Harpa major

Harpa major in situ

The Great Big Harp or Harp worm ( Harpa major) is the largest snail from the family of the harp snails ( genus Harpa ) and widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific. It feeds mainly on decapods.

Features

The most serious and solid shell of Harpa major achieved in adult worm length 7-8 cm, sometimes up to 12 cm. The thread takes up 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. Generally they have a triangular cross section but may also be round. You have a pattern with pink and brown bands which are interrupted by narrow light gray or beige stripes, sometimes 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 has a translucent purple-brown color. The inner lip is covered by a dark brown callus, the parietal is separated by a wedge-shaped recess. In general, the shape of the shell is quite a large variability.

The development of single-sex Harpa major via a pelagic veliger larva.

Dissemination

The Great Harp worm occurs in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean from the coast of South Africa and East Africa (including Tanzania and Mozambique) eastward to Madagascar, the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii and the Marquesas Islands, and Australia (Queensland ) until after Japan and New Caledonia.

Habitat

The Great Harp snail lives at the bottom of the intertidal zone and below on sand.

Food

Like other harp snails feed on Harpa major by decapods, which are covered with the Propodium and become trapped between it and the Metapodium and then wrapped by sticky mucus. The exact feeding process is not documented. There remain empty crab shells.

Relevance to humans

Harpa major is collected because of their housing and sold as jewelry. The meat is eaten.