Miscellanea Malacologica 4(4't: 6346,3 1 .X-20I0
Nassarins harpularia (Marrat, 1877), a sibling species ofNassarias
joeksonianas (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833) (Gastropoda: Nassariidae)
Hugo H. KOOL
Honorary associate of the Department of Malacologr, Zoölogisch Museum Amsterdanr, University of .A,msterdam.
Magnolialaan 21, 6951 NY Dieren, The Nethorlands, hh.kool@hetneLnl
ABSTRACT
rVassan'as harpuiwia (Marrat, 187?), found in Singapore's ilratrgrove forests, has been considercd a qnonym of If.
jacksoniams {Quoy & Gaimar{ 1833) by authors for the last 70 years. Morphologically both spocies arc Yery similar, but
fhey live in different microhabitaf r*'ithin the mangroye eoosysterrL The two species are herein taken out of syaonymy.
Key words: Nassariidae, dassarins, taxonomy, Pacific, Singaporg sibling species.
INTRODUCTION
SY§TEMATICS
Chan Sow-Yan, rnalacologist from Singapore,
Family: Nassariidae
sent me some photogmphs and several
specimens of aNsssartus species, living in the
mangrove forests of §ingapore. He identified
these specimes as 'Nassarius hryaloria
(Marrat, 1877)', which usually has been
regarded Bs a junior synonym of Àf.
jacksonianas (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833). After
(§pe species
arculafia Linnaeus, 1 758)
Cenus: Nassarius Duméril, 1806
B uecinum
Nassarins
h*palada (Marrat 1 877)
(Fiss 1-6)
Nassa harpularÍa Marrat, 1877:6.
Nassa harpularua; Tomlirl 1940: 16.
detailed examination of the shell morpholory
Nassarius harpularia; Cemohorsky, 1982:. 17 -217.
Nassarius (Niotha) lwrrylaria; Cernohors§, 1984: 96,
and ecological daf4 followed by some
discussions with Chan Sow-Yan, the
conclusion is that N. haryularia is indeed a
pl.
13 fig- 2.
Nassarius harpuÍaria: Tan
valid species. The main reason, contributing to
& \[roo,2010:43.
Description.Shell elongate-ovate. Protoconch of all ts
available specimens damaged, certainly due to
the acidic mangrove environment, Teleoconch:
approximately 5 convex, axially ribbed w-horls,
ribs round and strong 10 on penultimate and
on body whorl, last 2-4 weakening down to
base. Spiral sculpture consists of a subsutural
cord and fiumerous fine inceased lines all over
the u4iustified slmonymisation, was that the
apparent similarity in shell morpholory of both
species had obscured the fact that these species
do not occur sympatrically but live in different
microhabitats. In this article, the diferences in
shell morphology between the two species will
be discussed, as well as their ecological
I
differences.
surfrce of the shell, not more prominent or
stronger at base.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Aperture oval, varix very strong and
flattened at outer lip. Inside lip with 5
prominent denticles. Columella also with 3-5
denticles and prominent parietal tooth.
Columellar callus ttrin, anteriorly somewhat
elevated. Anal canal deep.
Colour usually dark brown, rarely
This article could not have been written
without the cooperation of my &iend Chan
Sow-Yan from Singapore. He drew my
attention to the species and was kind eoough to
a number of specinens, shell
descriptions and some photographs of the
habitat. I thank Robert G. Moolenbeek and
Bram van der Bijl (both Zoölogisch Museum
Amsterdam) and Mike Filmer (Chobham, UK)
for their assistance. Leon Hoffinan,
Zoetenneero The Netherlands was so kind to
make and to sompose the photographs of the
shells. This pap€r was reviewed by two
give me
light-beige. Outer
lip, anterior part of
columella and parietal tooth yellow; inside of
aperture brown, showing outside
band.
Consistent yellow-beige spiral line at the upper
half ofthe bodpvhorl in all samples examined.
Operculum
serrated.
anon)rmous referees.
63
oval, olive-yellowish,
finely
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Kool, 2010: Nsssarius harpulria
Type locality.Unknown by Marrat (1877). Singapore, Pasir
Ris Parlq is designated here as the type locality
ofthe Nassarius harpularia (Marra! lS77).
and threadlike spread over the entire outside
surface cfthe shell, as shown in Figs. 4-6.
Besides
morphological
differences betrveen ttre two species they can
also be separated by their habitats. Nassdrius
Distribution.Restricted to Singapore, as far as known.
harpularïa lives
Habitat.-
Mangrove areas,
in
by the
in
quiet and sheltered
mÍurgrolre forests, usually in small puddles of
water around rotting leaves and muddy debris
(Figs 10-1I), and cae be se* in groups when
shaded muddy pool
the tide is low. N jacksanianas., on the other
hand, prefers a more *'he-less"' aad open
habitat, parficularly the more sandy flats
extending seaward from the mangroye forest
and, occasionally, is frund in n*oasoon canal
mouths. lile have evidence that the two species
do not live sympatrically.
ditches.
DISCUS§ION
Marrat (1877:8) wrote about his new species
'I fancy that I have seen this shell named,
but as there is no account of it in any work to
which I have access, it appears to me it wiÍl be
better to name and describe if- Probably he
thought af N. harpaÍorta as different from tr[.
jaclesonianns (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833) but
was not very confident and/or convinced. He
also mentioned that ttre habitat was unknown
to him.
Tomlin (1940: 36) and Cernohors§
(1982: 17-217; 1984: 96) regarded lYcssarins
harpularia (Manat, 1877) a junior synonym of
N. jacksonianar (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833). A
description of the very common À[
jocksonianns (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833) (Figs
7-9) is found in Cernohors§ (1984: 96). He
figured this species on plate 13, figs l, 34,
whereas his fig. 2 is the lectospe of .Nassa
harpulariaM Íat,1877.
as:
REFERENCES
Cernohors§, W. O. (in: Wagner & Abbott,
1982. Catalogue of the family
Nassariidae lredale, 19L6. Standard catalog of
shelÍs (3) sapplem.ent 2: ?AL243.
dr.),
Cernohors§, \try'. 0., 1984. §ystematics of the
family Nassariidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda).
Bulleíin of the Aucklsnd fnsfiÍute and
lWaseam 14: l-356.
Marra! F. P, 1877. On forty proposed new
forms in the genus Nassa. Liverpool: MeeL
Thomas & Co.. t5 pp., one plate-
Tan, S. K. & H. P. M. Woo, 2010. A
prellminary checklist of the malluscs of
Singapore. Singapore: Raffles Museum of
Both species can be
separated
as on the basis of their
morphologically as well
habitats. Nasssrfrr§ *aryutaria has numerous
Biodiversity Resereh National University of
fin.ly
inceased, equally sized spirals, tr
jackso"nianlrs has less spirals and strong basal
cords. The former has a dark brown colour
with a single yellow-beige band whereas the
colour and the bands of N jacksonianrxs are
rather variable. Adrdt specimens of lv.
harpularia have a very thick lip with skong
denticles, somewhat like the lips of specimens
belonging to the genus Cassidulo. The best
character to identify À[ harputaria is the
periostracum on &esh shells, which is axially
Singapore. 78 pp.
Tomlin, J. R. le 8., 1940. Marrat's species of
Nossa- Proceedings of the Malacologicat
Society of London 24:344A.
64
.:11
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Figs 1-9. Nassariidae, Nassarius. 14. N. harplarr, (Marrat, 187?), Singapore, Pasir Ris Park. 1-3. Height 12.7 mm; 1.
2. left lateral; 3. dorsal; 4-6. height 133 mm, showing peíiostracum. (ZMÀ Moll. 185145); ; 4. venkal; 5. left lateral;
6.dorsal;7-9.N-jackso4amrs(Quoy&Gaimard, 1833), Singapore,KatoogBeach, hoightl3.7mm.(ZMAMoll.0978Í);
7. vental; 8. left lateral; 9. dorsal. (plrotographs by Leon Hoffman).
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65
Kool, 2010: Nassarius harpularia
i 10
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11
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Figs 1&11. Impression of the habitat of.lí4§§@,t-nr harpularia,Singapone, Pasir Ris Park (photographs by Chaa §ow-Yan).
66