Nassarius granifer

Lore & Background

The shell of Nassarius granifer is ovate, thick, and globular, with a conical, pointed spire. Its six whorls are arranged such that the body whorl is much larger than the others, and its surface is ornamented with conical, distant tubercles disposed in four series. The base shows a few transverse striae, and the upper whorls carry only a single row of tubercles. The ovate aperture is narrow, emarginated at the upper part where it meets the outer lip, which is thick and striated internally. The columella is arcuated, covering the inner lip, which expands into a white, thick callosity that covers the whole lower surface and a portion of the upper whorls.

Reader's Guide

Nassarius granifer is a member of the Nassariidae family, commonly referred to as mud snails or dog whelks. Its distribution spans the Indo-West Pacific Ocean, including Réunion, Aldabra, Chagos, and the Mascarene Basin. Specimens were gathered by Rizal in Dapitan in 1894, though he labeled them as Nassa arcularia. The species also occurs off many islands in Oceania and off Australia, specifically New South Wales, Northern Territory, and Queensland. The shell's distinctive tubercles and thick callosity make it recognizable among related species. Its presence in historical collections, such as those from Rizal, adds to its documented range. The species has been referenced in works by Bruguière, Marrat, Cernohorsky, Wilson, and Marais & Kilburn, reflecting ongoing study within the family Nassariidae.

Did You Know?

• The shell length of Nassarius granifer varies between 10 mm and 18 mm.
• The body whorl has conical, distant tubercles arranged in four series.
• The species occurs off Australia in New South Wales, Northern Territory, and Queensland.