Harpa major

Harpa major
A live individual of Harpa major
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Family:	Harpidae
Genus:	Harpa
Species:	H. major
Harpa majorRöding, 1798
Harpa conoidalis Lamarck, 1822
Harpa kawamurai Habe, 1973
Harpa ligata Menke, 1828
Harpa major major Röding, 1798 · accepted, alternate representation
Harpa ventricosa Lamarck, 1801

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Harpa major, commonly known by the English vernacular names large harp, or alternatively as the major harp, is a notable species of large predatory sea snail. These fascinating marine gastropod mollusks belong to the family Harpidae, a group collectively known as the harp snails and their close allies.

The shells of Harpa major vary considerably in size among individuals, typically measuring between approximately 60 mm and 130 mm in length at maturity. Average adult specimens of this species reach about .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);clip-path:polygon(0px 0px,0px 0px,0px 0px);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}3+1⁄2 inches (approximately 8.9 cm) in length, and their shells are characterized by an ovate overall body shape and possess a notably heavily calloused spire. The columella, which forms the central, lower portion of the shell's inner whorl, typically displays a characteristic dark brown coloring that distinguishes it.

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From an anatomical perspective, the snail possesses a notably long siphon, a relatively large mouth aperture, and a very large foot in proportion to its shell size. These anatomical features are extensively utilized when the snail employs its methods for hunting prey. This species functions as a voracious nocturnal predator, primarily feeding on various benthic crustaceans found inhabiting sandy seafloor substrates, and is notably capable of preying on crabs that are nearly as large as the snail itself.

Shell of Harpa major (specimen at MNHN, Paris)

This marine species is distributed across several distinct geographical locations within the Indo-Pacific region. These documented occurrences include areas off the coasts of East Africa, specifically encompassing regions near Tanzania and Mozambique; its presence is also noted within the Mascarene Basin in the western Indian Ocean; and it is further found off the islands of Hawaii in the central Pacific.

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• Walls, J.G. (1980). Conchs, tibias and harps. A survey of the molluscan families Strombidae and Harpidae. T.F.H. Publications Ltd, Hong Kong.

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• Gastropods.com: Information and shell images for Harpa major
• Ladd, H.S. (1977). Cenozoic fossil mollusks from western Pacific islands; Gastropods (Eratoidae through Harpidae). U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper. 533: i–iv, 1–84, pls 1–23 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

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