Cerithidea scalariformis

Ladder Hornsnail

A mollusk that feeds on algae, biofilm, or plant material and transfers primary production into the animal food web.

Identity & Origin +

Common Name: Ladder Hornsnail
Scientific Name: Cerithidea scalariformis
Realm: Marine
Biome: Marine Shore
Introduction Method: Wild collected
Date First Introduced: April 23, 2026
Source / Origin: Wild — brackish tidal ditch, Spring Hill, FL

Section Notes

Collected during the Spring Hill, FL field trip on 2026-04-22 from a brackish tidal ditch. Species identity was confirmed by research as Cerithidea scalariformis.

Population Dynamics +

Current Estimated Population: Under Observation
Population Status: Uncertain
Carrying Capacity Status: Under Evaluation
Date Last Observed: April 23, 2026

Section Notes

Introduced on April 23, 2026, alongside Eastern Melampus as part of a shoreline detritivore batch. Story thread 23 is actively tracking their adaptation, movements, and long-term persistence in the intertidal margins of the Marine Shore.

Trophic Ecology +

Trophic Level: Detritivore
Feeding Niche / Method: Grazes on decaying organic matter along the shoreline.
Dietary Inputs: Dead grass detritus, organic matter along the coastal margin
Known Predators: Crabs (e.g., Gulf Marsh Crab), shoreline spiders, and large marine scavengers.

Section Notes

Trophic classification is Detritivore. Food-web role: Detritus and biofilm recycler. Primarily feeds on decaying plant matter, saltmarsh grass detritus, and microbial biofilms along the coastal shoreline, recycling nutrients back into the soil and benthic layers.

Environmental Tolerances +

Temperature Range: Fluctuating (Eurythermal; adapted to 50°F to 95°F / 10°C to 35°C)
pH Range: Variable (Estuarine; tolerant of pH 7.2 to 8.4)
Lighting Requirements: Tolerant of low canopy shade to full, direct solar exposure.
Flow / Aeration Preference: Low energy, intertidal mudflats and calm shoreline pools.

Section Notes

Highly resilient amphibious gastropod adapted to extreme environmental fluctuations of intertidal salt marshes. Capable of surviving long periods of exposure/desiccation by sealing its operculum, and frequently climbs grass stems to escape thermal stress or aquatic predators during high tide.

Life Cycle & Reproduction +

Expected Lifespan: 1–2 years
Reproductive Strategy: Direct development (annual autumn breeding; produces jelly-clad green egg spirals)
System Reproduction Status: No Observed Breeding
Growth Rate: Variable (High phenotypic plasticity depending on canopy shade and food density)

Section Notes

Breeds annually in autumn (typically September–November). Produces bright green, jelly-clad spiral egg clutches deposited on the sediment or plant bases. The species undergoes direct development, hatching as fully formed juvenile crawls in approximately three weeks, bypassing a planktonic larval stage.

Ecological Role & Symbiosis +

Ecological Role: Semi-aquatic detritivore occupying a shoreline-adjacent niche; feeds on dead grass detritus and organic matter along the coastal margin.
Symbiotic Relationships: Wild populations act as primary intermediate hosts for trematode flatworm parasites. Empty shells serve as essential microhabitats for small hermit crabs.
Microhabitat Preference: Silty-sand shoreline margins, lower grass stems, and exposed mudflats.

Section Notes

Mainly serves to process dead cordgrass and seashore paspalum detritus along the tidal margin. Their vertical migration (climbing shoreline plants) links the benthic sediment layer to the emergent vegetative canopy, facilitating carbon transfer.

Marine/Saltwater

A sandy, limestone shoreline where beach grasses, crabs, snails, and detritivores move nutrients across the waterline.

Ladder Hornsnail

Visual Data Unavailable

Section Notes

Section Notes

Section Notes

Section Notes

Section Notes

Section Notes

Biomes This Species Lives In

Marine Shore

No Records Yet

Ecological Web

Ecological Web Pending

Ladder Hornsnail

Visual Data Unavailable

Biomes This Species Lives In

No Records Yet

Ecological Web

Ecological Web Pending

Cookie Notice