Nassarius horridus
# Nassarius horridus

Nassarius horridus, common name the horrid nassa, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Nassariidae, the Nassa mud snails or dog whelks.

## Description

The length of the shell varies between 8 mm and 15 mm.

The small shell is ovate, subglobular, and spined. The spire is conical and pointed. It is composed of six or seven whorls. The body whorl is much larger than all the others. The spire presents on its exterior longitudinal folds, upon which are regularly disposed pointed, conical tubercles, which are of the same color as the rest of the shell. The first row of these spines is situated immediately beneath the suture. The last one obliquely intersects the base of the shell. Transverse striae, pretty fine and numerous, are observed between each of the rows of the spines. The white aperture is semilunar. The outer lip is thick and furnished internally with fine striae. The columella is nearly straight, covered by the inner lip which forms a callosity. The color is uniform, of a white fawn, sometimes pale orange.

## Distribution

This marine species occurs off Durban, Rep. South Africa, off East Africa; Madagascar, Réunion, Aldabra; and in the Indo-West Pacific: East India , Western Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Indo-Malaysia, Ryukyu Islands, Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands, Fiji, Tonga, Samoan Islands, Caroline Islands; and off Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia).

