Shell up to 25.0 mm in length, elongate-ovate, solid, teleoconch of 4½-6% whorls, protoconch of 22-24 milky-white embryonic whorls, last whorl carinate; sculptured with spiral rows of granules which number 2 on the penultimate and 4-5 on the body whorl; a spiral groove which is paired on the penultimate whorl and at the body whorl suture, separates rows of nodules; intervening spaces contain macroscopic hairlines. Aperture very small, outer lip denticulate-lirate, columellar callus large, moulded to the shell and spreading almost to the apex, columella smooth or with 1-3 denticles. Cream to light fawn in colour, nodules whitish, back of anterior canal bordered with yellow or orange, columellar callus shining porcellaneous-white, interior of aperture yellow. Operculum brown, generally serrate at margin but some individuals with simple margins.

TYPE LOCALITY. Foulepoint, Madagascar, and Ceylon (verrucosum); East Indies (granifer); Philip- pines (perlata). DISTRIBUTION. From East Africa throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific to the Tuamotu Archipelago. In coralline sand and among Zoostera grass, from the intertidal zone to a depth of 22 m. Type specimens. The whereabouts of the type of N.granifer (Kiener) is unknown, but the original description and illustration are sufficient for the recognition of the species. The type of Buccinum verrucosum Bruguiere, is lost, and the type of Nassa perlata Marrat, is probably in the general collection in the British Museum (N.H.), London. Material examined. EAST AFRICA: Zanzibar (USNM); W.Geyser Bank, Comoro Is, 12°22'S & 46°24'E, 20 m (MNHNP); MADAGASCAR: Tulear (SMOM); REUNION I: Lagon de la Saline (coll.Martin); NICOBAR IS: (ZMC); COCOS-KEELING IS: Direction I (ANSP); West I (USNM); MARIANAS IS: Tumon Bay, Guam I (coll. Gardner); off Orote Pt., Guam I, 18-22 m (coll.Deynzer); Piti Beach and Cocos I, both Guam I (coll.McCausland); Saipan I; Asan Pt., Guam I (both USNM); CAROLINE IS: Yap I (USNM); near Uruk Thapal I, Palau Is; Truk I (both coll. McCausland); Param I, Ponape I (coll.Parkinson); MARSHALL IS: Lae I, Lae Atoll; Rongelap Atoll; Kwajalein Atoll; Namu I, Bikini Atoll; Wotho I, Wotho Atoll; Rigili I, Enewetak Atoll; Mejatto I, Jaluit Atoll (all USNM); WEST IRIAN: S.W. of Biak wharf (coll. Powell); PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Mongop near Kavieng, New Ireland (AMS); Laing I, Hansa Bay (coll. Tursch); Madang (coll. Hoeter); Port Moresby (AMS); AUSTRALIA: Lizard I, Qld. (coll. Willan); Marion reef, Coral Sea; N.E.Herald Cay, Coral Sea; Michaelmas Cay, N.E.Cairns; off Cardwell; Lizard I; Little Upolu Cay, N.E. of Cairns; Lady Elliott I, all Queensland (all AMS); Ballina, New South Wales (AMS); SOLOMON IS: Lavanggu, Rennel I (ZMC); Matui I, Marovo lagoon, New Georgia (Auckland Univ.); Lunga Pt., Guadalcanal, 12 m (coll.Dillworth); Lever Pt., Russell I (coll. Bratcher); Vanikoro I, Santa Cruz group (AMS); Pavuvu I, Russell Str. (USNM); NEW HEBRIDES: Tutuba I (coll.Coles); Malapoa Pt., Efate I (coll. Bratcher); Kakula I, N.Efate I (coll.WOC); LOYALTY IS: Lifu I (AIM; AMS; USNM); Shepeneke, Lifu I (ZMC); Ouvea I (coll.Coles)' Isle des Pins; Flat Deguala, Ouvea (both USNM); NEW CALEDONIA: (AMS); FIJI IS: Manava I, N.off Viti Levu (coll. Eker); W.of Rat Tail Passage, Suva reef; Yadua I, off Lautoka (both coll. Marrow); Varo I, Gt.Astrolabe reef (ZMC); Korolevu Bay, Kadavu I; Vorovoro I, Vanua Levu; Rabi I, W.coast of Vanua Levu; Naselesele Pt., Taveuni; Tulane harbour, Koro; Matuku (all USNM); Nadi Bay (AMS); Karoni I and Moce I, both Lau group (both AIM); Namotu Barrier reef, Mamanuca group (coll.WOC); COOK IS: Rarotonga (AIM); Avatiu harbour, Rarotonga (USNM); LINE IS: Palmyra I (USNM); AUSTRAL IS: Tubuai I (coll. Trondle); SOCIETY IS: Tahiti (ZMC; BMNH); Bora Bora (coll. Wade); Fare Ute Pt., Papeete; Patutoa; Tautira, all Tahiti; Motu Onetahi and Motu Rimatuu, both Tetiaroa I; Maharepa and Opunohu Bay, both Moorea I; Pt.Tira and Motu Vavara, both Huahine I; Motu Tipaemu and Moty Iriru, both Raiatea I (all USNM); Mitirapa, Tahiti (coll. WOC); Papara and Hitiaa, both Tahiti (both coll. Trondle); Ilot Trioa, Moorea I; Mahina, Tahiti (both AIM); TUAMOTU ARCHIPELAGO: Motu Fara, Rangiroa I (coll. Bratcher); Anaa I (coll. Trondle); Motu Ahi and Vaiea village, Maupiti; Matihi I, Tikahau I; Garumaoa I; Rairoa I; Teteu I (all USNM); GAMBIER ARCHIPELAGO: (coll. Powell); Aukena I; Mangareva I (both USNM). Nassarius granifer is the commonest Plicarcularia in the Indo-Pacific and is usually encountered in colonies. The epithet verrucosum Bruguière, 1789, although an earlier name for N.granifer, has not been used since 1856, and since N.granifer has been used the required 10 times by 5 different authors, it is regarded as established in malacological literature, and Buccinum verrucosum Bruguière, is considered to be a nomen oblitum.