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".
Ecologyedit
Distribution and habitatedit
Species within this genus are found worldwide. These snails usually live on mud flats or sand flats, intertidally or subtidally.
Life habitsedit
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 descriptionedit
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]
Anatomyedit
The animal has a long siphon.
Human useedit
Archeologyedit
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 usesedit
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.
Taxonomyedit
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]
Galleryedit
Nassarius scaldisianus
Nassarius semistriatus
Nassarius semistriatus
Nassarius (Alectrion) glans glans
Nassarius (Alectrion) papillosus
Nassarius (Hima) fuscolineatus
Nassarius (Hima) kochianus
Nassarius (Nassarius) arcularia
Nassarius (Nassarius) coronatus
Nassarius (Nassarius) crenoliratus
Nassarius (Nassarius) graphiterus
Nassarius (Nassarius) gregarius
Nassarius (Niotha) albescens albescens
Nassarius (Niotha) conoidalis (fossil)
Nassarius (Niotha) conoidalis conoidalis
Nassarius (Niotha) coronulus
Nassarius (Niotha) distortus (Smooth form)
Nassarius (Niotha) ecstilbus
Nassarius (Niotha) gruneri
Nassarius (Niotha) jacksonianus
Nassarius (Niotha) livescens
Nassarius (Niotha) nodiferus
Nassarius (Niotha) quadrasi
Nassarius (Niotha) stolatus
Nassarius (Niotha) tiarula
Nassarius (Plicarcularia) bellulus
Nassarius (Plicarcularia) bimaculosus
Nassarius (Plicarcularia) elegantissimus
Nassarius (Plicarcularia) fissilabris
Nassarius (Plicarcularia) pullus
Nassarius (Telasco) limnaeiformis
Nassarius (Telasco) multipunctatus
Nassarius (Telasco) reeveanus f. zonalis
Nassarius (Uzita) reticosus
Nassarius (Zeuxis) celebensis
Nassarius (Zeuxis) dorsatus
Nassarius (Zeuxis) margaritifer
Nassarius (Zeuxis) niveus
Nassarius (Zeuxis) ocellatus
Nassarius (Zeuxis) olivaceus
Nassarius (Zeuxis) variciferus
Speciesedit
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.
Nassarius (Austronassaria) C. Laseron & J. Laseron, 1956: synonym of Nassarius (Plicarcularia) Thiele, 1929 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Bathynassa) Ladd, 1976: synonym of Nassarius (Zeuxis) H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Caesia) H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Cencus) Gistel, 1848: synonym of Nassarius (Cyclope) Risso, 1826 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Chelenassa) Shuto, 1969: synonym of Nassarius (Plicarcularia) Thiele, 1929 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Cyclocyrtia) Agassiz, 1848: synonym of Nassarius (Cyclope) Risso, 1826 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Cyclonassa) Swainson, 1840: synonym of Nassarius (Cyclope) Risso, 1826 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Cyclope) Risso, 1826: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Cyclops) Montfort, 1810: synonym of Nassarius (Cyclope) Risso, 1826 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Demondia) Addicott, 1956: synonym of Nassarius (Caesia) H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Eione) Risso, 1826: synonym of Nassarius (Plicarcularia) Thiele, 1929 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Fackia) Nordsieck, 1972: synonym of Nassarius (Gussonea) Monterosato, 1912
Nassarius (Glabrinassa) Shuto, 1969: synonym of Nassarius (Zeuxis) H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Gussonea) Monterosato, 1912: synonym of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Hannonia) Pallary, 1914: synonym of Nassarius (Aciculina) Adams, 1853 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Hima) Gray, 1852 ex Leach, ms.: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Hinia) Gray, 1847: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Miohinia) Nordsieck, 1972: synonym of Nassarius (Hinia) Gray, 1847 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Mirua) Marwick, 1931: synonym of Nassarius (Hima) Gray, 1852 ex Leach, ms. (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Nana) Schumacher, 1817: synonym of Nassarius (Cyclope) Risso, 1826 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Nanina) Risso, 1826: synonym of Nassarius (Cyclope) Risso, 1826 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Nanarius) Woodring, 1964: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Nannia) Philippi, 1844: synonym of Nassarius (Cyclope) Risso, 1826 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Nasseburna) de Gregorio, 1890: synonym of Nassarius (Sphaeronassa) Locard, 1886 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Nassodonta) H. Adams, 1867: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Nassarius) Duméril, 1805: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Naytia) H. Adams & A. Adams 1853: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Naytiopsis) Thiele, 1929: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Neritula) Herrmannsen, 1852: synonym of Nassarius (Cyclope) Risso, 1826 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Niotha) H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Pallacera) Woodring, 1964: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Phrontis) H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Panormella) Costa, 1840: synonym of Nassarius (Cyclope) Risso, 1826 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Paranassa) Conrad, 1867: synonym of Nassarius (Ilyanassa) Stimpson, 1865 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Parcanassa) Iredale, 1936: synonym of Nassarius (Plicarcularia) Thiele, 1929 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Plicarcularia) Thiele, 1929: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Profundinassa) Thiele, 1929: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Proneritula) Thiele, 1929: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Psilarius) Woodring, 1964: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Pygmaeonassa) Annadale, 1924: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Retiarcularia) Shuto, 1969: synonym of Nassarius (Plicarcularia) Thiele, 1929 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Reticunassa) Iredale, 1936: synonym of Nassarius (Hima) Gray, 1852 ex Leach, ms. alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Schizopyga) Conrad, 1856: synonym of Nassarius (Caesia) H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Sphaeronassa) Locard, 1886: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Tarazeuxis) Iredale, 1936: synonym of Nassarius (Telasco) H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Tavanothia) Iredale, 1936: synonym of Nassarius (Niotha) H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Telasco) H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Tritia) A. Adams, 1853: synonym of Nassarius (Hinia) Gray, 1847 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Tritonella) A. Adams, 1852: synonym of Nassarius (Hima) Gray, 1852 ex Leach, ms. (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Usita) Noszky, 1936: synonym of Nassarius (Uzita) H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Uzita) H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Venassa) Martens, 1881: synonym of Nassarius (Zeuxis) H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Varicinassa) Habe, 1946: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Nassarius (Zaphon) H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: synonym of Nassarius (Caesia) H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 (alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805)
Nassarius (Zeuxis) H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: alternate representation of Nassarius Duméril, 1805
Referencesedit
^ abcBouchet, 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
^ abAdams, 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 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^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. PMC1891266. PMID 17548808.
^Study reveals 'oldest jewellery', BBC News, 22 June 2006
^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.
^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.
^Gastropods.com: Nassarius catallusl; Retrieved 28 February 2011
^"Nassarius (Nassodonta) dorri". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
^Gastropods.com: Nassarius (Nassarius) emilyae emilyae; Retrieved 28 February 2011
^"Nassarius (Plicarcularia) jonasii". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
^Gastropods.com: Nassarius miser Archived 2010-11-04 at the Wayback Machine; Retrieved 28 February 2011
^"Nassarius (Hima) mobilis". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
^"Nassarius (Plicarcularia) moolenbeeki". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
^"Nassarius mundus". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
^"Nassarius (Niotha) nigellus". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
^"Nassarius (Zeuxis) poupini". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
^"Nassarius (Zeuxis) pyrrhus". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
^"Nassarius (Zeuxis) reunionensis". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
^"Nassarius (Zeuxis) richeri". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
^"Nassarius (Alectrion) spiratus". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
^"Nassarius (Plicarcularia) burchardi". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
^"Nassarius (Cryptonassarius) ephamillus". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
^"Nassarius (Naytiopsis) granum". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
^"Nassarius (Zeuxis) melanioides". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
^"Nassarius karinae". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
^"Nassarius (Nassarius) smitsorum". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
Cernohorsky, Walter O (1984). Systematics of the family Nassariidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Auckland Institute and Museum. OCLC 682230135.
Bernard, P.A. (Ed.) (1984). Coquillages du Gabon [Shells of Gabon]. Pierre A. Bernard: Libreville, Gabon. 140, 75 plates pp
Kay C. Vaught (1989). Classification of the Living Mollusca. ISBN 978-0-915826-22-3.
Wolff, W. J.; Duiven, A. G.; Duiven, P.; Esselink, P.; Gueye, Abou; Meijboom, A.; Moerland, G.; Zegers, J. (1 May 1993). "Biomass of macrobenthic tidal flat fauna of the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania". Hydrobiologia. 258 (1): 151–163. doi:10.1007/BF00006193. S2CID 1071724.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nassarius.
Malacos: a more complete list
Locard A. (1886). Prodrome de malacologie française. Catalogue général des mollusques vivants de France. Mollusque marins. Lyon, H. Georg & Paris, Baillière: pp. X + 778