Large harp snail
| Large harp snail | ||||||||||||
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Harpa major in situ |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Harpa major | ||||||||||||
| Röding , 1798 |
The large harp or large harp snail ( Harpa major ) is the largest species of snail in the family of harp snails (genus Harpa ) and is widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific . It mainly feeds on decapods .
features
The mostly heavy and solid snail shell of Harpa major reaches a length of 7 to 8 cm, sometimes up to 12 cm in adult snails. The thread occupies about 15 to 20% of the length and the width is about 65 to 70% of the length. The ribs are usually wide and heavy, but can also be narrow. As a rule, they have a triangular cross-section, but it can also be round. They have a pattern with pink and brown bands, which are interrupted by narrow light gray or beige stripes, sometimes also dark brown lines. The spaces between the ribs are beige or light gray and have brown longitudinal lines with a garland-like pattern. The thread is covered by a gray-yellow callus. The penultimate handling shows a translucent purple-brown color. The inner lip is covered by a dark brown callus, which is separated parietally by a wedge-shaped recess. In general, the shape of the bowl shows a great deal of variability.
The development of single-sex Harpa major via a pelagic living Veliger larva.
distribution
The great harp snail occurs in the Red Sea , in the Indian Ocean from the coast of South Africa and East Africa (including Tanzania and Mozambique ) eastwards, around Madagascar , in the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii and the Marquesas Islands and from Australia ( Queensland ) to Japan and New Caledonia .
habitat
The great harp snail lives at the bottom of the intertidal zone and below on sand.
food
Like other harpidae feeds Harpa major of decapods , which are clamped covered with the Propodium and between this and the Metapodium and then wrapped up of sticky mucus. The exact eating process is not documented. Empty crab shells remain.
Importance to humans
Harpa major is collected for its case and sold as jewelry. The meat is eaten.
literature
- J. Berkhout (1992): The genus Harpa Röding, 1798 (Het geslacht Harpa Röding, 1798) (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Harpidae) (PDF; 2.3 MB) . Vita Marina 41 (4): 115. S. 18: Harpa major Röding, 1798 (Pl.4. Figs 1-2)
Web links
- World Marine Mollusca database: Harpa major Röding, 1798 ( World Register of Marine Species )
- Fischhaus Zepkow: Harpidae family - harp snails
- Harpidae - Harp shells (identification key, English, on the FAO website ). From: JM Poutiers: Gastropods . In: Kent E. Carpenter, Volker H. Niem (eds.): FAO Species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 1: Seaweeds, corals, bivalves and gastropods. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 1998. p. 602.
- Harpa major catches a cancer (photos by Eric Madeja)