Nassarius cinctellus

Lore & Background

The name Nassarius cinctellus has a complex nomenclatural history. The name Nassa cinctella was used by A. Adams in 1852, but this is a junior homonym of Nassa cinctella Gould, 1850, making the name Nassarius cinctellus (A. Adams, 1852) nomenclaturally invalid. However, because no revision of southern Atlantic nassariids has been undertaken, it remains uncertain whether another name is available for the same taxonomic species or whether a replacement name is needed. Pending such a revision, WoRMS lists both the Gould and A. Adams taxa as valid, and in this article both are treated together.

The shell is described as very pretty, short and conical, with few prominent ribs, shouldered whorls, and thread-like vitta. The species is recorded from the Atlantic Ocean off St Helena, the Red Sea, and the Pacific Ocean off the Philippines and Papua New Guinea.

Reader's Guide

The significance of Nassarius cinctellus lies primarily in its taxonomic ambiguity, which highlights the challenges of nomenclatural stability in marine gastropods. The species is caught between two homonymous names—one by Gould (1850) and one by A. Adams (1852)—neither of which can be definitively assigned without a comprehensive revision of southern Atlantic nassariids. This situation means that the name currently serves as a placeholder for what may be one or more distinct species. The shell's small size (5–7.5 mm) and distinctive features—short conical form, prominent ribs, shouldered whorls, and thread-like vitta—make it recognizable to specialists, but its legacy is tied to the unresolved taxonomic puzzle. The species appears in works such as Vine's Red Sea Invertebrates and in the catalogues of Adams and Gould, but its true identity remains uncertain. For collectors and malacologists, Nassarius cinctellus represents a case study in the importance of taxonomic revision and the pitfalls of homonymy in biological nomenclature.

Did You Know?

• The name Nassarius cinctellus is nomenclaturally invalid because it is a junior homonym of Nassa cinctella Gould, 1850.
• The shell length of this species ranges from 5 mm to 7.5 mm.