Comprehensive Description
Trochus niloticus is a marine gastropod, and can grow over 15cm long (across the shell base). Juveniles are quite cryptic, although larger organisms are found easily on tropical coral reef flats (Castell, 1997). They usually live for 15- 20 years and reach reproductive maturity after two years, when they are around 6cm. Although not very active during the day, they can move at a low energy cost using their large, muscular foot. The video above shows one specimen moving around to feed in a tank. The rasping radula, which operates like a tongue can also be seen in the movie. They are herbivores and tend to eat turf algae and microscopic plankton (Castell, 1997).
Trochus niloticus is an economically important resource, acquired for its nacre lined shell. It provides a valuable source of income for people in the Indo- Pacific region although overfishing is causing a rapid decline in its numbers (Helsinga et al. 1984, Nash 1993, Castell 1997). Replenishing these stocks is proving difficult for environmental management programs (Nash 1985), although techniques are under development to create a sustainable fishery of this species (Crowe at al, 2002).
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