Naticarius hebraeus (Martyn, 1786) — Fig. 6A [egg mass: Figs. 3, 11 G, g]

Nerita hebraea Martyn, 1786 . The universal conchologist, exhibiting the figure of every known shell, accurately drawn, and painted afternature with a new systematic arrangement by the author Thomas Martyn. London, T. Martyn. 4, Vol. 3, pl. 109

+ Nerita stercusmuscarum sensu auct. [non Gmelin 1791]. Sabelli et al. (1990), p. 170

+ Natica maculatus von Salis, 1793, p. 379. Sabelli et al. (1990), p. 170

+ Natica millepunctata sensu auct. [non Lamarck, 1822]. Sabelli et al. (1990), p. 170

+ Nacca maxima Risso, 1826 . Sabelli et al. (1990), p. 170

+ Natica adspersa Menke, 1830 . Sabelli et al. (1990), p. 170

Naticarius hebraeus (Martyn, 1786) . Kobelt (1901), pp. 76–78, pl. 52, figs. 1–8; Sabelli & Spada (1977), p. 9, fig. 2; Schiró (1978b), p. 5, fig. 2 (second row); Nordsieck (1982), p. 186, pl. 57, fig. 63.11; Riedel (1983), pp. 287–288, pl. 98 figured; Barash & Danin (1992), pp. 107–108, fig. 115, Terreni (1981), p. 31

Natica hebraea (Martyn, 1786) . Hidalgo (1917), p. 486; Villa (1985), pp. 106–107

Natica (Naticarius) hebraea (Martyn, 1786) . Settepassi (1972), vol. III, p. 26, pl. 3; Demir, (2002), p. 110

+ Naticarius cruentatus (Gmelin, 1791) . Poppe & Goto (1991), p. 119, pl. 16, figs. 18–20

+ Natica cruentata (Gmelin, 1791) . Alf et al. (1993), p. 190, fig. 4

Description

Size: Up to 59.2 mm maximal obtainable diameter (m.o.d.) (Italy; Hutsell et al. 2001). Specimens (n = 58) from Giglio Island: 8.1–47.5 mm (mean: 29.6 ± 0.8 mm) height; 7.8–47.1 mm (mean: 29.4 ± 0.7 mm) width. Ratio [h/w] = 1.01 ± 0.005. Aperture approximately 79% of shell height.

General shape: Globose, large bodywhorl, relatively thin-shelled for its size, with 4.5 convex, slightly tabulated whorls and adpressed sutures [teleoconch: 3.5].

Sculpture: Minute barely visible axial growth striae, stronger and easy visible below suture. Shell color: White, cream or yellowish background with dense irregularly arrranged, blurred, brownish dots that have a tendency to coalesce into larger blotches and bands.

Protoconch: Uncolored, one embryonal whorl.

Aperture & outer lip: Aperture half moon-shaped, oblique, angled anteriorly, rounded at the bottom, fairly thick basal callus; external lip simple, sharp. Fairly thick parietal callus, covering 1/4 to 1/3 of inner lip.

Umbilical area: Wide open, brownish, with well-defined strong, U-shaped, funicle with growth marks, positioned slightly below middle of the umbilical area; funicular callus not enlarged, inner lip without callus. Operculum: Calcareous with numerous narrow, sharply-raised ribs; ribs sometimes mushroom-shaped, with base more narrow than top. Number of ribs varies considerably, independently of body size, from below 10 to> 25, innermost ribs sometimes fused to form flat areas.

Animal: Mesopodium and propodium surround shell to same width during crawling; irregularly arrranged, blurred, brownish dots and bands distributed over the entire foot; tentacles colored dark; animal unable to cover entire shell with mesopodium; only lower fringe of shell covered.

Egg mass: Flexible, inwardly cambered, paucispiral coiled band of mucus-cemented sand grains (Figs. 3, 11 G/g), 1.25 circles; outer diameter 7.5 mm (n = 1).

Differential diagnosis: Irregular brownish dots, strong funicle, operculum with numerous sharp ribs, and large size easily distinguish the species from all other Mediterranean naticids except for N. stercusmuscarum . For differences to N. stercusmuscarum, see under that species.

Geographical distribution

Giglio Island: Campese Bay (1),´Swiss House´(9), Pt. del Faraglione (2), Pt. delle Secche (3) Alf et al. (1993):´Found singularly at the beach after storm at Bay of Campese, Giglio Island.´General distribution: Contrary to several publications (Hidalgo 1917, Schirò 1977), this species is probably strictly Mediterranean, ubiquitous and common from the Strait of Gibraltar to the Aegean Sea (Demir 2002).