Nassarius

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Nassarius
Nassarius arcularia 01.JPG
Shell of Nassarius arcularia
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Family: Nassariidae
Subfamily: Nassariinae
Genus: Nassarius
Dumeril, 1806
Type species
Buccinum arculariaLinnaeus, 1758
Species

See text

Synonyms [1]
  • AciculinaA. Adams, 1853
  • AlectrionMontfort, 1810 (junior synonym)
  • Alectrion (Zeuxis)H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
  • AlectryonMelvill, 1918 (unjustified emendation)
  • AllanassaIredale, 1929
  • ArculariaLink, 1807
  • Arcularia (Plicarcularia)Thiele, 1929
  • ArculiaJousseaume, 1888 (incorrect subsequent spelling)
  • AustronassariaC. Laeron & J. Laseron, 1956
  • † BathynassaLadd, 1976
  • † Buccinum (Niotha)H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
  • † ChelenassaShuto, 1969
  • Eione Risso, 1826 (Invalid: junior homonym of Eione Rafinesque, 1814)
  • GlabrinassaShuto, 1969
  • HebraH. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
  • NassaLamarck, 1799 (Invalid: junior homonym of Nassa Röding, 1798)
  • Nassa (Aciculina)Adams, 1853
  • Nassa (Alectrion)Montfort, 1810
  • Nassa (Alectryon)Berthold in Latreille, 1827
  • Nassa (Arcularia)Link, 1807
  • Nassa (Eione)Risso, 1826
  • Nassa (Hebra)H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
  • Nassa (Niotha)H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
  • Nassa (Profundinassa)Thiele, 1929
  • Nassa (Venassa)Martens, 1881
  • Nassa (Zeuxis)H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
  • Nassarius (Aciculina)Adams, 1853
  • Nassarius (Alectrion)Montfort, 1810
  • Nassarius (Alectryon)Berthold in Latreille, 1827
  • Nassarius (Arcularia)Link, 1807
  • Nassarius (Austronassaria)C. Laseron & J. Laseron, 1956
  • Nassarius (Bathynassa)Ladd, 1976
  • Nassarius (Catillon)Addicott, 1965
  • † Nassarius (Chelenassa)Shuto, 1969
  • Nassarius (Eione)Risso, 1826
  • Nassarius (Glabrinassa)Shuto, 1969
  • Nassarius (Hima) Gray, 1852 ex Leach, ms.
  • † Nassarius (Nanarius) Woodring, 1964 accepted, alternate representation
  • Nassarius (Nassarius)Duméril, 1805· accepted, alternate representation
  • Nassarius (Niotha) H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
  • Nassarius (Pallacera) Woodring, 1964 accepted, alternate representation
  • Nassarius (Plicarcularia)Thiele, 1929
  • Nassarius (Profundinassa)Thiele, 1929
  • Nassarius (Proneritula) Thiele, 1929
  • † Nassarius (Psilarius) Woodring, 1964 accepted, alternate representation
  • Nassarius (Pygmaeonassa) Annadale, 1924
  • Nassarius (Retiarcularia)Shuto, 1969 (incorrect subsequent spelling)
  • Nassarius (Tarazeuxis)Iredale, 1936
  • Nassarius (Varicinassa) Habe, 1946
  • Nassarius (Venassa)Martens, 1881
  • Nassarius (Zeuxis)H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
  • NiothaH. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
  • PallaceraWoodring, 1964
  • PlicarculariaThiele, 1929
  • ProfundinassaThiele, 1929
  • PygmaeonassaAnnandale, 1924
  • ReticularculariaShuto, 1969 (nomen nudum)
  • ScabronassaPeile, 1939
  • TavaniothaIredale, 1936
  • Tritia (Varicinassa)Habe, 1946
  • VaricinassaHabe, 1946
  • VenassaMartens, 1881
  • Zeuxis H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853

Nassarius, common name nassa mud snails (USA) or dog whelks (UK), is a genus of minute to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Nassariidae. [1] They are scavengers.

Contents

Etymology

The name is derived from the Latin word "nassa", meaning a wickerbasket with a narrow neck, for catching fish. Nassarius would then mean "someone who uses such a wickerbasket for catching fish".

Ecology

Distribution and habitat

Species within this genus are found worldwide. These snails usually live on mud flats or sand flats, intertidally or subtidally.

Life habits

Most Nassarius species are very active scavengers, feeding on crabs and carrion as dead fish, etc. They often burrow into marine substrates and then wait with only their siphon protruding, until they smell nearby food.

Shell description

The shells of species in this genus have a relatively high cyrtoconoid (approaching a conical shape but with convex sides) spire and a siphonal notch.

(Described as Aciculina) The shell is turreted, polished, smooth or longitudinally plicate. The inner lip shows the callus sharp, straight, defined. The outer lip is produced in the middle, variced externally. [2]

(Described as Nassa) The eyes are situated on the middle of the tentacles. The lingual teeth are arched and pectinated. The uncini show a basal tooth. The foot is large, expanded and bifurcate at its posterior extremity.

The operculum is ovate, the margin serrated or entire.

The shell is ovate and ventricose. The body whorl is variously sculptured. The aperture is ovate, with a short reflected truncated anterior canal. The inner lip is smooth, often widely spread over with enamel, with a posterior callosity or blunt dentiform plait. The outer lip is dentated, internally crenulated. [2]

Anatomy

The animal has a long siphon.

Human use

Archeology

Several beads made from Nassarius gibbosulus shells are thought to be the earliest known forms of personal adornment, or even jewelry. Two shell beads found in Skhul Cave on the slopes of Mount Carmel, Israel, are thought to be 100,000 years old, whilst another found at Oued Djebbana, Algeria, is believed to be 90,000 years old. A further group of pierced shells, some with red ochre, has been recovered from the Aterian levels at the Taforalt site in Morocco; these Nassarius gibbosulus beads have been securely dated to about 82,000 years ago. [3]

All these examples predate several 75,000-year-old Nassarius kraussianus beads which were found at Blombos Cave, South Africa (including some colored with red ochre). These beads had previously been thought to be the oldest examples of jewelry. [4]

From A.D. 1130 to 1275, shell beads were manufactured by the inhabitants of the Exhausted Cave near the Clear Creek Ruins. A Southern Sinagua site in Verde Valley, Arizona where "shell played a major role in the economic system of this culture." [5]

Modern uses

Nassarius vibex is a species which is often selected for marine aquaria. It is often confused with Nassarius obsoletus , a cooler water snail less suited to tropical marine aquarium temperatures. In aquaria, the Nassarius is considered nearly indispensable for keeping sand beds clean and healthy, as these snails tend to burrow and plow through the upper layer in a conch-like fashion, keeping algae and detritus from building up visibly on the surface.

The shells of various species of Nassarius are popular with shell collectors, and are sometimes used in jewelry and other forms of decoration.

Taxonomy

The genus Nassarius has traditionally been subdivided into several subgenera, based on differences in shell morphology, especially the sculpture: Aciculina, Alectrion, Allanassa, Nassodonta, Niotha, Plicarcularia, Profundinassa, Pygmaeonassa, Telasco, and Zeuxis. However, this division is difficult to define, resulting in much confusion. Even phylogenetic analysis shows that the division into these subgenera appears to be uncertain and unreliable. There seem to be two groups within the genus Nassarius with the closest relationship between the subgenera Zeuxis and Telasco. Even the species within the subgenus Plicarcularia do not belong to a single clade. In the end, the molecular phylogeny did not match the previous morphological phylogeny. [6]

Species

In the course of time, more than 1,000 names have been allocated to species in the genus Nassarius, most of which have become synonyms.

The following species are accepted names according to the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS): [1]

Synonyms

Synonymized subgenera

Related Research Articles

<i>Buccinum</i> Genus of gastropods

Buccinum is a genus of medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Buccinidae, the true whelks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nassariidae</span> Family of gastropods

The Nassariidae, Nassa mud snails (USA), or dog whelks (UK), are a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the clade Neogastropoda.

<i>Mitrella</i> (gastropod) Genus of gastropods

Mitrella is a genus of small sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Columbellidae, the dove shells or dove snails.

<i>Scalptia</i> Genus of gastropods

Scalptia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cancellariidae, the nutmeg snails.

<i>Unedogemmula</i> Genus of gastropods

Unedogemmula is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Turridae, the turrids.

<i>Perrona</i> Genus of gastropods

Perrona is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Clavatulidae.

<i>Nassarius albescens</i> Species of gastropod

Nassarius albescens, common name : the whitish nassa, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Nassariidae, the Nassa mud snails or dog whelks.

<i>Tritia cuvierii</i> Species of gastropod

Tritia cuvierii, common name the one-banded nassa, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Nassariidae, the Nassa mud snails or dog whelks.

Tritia denticulata is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Nassariidae, the Nassa mud snails or dog whelks.

<i>Nassarius margaritifer</i> Species of gastropod

Nassarius margaritifer is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Nassariidae, the Nassa mud snails or dog whelks.

<i>Nassarius siquijorensis</i> Species of gastropod

Nassarius siquijorensis, common name the burned nassa, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Nassariidae, the nassa mud snails or dog whelks.

<i>Hebra</i> (gastropod) Genus of gastropods

Hebra is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Nassariidae, the Nassa mud snails or dog whelks.

Zeuxis is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Nassariidae, the Nassa mud snails or dog whelks.

<i>Bullia</i> Genus of gastropods

Bullia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Nassariidae, the Nassa mud snails or dog whelks.

<i>Nassa</i> (gastropod) Genus of gastropods

Nassa is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Rapaninae of the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

<i>Nassarius conoidalis</i> Species of gastropod

Nassarius conoidalis, common name the cone-shaped Nassa or the jewelled dog whelk, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Nassariidae, the nassa mud snails.

<i>Nassarius reeveanus</i> Species of gastropod

Nassarius reeveanus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Nassariidae.

<i>Tritia</i> Genus of gastropods

Tritia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Nassariidae, the Nassa mud snails or dog whelks.

<i>Phrontis</i> (gastropod) Genus of gastropods

Phrontis is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Nassariinae of the family Nassariidae, the Nassa mud snails or dog whelks.

<i>Reticunassa</i> Genus of gastropods

Reticunassa is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Nassariidae, the Nassa mud snails or dog whelks.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S. (2010). Nassarius Duméril, 1806. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=138235 on 2010-11-30
  2. 1 2 Adams, H. & Adams, A. (1853-1858). The genera of Recent Mollusca; arranged according to their organization. London, van Voorst. Vol. 1: xl + 484 pp.; vol. 2: 661 pp.; vol. 3: 138 pls PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  3. ↑ Bouzouggar, Abdeljalil; Barton, Nick; Vanhaeren, Marian; d'Errico, Francesco; Collcutt, Simon; Higham, Tom; Hodge, Edward; Parfitt, Simon; Rhodes, Edward; Schwenninger, Jean-Luc; Stringer, Chris; Turner, Elaine; Ward, Steven; Moutmir, Abdelkrim; Stambouli, Abdelhamid (12 June 2007). "82,000-year-old shell beads from North Africa and implications for the origins of modern human behavior". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 104 (24): 9964–9969. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0703877104 . PMC   1891266 . PMID   17548808.
  4. ↑ Study reveals 'oldest jewellery', BBC News, 22 June 2006
  5. ↑ Hudgens, Bruce R (1975). "Shell Industry". The archeology of Exhausted Cave: a study of prehistoric cultural ecology on the Coconino National Forest, Arizona. USDA, Forest Service, Southwestern Region. p. 79. OCLC   1038355316.
  6. ↑ Li, Haitao; Lin, Duan; Fang, Hongda; Zhu, Aijia; Gao, Yang (1 May 2010). "Species identification and phylogenetic analysis of genus Nassarius (Nassariidae) based on mitochondrial genes". Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology. 28 (3): 565–572. Bibcode:2010ChJOL..28..565L. doi:10.1007/s00343-010-9031-4. S2CID   82834850.
  7. ↑ Gastropods.com: Nassarius catallusl; Retrieved 28 February 2011
  8. ↑ "Nassarius (Nassodonta) dorri". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  9. ↑ Gastropods.com: Nassarius (Nassarius) emilyae emilyae; Retrieved 28 February 2011
  10. ↑ "Nassarius (Plicarcularia) jonasii". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  11. ↑ Gastropods.com: Nassarius miser Archived 2010-11-04 at the Wayback Machine ; Retrieved 28 February 2011
  12. ↑ "Nassarius (Hima) mobilis". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  13. ↑ "Nassarius (Plicarcularia) moolenbeeki". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  14. ↑ "Nassarius mundus". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  15. ↑ "Nassarius (Niotha) nigellus". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  16. ↑ "Nassarius (Zeuxis) poupini". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  17. ↑ "Nassarius (Zeuxis) pyrrhus". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  18. ↑ "Nassarius (Zeuxis) reunionensis". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  19. ↑ "Nassarius (Zeuxis) richeri". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  20. ↑ "Nassarius (Alectrion) spiratus". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  21. ↑ "Nassarius (Plicarcularia) burchardi". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  22. ↑ "Nassarius (Cryptonassarius) ephamillus". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  23. ↑ "Nassarius (Naytiopsis) granum". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  24. ↑ "Nassarius (Zeuxis) melanioides". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  25. ↑ "Nassarius karinae". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  26. ↑ "Nassarius (Nassarius) smitsorum". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  27. ↑ SysTax: Nassarius zonalis

Further reading

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