''Nassaria nebulonis'' is a species of

sea snail Sea snail is a common name for slow-moving marine gastropod molluscs, usually with visible external shells, such as whelk or abalone. They share the taxonomic class Gastropoda with slugs, which are distinguished from snails primarily by the ...

, a marine

gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, from freshwater, and from land. T ...

mollusc Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is esti ...

in the family

Nassariidae The Nassariidae, Nassa mud snails (USA), or dog whelks (UK), are a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the clade Neogastropoda. "Dog whelk" also refers to ''Nucella lapillus''. Shell description T ...

Description

The length of the shell attains 21.9 mm. Nassaria nebulonis is characterized by its conchological differences in sculpture and shape, distinguishing it from its closest congener, Nassaria palembangensis. This species is notable for its broad shape with strong laterally situated varices at an angle of 180° from each other, suggesting a distinct phenotypical branch. The coloration of Nassaria nebulonis is distinctive, featuring a palette of earthy and marine tones that blend seamlessly with its natural habitat. The shell typically exhibits a range of hues from sandy beige to deeper oceanic blues, accented by subtle striations and patterns that enhance its visual appeal. This species is found both alive (Recent) and in fossil strata from the Early Pleistocene, highlighting its long-standing presence in the region.

Distribution

This marine species occurs off Java, Indonesia.

References

* Fraussen K., Dharma B. & Stahlschmidt P. (2009). Recent and fossil: Nassaria nebulonis sp. nov. from Indonesia (Gastropoda: Buccinidae). Gloria Maris, 48(4-5): 83-90 Nassariidae Gastropods described in 2009 {{Nassariidae-stub