quite unique.

Where They Live

Clithon corona snails are originally found in the Western Pacific region. Their natural home stretches across many islands and coastal areas. You can find them in places like the Philippines, Micronesia, and Papua New Guinea. They also live in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. Further north, they are found in Samoa, Taiwan, and the Okinawa and Ryukyu Islands of Japan.

Snail Life and Other Animals

These snails play a role in their watery homes. One interesting fact about Clithon corona is its connection with a specific freshwater crab. The crab, called Clibanarius fonticola, actually uses the empty shells of Clithon corona snails as its home. This is a great example of how different species can rely on each other in nature.

Horned Nerites as Pets

Because of their unique look and interesting shell patterns, Clithon corona snails are popular in the pet trade. Many people keep them in freshwater aquariums as pets. They are known for being good at eating algae, which helps keep the tank clean. Their striking appearance also adds beauty to an aquarium.