The C. Chen Collection: “Kogkhulion”

“Kogkhulion” (Greek: “Conch”) is a photographic reference to world molluscs using specimens from the C. Chen Collection; continually updated. Mouse-hover over an image will display the scientific name, clicking/tapping reveals the full image with a detailed species account. For a searchable version, click here.

Phyllocoma convoluta (Broderip, 1833) <br />
MURICIDAE<br />
By local fisherman using tangle net, Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Island, Philippines, 21.2mm, F++, early 2014<br />
The "Convoluted False Triton" is a delicate muricid widely distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific, ranging from South Africa to Red Sea and widely across the western Pacific. Typical of genus Phyllocoma, it greatly resembles a miniature version of trumpet tritons and Broderip originally assigned it wrongly to Ranellidae, under genus Triton; hence the common name "False Triton". Currently genus Phyllocoma contains strictly three species, the other two being P. scalariformis (Broderip, 1833) and P. platyca Houart, 2001; all clearly differ in sculpture and pose no difficulty in identification. It is an uncommon carnivorous gastropod found mostly on rocky bottoms or under rocks, and appears to inhabit a wide bathymetric range from about-10m down to more than -500m. The shell may vary somewhat in stoutness, it is very brittle and many specimens have the apex naturally damaged during the animal's life. Typical shell length around 20mm, very large specimens may exceed 30mm.

Parancistrolepis kinoshitai (Kuroda, 1931) <br />
BUCCINIDAE<br />
-200~250m, Trawled on sand and mud, Off Daiousaki, Shima, Mie Prefecture, Japan, 82.2mm, F++, 2007/x<br />
The "Kinoshita's Whelk" is a medium sized cold-water buccinid considered endemic to the Pacific coast of Japan; ranging from Sagami Bay to Shikoku Island. It is one of only two known species of genus Parancistrolepis, characterised by tiny tear-drop shaped operculum. It may be distinguished from its only congener P. fujitai (Kuroda, 1931) by its smooth and glossy periostracum (as opposed to a fuzzy one with many folds in P. fujitai), longer anterior siphonal canal, and thicker shell. The shell is also generally more fusiform, although the proportions may vary considerably as well as strength of spiral ribs. Specimens have recently been surfacing from East China Sea and its distribution may extend there; although it is still questionable as no absolutely reliable record exist from this area. Specimens claimed to originate from East China Sea are often more bulbous compared to the average Japanese specimen. An uncommon carnivorous / scavenging gastropod, it inhabits sandy to muddy bottoms of moderate depths around -200~400m. Typical shell length around 80mm, very large specimens may approach 100mm. It was named in honour of late Mr Seiichiro Kinoshita, a Japanese collector who once maintained the Shirahama Shell Museum in Shirahama-cho, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.

Penion mandarinus (Duclos, 1831) f. grandis (Gray, 1839)<br />
BUCCINIDAE<br />
Tasmania, Australia, 127.7mm, F++<br />
The "Mandarin Penion" is a large siphon whelk endemic to southeastern Australia, including Tasmania. A carnivorous / scavenging gastropod, it inhabits sandy bottoms across a great bathymeric range from around -20m down to -600m, most common around -100~300m. It is an extremely variable species according to locality and depth and many names have been given to different forms. The shallow water form shown here is known as P. mandarinus f. grandis (Grey, 1839) and has broader, more robust shell than the nomimal form with a bent siphonal canal; deep water specimens known as f. waitei (Hedley, 1903) are generally more fusiform, with longer and straight siphonal canals as well as lighter colour. There is also an intermediate form called P. mandarinus f. levifida (Iredale 1925). Another extreme shallow water variation is P. mandarinus f. oligostira (Tate, 1891) which is similar to f. grandis but has rounded shoulders completely lacking in knobs. It is a common species throughout its range, and the depth forms are found in different frequencies according to localities, for example f. grandis is more common in southern Tasmania but uncommon in New South Wales. Typical shell length around 130mm, very large specimens may reach 190mm.

Pachymelania aurita (Müller, 1774) <br />
THIARIDAE<br />
Intertidal on mud, Mangrove swamp, Exit of Wouri River, Douala, Cameroon, 41.3mm, F++<br />
Pachymelania aurita is an attractively sculptured thairid native to coastal west Africa, ranging from Senegal to Angola. An abundant species, it inhabits sandy to muddy flats of mangrove swamps and brackish lagoons and prefers localities with relatively high salinity and sand contents; although it is an euryhaline species and the salinity where it is found may vary from about 0.01 to 20mg/l. It is an omnivorous deposit feeder feeding on blue-green algae, diatoms, and organic debris by ingesting sediments in its surroundings. Very variable in strength of shoulder nodules, the depicted specimen is an example with elaborate nodules. It is covered in a layer of semi-transparent greenish brown periostracum when alive which obscures the banded pattern of the ostracum. Typical shell length around 35mm, very large specimens may exceed 55mm. Its range overlaps with a brackish potamidid Tympanotonos fuscatus (Linnaeus, 1758) which is remarkably similar but has more radial ribs and a very different aperture shape. The two species are often confused, and are both important food species for local people.

Opeatostoma pseudodon (Burrow, 1815) <br />
FASCIOLARIIDAE<br />
Intertidal, Gobernadora Island, Gulf of Montijo, Panama, 47.8mm, F+/F++<br />
The "Thorn Tooth Latirus" is a remarkable fasciolariid characterised by a long protruding 'tooth' in the anterior part of the outer lip. Such 'tooth' are more commonly seen in muricids such as Acanthina monodon (Pallas, 1774) to pry open shells of armoured prey, but is unusual among fasciolariids. O. pseudodon is also an predatory gastropod considered to feed on shelled animals including barnacles, bivalves, and vermetid worm snails; its muricid-like 'tooth' is thus thought to be a result of convergent evolution. It ranges from Mexico to Peru including Galápagos Islands, and lives among rocks of intertidal waters down to very shallow littoral waters of around -5m. It has a rather thick, dark brown periostracum when alive and much of the attractive dark/light banding pattern is concealed under it. The length of 'tooth' may vary considerably between individuals of a similar size. A common species, its ypical shell length is around 50mm, while very large specimens may reach 75mm.

Taranteconus chiangi Azuma, 1972 <br />
CONIDAE<br />
From deep water, Trawled by native fisherman, Aliguay Island, Mindanao, Philippines, 15.5mm, F++, early 2014<br />
The "Chiang's Cone" is a bizzare species unique among cones to produce a row of sharply raised hollow spines on the shoulder. Although some other cones such as Rolaniconus polongimarumai (Kosuge, 1980) also have shoulder nodules they are not hollow spines like in T. chiangi; it is so unusual that it is currently the only species in genus Taranteconus and once a new family Taranteconidae Tucker & Tenorio, 2009 was proposed to house it. In the most recent molecular phylogeny of Conidae (Puillandre et al., 2014) it is actually placed with very good confidence in Stephanoconus with the sister group being zonatus and imperialis (currently placed in genus Rhombiconus). It is therefore likely that the unusual spines are homologous to shoulder nodules seen in zonatus and imperialis, and these species may be moved to genus Stephanoconus in the near future should the phylogeny become relatively well accepted. It is a locally common carnivorous and predatory gastropod feeding mainly on polychaete worms and inhabiting rather deep water around -200~400m often among coral rubbles. Its distribution is apparently disjunct, with the main range from southern Japan to the Philippines but also found in New Caledonia. Typical shell length around 20mm, very large specimens may exceed 25mm. A well-known synonym is Conus lamellatus Suzuki, 1972.

Volutopsius norwegicus (Gmelin, 1791) <br />
BUCCINIDAE<br />
-150~200m, Trawled, North Atlantic Ocean, Off southern Iceland, 104.2mm, F+/F++<br />
The "Norwegian Volute Whelk" is an elegant cold-water buccinid native to the whole breadth of North Atlantic Ocean from eastern Canada to Iceland to United Kingdom, extending to North Sea and Norwegian Sea. It is an uncommon species and majority of specimens on the shell market originate from northeast Atlantic and North Sea, mostly from old collections. A carnivorous gastropod mainly preying on polychaete worms, it inhabits soft bottoms across a wide bathymetric range of -20~600m; although it is most common around -100~300m deep. The shell surface is very smooth apart from insignificant axial growth lines; very little periostracum usually remain on adult specimens. Typical shell length around 90mm, very large specimens may exceed 120mm. A widespread misspelling of its binomial name is Volutopsius norvegicus, with a 'v' in the place of 'w'.

Anostoma octodentata Fischer von Waldheim, 1807 f. depressum Lamarck, 1822 <br />
ODONTOSTOMIDAE<br />
On the ground, Under dead tree trunk, Sobral, Ceará, Brazil, 38.6mm, F++<br />
The "Brazilian Up-Mouth Snail" is a most peculiar landsnail characterised by the upturned final half whorl making the aperture point upwards, hence the genus name. Due to this unusual twist the adult animal carries the shell upside-down with apex pointing downwards. In juveniles the shell is carried vertically with the keel pointing upwards, and as the 'up-mouth' forms the shell tilts to the right and finally falls to a horizontal position. It is an uncommon herbivorous gastropod feeding on foliages of vegetation and moss and is endemic to Brazil, mainly states of Ceará and Amapá. The form A. o. f. depressum shown here may be distinguished from the nominal form by having fewer teeth in the aperture, more angular shell, and the lighter colouration on the underside; the two are sometimes treated as separate species. Typical shell width around 35mm, very large specimens sometimes exceed 45mm.

Tympanotonos fuscatus (Linnaeus, 1758) <br />
POTAMIDIDAE<br />
Senegal, 43.6mm, F++<br />
The "Mud-Flat Periwinkle" is an extremely variable potamidid endemic to the Atlantic coast of Africa ranging from Senegal to southern Angola. It inhabits quiet, muddy flats of intertidal brackish ecosystems especially those of mangrove swamps to about -2m deep; and is a deposit feeder that ingests mud and digests the rich organic matter contained within. It is one fo the most abundant mangrove gastropods throughout its distribution and is economically important in west Africa as it is used for food, the market demand is rather high. It is a euryhaline species capable of adapting to a wide range of salinity from 0.1 to 25mg/l. Most variable in the strength of nodules on the second spiral cord from the suture; the nominal form generally has weak nodules and the shell appear granular, whereas the form with strong nodules is known as T. f. f. radula (Linnaeus, 1758) but intermediates are also common. The specimen depicted is an exceptionally knobby specimen of T. f. f. radula, such extremes are rare. Typical shell length around 50mm, very large specimens may exceed 70mm.

Leptoconus milneedwardsi (Jousseaume, 1894) <br />
CONIDAE<br />
-200~250m, Trawled, Kollam, Kerala, India, 170.1mm, F++, 2014/vi<br />
The "Glory of India" is one of the most famous cones of all and a historical classic rarity of great beauty. Known in the western world since mid 1700s, it was once known as 'Drap d'Or Pyramidal' (The Pyramidal Cloth-of-Gold Shell) before the days of binomial names and was formally described by Félix Pierre Jousseaume in 1894 using a specimen from Aden. Five years later J. C. Melvill and R. Standen, not knowing about Jousseaume's description, described two specimens found by F. W. Townsend 200km off Bombay, India from a submarine cable under the best known synonym today: Leptoconus clytospira. Melvill wrote that its discovery was "sufficient to mark an epoch", and with less than a dozen specimens known at the time it was included in S. Perer Dance's 50 "Rare Shells" (1969). It remained a great rarity until late 20th Century, and although best described as uncommon nowadays it is still one of the most sought-after cones. It is a predatory and molluscivorous gastropod inhabiting sandy to rocky bottoms of moderately deep water around -50~250m. Four regional subspecies are currently recognised, the nominal L. m. milneedwardsi from South Africa to Aden; Melvill & Standen's name survives as L. m. clytospira ranging from Pakistan to India to Sri Lanka; L. m. lemuriensis (Wils & Delsaerdt, 1989) from Reunion and Mauritius; and L. m. eduardi (Delsaerdt, 1997) from Red Sea. Leptoconus kawamurai (Habe, 1962) from Okinawa, Japan was once considered as a subspecies but now generally accepted as a full species. Typical shell length around 120mm, giant specimens such as the depicted specimens may occasionally exceed 170mm. Such large sizes are only attained by L. m. milneedwardsi and L. m. clytospira. It is very variable in spire height and the 'tent' pattern. The specific name honours Alphonse Milne-Edwards, then the director of National Museum of Natural History, Paris.

Laternula truncata (Lamarck, 1818)<br />
LATERNULIDAE<br />
In 'deep water', From local fisherman, Balicasag Island, Bohol, Philippines, 43.3mm, F++, early 2014<br />
The "Truncate Lantern Clam" is a fragile laternulid very widely distributed across the Indo-West Pacific region ranging from eastern Indian Ocean to southern Japan to northwestern Australia. It is a filter-feeding bivalve inhabiting sandy to muddy bottoms (often of mangrove ecosystems) of intertidal and littoral zone down to shallow water of around -30m and lives permanently buried. The animal is well camouflaged as the protruding siphonal canal is covered in sand grains and other attachments. The foot is mobile and muscular in juveniles and used for burrowing, but it is very reduced in adults; and adult clams are thus incapable of re-burrowing once dug out. The shells are inequivalve and inequilateral, possessing a layer of brown periostracum which is only obvious in marginal areas. The valves are fragile yet rather flexible, a crack naturally exist near the hinge allowing the animal to use this flexibility to aid animal motion and water flow instead of the ligament like in many other bivalves. It is a common species across its range, and is extensively used as food in some countries such as the Philippines. Typical shell length around 50mm, very large specimens may reach 90mm.

Dermomurex elizabethae (McGinty, 1940) <br />
MURICIDAE<br />
-4.5~6m (-15~20ft), Under rocks, Pompano Beach, Broward County, Florida, USA, 19.3mm, F++<br />
The "Elizabeth's Murex" is a small but delightful muricid ranging from Virgin Islands to Florida, USA to Bermuda. It is a carnivorous and predatory gastropod which inhabits rocky to rubbly bottoms of shallow water up to about -30m deep. An uncommon species, it is usually quite rough and quality specimens are not easy to find. Pure white to yellowish white in colouration, it is somewhat variable in varication and strength of radial sculpture. Typical shell length around 15mm, large specimens occasionally exceed 20mm. Original description placed it in genus Aspella, and it is thus sometimes referred to as "Elizabeth's Aspella".

Nipponoclava gigantea (Sowerby, 1888) <br />
PENICILLIDAE<br />
-30~50m, Off Sakai, Minabe-cho, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, 285.1mm, F+, 1980/iii<br />
The "Giant Watering Pot" is a spectacular penicillid endemic to western Pacific waters of southern Japan. Like other penicillids it also after a certain early growth stops growing the true shell and instead develops a calcareous adventitious tube, although it is unusual in switching over to growing tube exceptionally late. In most watering pot clams the true shell is only 2~5mm in length but in this species it regularly exceeds 20mm and is splayed open to a lesser extent. This is similar to some fossil members of the superfamily and is evidence that it is a primitive member of this extraordinary group of bivalves, hence its current placement in the monotypic genus Nipponoclava. It is an filter-feeding species living buried in soft sandy to muddy bottoms of shallow to moderate depths around -5~70m. One of the largest members of the family, it is locally uncommon but due to its restricted range it is quite rare on the international shell trade market. Typical shell length around 250mm, very large specimens may exceed even 300mm.

Maxwellia santarosana (Dall, 1905) <br />
MURICIDAE<br />
-23m (-75ft), On reef, Bird Rock, La Jolla, San Diego, California, USA, 22.1mm, F++<br />
The "Santa Rosa Murex" is a muricid with lovely fronds ranging from central California, USA to central Baja California, Mexico. An uncommon carnivorous gastropod, it occurs on rocky to gravely bottoms of sublittoral zone down to about -50m deep. It is known to be a predator of bivalves like many muricids and spends many days drilling through clams. It then feeds through the hole which tapers towards the interior of victim's shell. Typical shell length around 30mm, very large specimens may approach 45mm. It co-occurs with its very common congener "Gem Murex" Maxwellia gemma (Sowerby II, 1879) characterised by numerous dark spiral bands and rounded varices that are not fimbriated like that of M. santarosana.

Gemophos sanguinolentus (Duclos, 1833) <br />
BUCCINIDAE<br />
-2~3m, Under rock slabs, By snorkel, Melaque, Jalisco, Mexico, 23.1mm, F++, 2014/iii<br />
The aptly named "Measle-Mouth Cantharus" is an attractive buccinid with a reddish-brown columellar distinctively decorated with numerous white pustules. Distributed from Baja California, Mexico to Ecuador including Galápagos Islands, it is a carnivorous / scavenging gastropod inhabiting rocky surfaces of intertidal waters down to depths of about -20m. A common species, it is very variable in development and pustulation of the columellar as well as height / width proportions. The apex is almost always eroded. Typical shell length around 25mm, very large specimens may reach 35mm. Previously placed under genus Cantharus and still often seen listed as a member of that genus.

Leucosyrinx lancea Lee, 2001 <br />
PSEUDOMELATOMIDAE<br />
-400~600m, Trawled by fishing boat, Pratas Island, Taiwan, 53.5mm, F+ (operculum dried with animal inside), 2014/iii/29<br />
Leucosyrinx lancea is a very uniquely shaped 'turrid', with a rapidly tapering anterior siphonal canal from a strongly angulated shoulder. It appears to be endemic to waters around Pratas Island in the western Pacific Ocean quite some distance southwest of main island of Taiwan; and was first reported from bycatches from this area by Taiwanese deep trawlers unloading in Yilan, northeast Taiwan. It is a carnivorous / predatory gastropod inhabiting sandy to muddy bottoms of deep water from about -300m down to bathyal depths of around -1000m. It is a rare species in the shell trade due to its remote range and great depths it inhabit. The development of the shoulder keel is rather variable, and so is the spire height. Typical shell length around 45mm, very large specimens may exceed 60mm.

Clavatula muricata (Lamarck, 1822) <br />
CLAVATULIDAE<br />
-12~13m, Under rocks, Dived at night, northern side of Banana Islands, Sierra Leone, 25.4mm, F++, 2014/iii<br />
The "Muricate Turrid" is a clavatulid with fascinating sculpture endemic to western Africa ranging from Senegal to Angola. A fairly variable species, individuals vary greatly in development of the spine and although the radial and axial ribs usualy finely cross to form beaded sculpture some specimens almost completely lack this. The colouration is also variable, usually from yellowish brown to white but some may display beautiful lavender colouration like the specimen shown here. It is a common carnivorous predatory gastropod inhabiting sandy to rocky bottoms of shallow water around -10~50m in depth. Typical shell length around 30mm, very large specimens may reach 45mm.

Fulgoraria clara (Sowerby III, 1914) <br />
VOLUTIDAE<br />
-200~300m, Dredged, southern Honshu, Japan, 69.7mm, F++<br />
The "Clara Volute" is a lovely glossy volute endemic to the Pacific coast of Japan, ranging from Suruga Bay, Shizuoka Prefecture to Tosa Bay, Kochi Prefecture. A small Fulgoraria species, it is superficially very similar to Fulgoraria noguchii Hayashi, 1960 from the same area but with a narrower distribution; but F. noguchii has much stronger radial lyrations and axial ribs on the earlier whorls and the two are easily told apart with close observation. F. noguchii is generally also less glossy in comparison. A moderately uncommon carnivorous gastropod, it inhabits sandy bottoms of rather deep water around -100~400m in depth. Typical shell length around 80mm, very large specimens are known to exceed 120mm. In large specimens the outer lip tends to flare out slightly.

Afrivoluta pringlei Tomlin, 1947 <br />
MARGINELLIDAE<br />
-150m, Trawled, Off Mossel Bay, South Africa, 113.4mm, F++, 2001/i<br />
The "Pringle's Marginella" is a majestic marginellid endemic to South Africa and is the second largest extant marginellid known to science, only Marginellona gigas (Martens, 1904) of the Indo-Pacific region exceeds it. Despite its strong plate-like columellar plications obviously typical of Marginellidae, John Read le Brockton Tomlin originally described it as a volute partly because its extremely large size for a marginellid. It quickly became much coveted by collectors, being classified as a volute probably contributed to its popularity. In 1963 Keppel H. Barnard studied specimens including soft parts and finally rectified its family placement. At the time it was considered the largest marginellid because although M. gigas was already described it too was considered a volute and its family position was yet to be corrected. It was included by S. Peter Dance in his 50 "Rare Shells" (1969), and remained a great rarity until late 1900s. Currently deep-water trawlers obtain decent quantities as by-catch making it only rather uncommon; although large specimens in good conditions are not the easiest to obtain. A carnivorous / scavenging gastropod inhabiting sandy to muddy bottoms of rather deep water around -150~350m, the typical shell length is around 100mm while gigantic specimens may exceed 130mm. It was named after Dr John Adams Pringle, the director of the Port Elizabeth Museum and Snake Park at the time of its description; for it was his encouragement of local fishermen to send unusual specimens to the museum that led to its discovery.

Nipponotrophon gorgon (Dall, 1913) <br />
MURICIDAE<br />
-200m, Tokyo Bay, Off Kanaya, Futtsu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, 38.2mm, F+, 1997/iv<br />
The "Gorgon Trophon" is a delicate muricid ranging from Chiba Prefecture, Japan to Taiwan. The more spinous specimens with shorter inter-varice distance as shown has long been referred to as the "Prickly Trophon", Nipponotrophon echinus (Dall, 1918), but Hasegawa & Okutani concluded in 2011 that it is merely a form of N. gorgon. Although TC Lan included it as one of the "Rare Shells of Taiwan" (1979), today it is only somewhat uncommon. A carnivorous predatory gastropod, it inhabits sand to gravel bottoms of rather deep water around -100~600m. It is a rather variable species in terms of number of varices per whorl (usually 5-7), length of spines, and spine recurvedness. Typical shell length around 40mm, very large specimens may exceed 50mm.

Comitas kaderlyi (Lischke, 1872) <br />
PSEUDOMELATOMIDAE<br />
-250~300m, From bottom trawler, Off Owase, Mie Prefecture, Japan, 94.8mm, F++, 2013/x<br />
The "Kaderly's Turrid" is a large and beautifully striped 'turrid' with a distribution from Sagami Bay, Japan to Philippines. A carnivorous gastropod inhabiting fine sandy bottoms, it is usually found in moderately deep water ranging between -150~450m but records exist from as deep as -1600m. It is best known from southern half of Honshu, Japan; and although a locally common species live-taken specimens are somewhat uncommon. A rather invariable species, knobs are prominent in the earlier whorls but weakens towards the final whorl. Very fresh specimens often carry a lovely purple hue which generally fades quickly. Typical shell length around 75mm, very large specimens may exceed 100mm.

Mirabilistrombus listeri (Gray, 1852) <br />
STROMBIDAE<br />
-80~120m, Trawled, Between Koh Racha Islands, Phuket, Thailand and Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar, 133.4mm, F+/F++, 1980s-1990s<br />
The "Lister's Conch" is a magnificent and famous strombid with a noteworthy history. The first known specimen belonged to John Tradescant of London in the early 17th Century and was illustrated by Martin Lister (its namesake), which Thomas Gray used in his description making it the holotype. It remained unique for a short while but Mrs de Burgh, one of two famous female British collectors of the time, acquired another specimen and not knowing about Gray's description had Sowerby II describe it as Strombus mirabilis (1870). Until more specimens turned up in the second half of 20th Century it remained elusive and one of the most sought-after shells of all, and was thus listed as one of S. Peter Dance's 50 "Rare Shells" (1969). As it is quite distinctive from all other strombids its taxonomic placement has been controversial, and in 1998 Gijs Kronenberg erected a new monotypic genus for it: Mirabilistrombus; the name of which is sublimed from that well-known synonym by Sowerby II. The holotype is supposed to be deposited in the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow, Scotland; but how John Tradescant acquired it in the first place is enigmatic till this day. With deep trawling and dredging it has become common today, although specimens with original operculum is quite scarce. A herbivorous gastropod inhabiting sandy bottoms of moderately deep water around -40~150m, its distribution range is from northwest Indian Ocean to Bay of Bengal and recently extended to Arafura Sea; most specimens originate from either Myanmar or Thailand. It is a little-varied species and the typical shell length is around 130mm, very large specimens may exceed 160mm.

Tibia melanocheilus (A. Adams, 1855) <br />
ROSTELLARIIDAE<br />
-80~120m, Trawled by Thai trawlers, Pulau Raja, northeast of Sumatra, Indonesia, 127.2mm, F++<br />
The "Dark-Mouthed Tibia" is a peculiar rostellariid strongly resembling its sister species Tibia fusus (L., 1758) but has a dark brown aperture and yellowish brown parietal callus as opposed to white in T. fusus. The shell is also usually more compressed and squat, and the siphonal canal is also shorter than T. fusus. For some time it was treated as a subspecies of T. fusus, but now usualy accepted as a separate full species based on these differences. It lives burrowed in sand of shallow to moderate depths around -20~150m, and is quite uncommon especially live-taken specimens in good condition. The distribution range is supposed to be from Sabah, Malaysia to as far as Bangladesh, but vast majority of specimens originate from around northwest Sumatra, Indonesia. Although the exact feeding habits of Tibia species is unclear, they are presumed to be herbivorous to omnivorous gastropods which swallow quantities of sand and digest algae and detritus within, as well as grazing on algae. Typical shell length around 130mm, very large specimens may exceed 165mm.

Festilyria duponti Weaver, 1968 <br />
VOLUTIDAE<br />
-65~85m, By traps, Zavala (aka. Quissico), Zavala District, Mozambique, 107.7mm, F+, 2000/xii<br />
The "Dupont's Volute" is a beautiful flame-patterned Festilyria, a small genus of four handsome African volutes. A famous rarity especially in live-taken condition as vast majority are trawled dead or ex pisces (ie. taken from fish stomach), it is generally considered endemic to Mozambique (its type locality) although records from as far as South Africa exist. A carnivorous and predatory gastropod, it inhabits soft bottoms of moderately deep water around -40~150m. It is slightly variable in elongateness and also patterning but cannot be confused with any other species except perhaps F. ponsonbyi (Smith, 1901) which has a much larger protoconch and lacks dark parietal blotches. Typical shell length around 110mm, very large specimens may exceed 140mm.

Textilia dusaveli (H. Adams, 1872)<br />
CONIDAE<br />
-60~80m, By tangle net, Sarangani Island, Davao Occidental, Philippines, 73.3mm, F++, 2014/iv<br />
The "Du Savel's Cone" is an extremely illustrous classic rarity among the conids, with an intriguing history. The holotype specimen was owned by a Mr Du Savel, its namesake, when it was described in 1872 and supposedly came ex pisces (ie. from stomach of a fish) off Mauritius. It remained elusive and one of the greatest rarity among cones as no other specimen was found, and the holotype exchanged hands several times for high prices. Unsurprisingly it made into S. Peter Dance's 50 "Rare Shells" (1969), but shortly after that in 1972 two cone shells dredged off Okinawa, Japan in the National Museum of Tokyo was revealed to be Textilia dusaveli. Then the first dive collected specimens were collected also in Okinawa in the late 1970s, and by end of the 1980s specimens began turning up from the deep-water tangle nets of Philippines. Today it is only uncommon, and its distribution centre is from Philippines to Okinawa, Japan; although records also exist from as far as New Caledonia. The holotype which was unique for exactly 100 years after description currently resides in the Melvill-Tomlin Collection in the National Museum of Wales, but the type locality is likely erroneous. It is a carnivorous gastropod that hunts fish by injecting poison with its toxoglossate radula, and inhabits sandy bottoms of moderate depths around -50~250m deep. Very variable in colouration and pattern and less so in form; typical shell length around 75mm but very large specimens may exceed 90mm.

Buccinum osagawai Habe & Ito, 1968 <br />
BUCCINIDAE<br />
-600~650m, Trawled, Off Rausu, Hokkaido, Japan, 148.3mm, F++<br />
The "Osagawa's Whelk" is a large cold-water buccinid endemic to the Sea of Okhotsk, best known from around Rausu, Hokkaido, Japan. A carnivorous / scavenging gastropod inhabiting muddy bottoms of rather deep water around -200~700m, it is locally somewhat uncommon but rather rare in the international shell trade. The very fragile shell is very slightly variable in inflatedness of whorls, but otherwise little-varied. It was named in honour of Mr. Goro Osagawa who kindly donated many specimens to Japanese malacologists which became the basis for describing a number of new species including this one, during his presidency of the Rausu Fisheries Union. Typical shell length 120mm, giant specimens occasionally exceed even 150mm. It is sometimes seen in Japanese fish market especially in Hokkaido, and is considered a delicacy like other Buccinum species.

Athleta abyssicola (Adams & Reeve, 1848) <br />
VOLUTIDAE<br />
-200m, Trawled, West Coast, South Africa, 75.1mm, F++<br />
The "Abyssal Volute" is a moderately common volute endemic to South Africa. As the name suggests it inhabits rather deep water around -100~350m, albeit not in abyssal depths. A carnivorous predatory gastropod, it is mostly trawled off muddy botoms. Quite variable in elongatedness which accounts for its wide size range from shell length of 40mm to exceeding 110mm, although most specimens are around 75mm. The genus Athleta is a small group of deep water volutes containing about 15 species, mostly from southeastern Africa and best represented in South Africa. The genus contains many rarities, although many species are similar and difficult to separate.

Margarya mansuyi (Dautzenberg & Fischer, 1905)<br />
VIVIPARIDAE<br />
Yilong Lake, Shiping County, Yunnan Province, China, 61.6mm, F+/F++, 1985<br />
The "Mansuy's Margarya" is a fascinating freshwater snail with a peculiar shift in coiling in the earlier whorls and an attractive keeled form. A member of genus Margarya which contains perhaps the most striking viviparids of all. All are endemic to lakes in Yunnan Province, China; and this species has been recorded in history from Dianchi Lake, Xinyun Lake, Qilu Lake, Datunhai Lake, and Yilong Lake. It is classified as Endangered under the IUCN Red List and Vulnerable under the Chinese Red List due to threats from water extraction, industrial pollution, and tendency of smaller lakes to dry out. It is certainly already extinct in Yilong Lake and probably also in Dianchi Lake and Datunhai Lake, leaving only two surviving known populations. It is thus a rare species, especially in the international shell trade. The same threat is posed to all Margarya species, some of which are already considered to be completely extinct. A wide-range of feeding methods including grazing, detritus feeding, and filter feeding are used by Margarya species. A little-varied species except slight variability in elongateness and strength of keels, its average shell length is around 60mm while giants occasionally exceed 80mm.

Tegula regina (Stearns, 1892) <br />
TEGULIDAE<br />
-18~24m (-60~80 ft), Dived on rocks, Point Loma, San Diego, California, USA, 54.1mm, F+/F++<br />
The "Queen Tegula" is a famous collector's item among the top shells and much sought-after for its beautiful golden aperture and attractively ribbed base. It is an uncommon herbivorous grazing gastropod inhabiting mostly rocky bottoms of shallow subtidal waters around -5~30m deep, ranging from California, USA to west Mexico. Originally placed by Robert E. C. Stearns in the turbinid genus Uvanilla based on the remarkably similar shell; the operculum was not examined in the description, however, and its corneous (as opposed to calcareous) operculum became the basis to correct this taxonomic error. Specimens are quite uniform in form and shape, although the colouration is somewhat variable from light to very dark brown and many form bands of two shades, like the depicted specimen. A rather rough species, picturesque specimens are not the easiest to come by. Typical shell length around 45mm, very large specimens may exceed 65mm.

Strategoconus thomae (Gmelin, 1791)<br />
CONIDAE<br />
-80~120m, By tangle net, Davao Gulf, Mindanao, Philippines, 72.7mm, F++<br />
The "St. Thomas Cone" is a very handsome classic rarity among the cones ranging from southern Philippines to Indonesia, famed for being selected as one of S. Peter Dance's 50 "Rare Shells" (1969). It was known in the western world since around the beginning of 18th Century, most specimens seemed to come from Moluccas, Indonesia. However as it is a rather deep-water shell it is not surprising that it remained very rare until late 20th Century; today it is only uncommon as deep-water tangle nets in the Philippines frequently bring fine specimens to surface. A carnivorous and predatory gastropod mainly feeding on polychaete worms, it inhabits a bathymetric range of around -100~250m. The sharp edged and refined form is little-varied; the pattern is quite variable although the three brown spiral bands are present regularly. Typical shell length around 70mm, extremely large specimens may exceed 95mm.

Siratus alabaster (Reeve, 1845) <br />
MURICIDAE<br />
-200~300m, By tangle net, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines, 163.4mm, F++<br />
The "Alabaster Murex" is a large and elegantly frilled muricid ranging from southern Japan to Philippines. It was first discovered by Hugh Cuming during his famous trip to the Philippines from 1836~1839, but even Cuming could only obtain a single beach-washed specimen which remained unique until 1961. Its rarity then justified it to be selected as one of S. Peter Dance's 50 "Rare Shells" (1969), and no fine quality specimens were known then. This is largely because it is a carnivorous gastropod inhabiting deep water around -100~500m, an inaccessible depth. Nowadays however it has become a common shell in the market, even high quality specimens. The availability of this remarkable species among many others in the shell trade today must be attributed to the deep-water tangle nets in the Philippines; without these nets it may be still as scarce as it was in the old days, and quality specimens impossible to obtain. It is a little-varied and easily recognised species, with colouration ranging from pure white to yellowish white. Typical shell length around 140mm, extremely large specimens are known to exceed 200mm.

Calliostoma javanicum (Lamarck, 1822) <br />
CALLIOSTOMATIDAE<br />
-30~50m, By traps, Martinique Island, 26.6mm, F++<br />
The "Chocolate-lined Top" is an extremely lovely and attractive calliostomatid ranging from Florida, USA to Brazil. A common herbivorous gastropod and algae grazer, it is usually found in shallow water around -1~40m deep; although it has also been recorded at nearly -100m deep. It is quite a variable species, the shell helight to width ratio vary from specimen to specimen so some are conical while others are quite broad; the strength of protuberance around the suture line also vary. Intensity of the characteristic chocolate-coloured lines also vary greatly and some specimens almost lack it; beautious specimens are uncommon. It is quite prone to growth lines. Typical shell length around 25mm, very large specimens may exceed 35mm.

Vokesimurex tricoronis (Berry, 1960) <br />
MURICIDAE<br />
-45m (-25 fms), Trawled, Off Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, 58.4mm, F++<br />
The "Tricorn Murex" is a a somewhat uncommon muricid ranging from west Mexico to Ecuador. A predatory gastropod, it inhabits shallow to moderate depths of around -10~100m. It is rather variable in form and colouration, extent of spines especially so. There a few very similar and difficult to separate Vokesimurex in this region including this one, which may be forms of the "Bent-Beak Murex" Vokesimurex recurvirostris (Broderip, 1833). Typical shell length around 55mm, very large specimens may reach 80mm.

Bolma tayloriana (Smith, 1880) <br />
TURBINIDAE<br />
-45m, SCUBA dived, Cape Point, South Africa, 75.2mm, F+/F++, 1998/x<br />
The "Taylor's Star" is a famous collector's item among turbinids known for its attractive columellar shield. Once thought to be distributed from Japan to Taiwan, this is believed to be a mistake and it is now considered an endemic species of South Africa. Used to be a rare species, today it is best described as uncommon on the shell market. It is a algae grazing gastropod inhabiting rocky to muddy bottoms around -30~300m deep. It is somewhat variable in colouration, some specimens have alternating brown and light bands; the colour of columellar also varies from golden to dark brown. Although little varied in form, in geronic specimens the outer lip flares significantly. Live or fresh specimens have a peculiar dark periostracum which carries numerous short spikes. Typical shell length around 70mm, exceptionally large specimens may reach 90mm.

Vasum rhinoceros (Gmelin, 1791) <br />
TURBINELLIDAE<br />
Mombasa, Mombasa County, Kenya, 76.4mm, F+<br />
The "Rhinoceros Vase" is a very thick and heavy vase shell endemic to a small part central east Africa, ranging from Kenya and Tanzania including Zanzibar. Although a locally common species, it is uncommon on the market due to its restricted range. It is a carnivorous and predatory gastropod primarily feeding on polychaetes and sipunculans. A shallow water dweller, it may be found from intertidal waters down to approximately -20m deep and inhabits sandy to rocky to weedy bottoms just within fringing coral reefs. It is generally a rough shell and is very variable in pattern and form, especially knobbyness. A rare yellow to golden coloured form is known only from Zanzibar which has uniform yellow shell with no brown patterns and a golden columella. In some geronic specimens the posterior part of the outer lip strongly flares. Typical shell length around 70mm, very large specimens are known to exceed 100mm.

Neobuccinum eatoni (Smith, 1875) <br />
BUCCINIDAE<br />
-3000~4000m, Trawled on mud, Off Crozet Island, Frensh Southern and Antarctic Lands, southern Indian Ocean, 71.0mm, F/Dead, 1974, Ex-Coll. Paul Johnson (2013), Ex-Coll. George Rainer (2003) <br />
The "Antarctic Whelk" is a moderate sized buccinid endemic to and widespread in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters. Although locally it is a common species, its remote distribution near Antarctica makes it a rather rare species on the shell trade. A carnivorous / scavenging gastropod inhabiting sandy, rubbly, and muddy bottoms of a very wide bathymetric range from -10m down to about -800m; most common around -100~300m. Usually found in rough condition, it is not easy to find a live collected specimen in good condition. Typical shell length around 50mm, very large specimens may approach 80mm. It is the type species of the monotypic genus Neobuccinum (Smith, 1879).

Ophioglossolambis digitata (Perry, 1811) <br />
STROMBIDAE<br />
-5~10m, Dived, Sanculo (Lumbo), Mozambique, 128.5mm, F++, 2006/vi<br />
The "Elongate Spider Conch" is a very attractive spider conch with alternating dark/light bands in the aperture, endemic to western Indian Ocean ranging from Kenya to Mozambique to Réunion. Although there are some historical distribution records from Philippines and Samoa in the Pacific Ocean, the credibility of these is negligible. The nominal form dominant in mainland/Madagascar is common but there is a form O. digitata f. crocea (Reeve, 1854) which is rather rare on the market. O. digitata f. crocea is the dominant form in Mauritius/Mascarene Basin and very uncommon outside that region; quite different from the nomial form in having a flattened and much wider whorls and a much shorter, compressed spire as well as longer digits. This species is generally variable in digitation, but can usually be easily identified by the most posterior digit being forked, in combination with its aperture pattern. It is a herbivorous gastropod inhabiting sandy and rubbly bottoms of shallow water around -5~30m in depth. Typical shell length around 120mm but gigantic specimens are known to exceed 180mm. Previously placed in genus Lambis, it is now the type species of the recently erected genus Ophioglossolambis, its only congener being the famous rarity O. violacea (Swainson, 1821).

Melanopsis magnifica (Bourguignat, 1884)<br />
MELANOPSIDAE<br />
-0.5m, On sand, Ras Kebdana (aka. Ras el Ma), Nador Province, Oriental, Morocco, 31.3mm, F+++<br />
Melanopsis magnifica is a very attractively ribbed melanopsid endemic to Morocco (approximately from Berkane to Fez to Ouadi Korifla); there have been Algerian records in the past but most likely extinct there nowadays. Its distribution is very patchy with small areas of distribution scattered around its range which totals up to less than 500km2. It is extremely variable with many subspecies / forms named, shown here is the subspecies M. m. expansa Pallary, 1920; it is not clear whether these merely reflect variations due to environment differences or distinct evolutionary lineages. A freshwater herbivorous / detritivorous grazer, it is found in medium-sized river streams with low water level and inhabit sandy to stony bottoms. Fresh specimens are covered by a layer of rather thick and very dark periostracum. Typical shell length around 25mm, very large specimens occasionally approach 40mm. It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, primarily due to habitat degradation as many of its patchy habitats are found close to areas of urbanisation.

Timbellus phyllopterus (Lamarck, 1822) <br />
MURICIDAE<br />
-15m, Diver collected, Guadeloupe, 70.5mm, F+/F++, 2012<br />
The "Leafy Winged Murex" is a splendid muricid with outstanding wavy varices and colouration which makes it an extremely desirable collector's item. Native to the Lesser Antilles, it is an uncommon carnivorous and predatory gastropod inhabiting shallow water around -5~30m deep. Although little-varied in form it is extremely variable in colouration such as red, brown, yellow, purple, or white; and saturation of the colouration also differ between specimens. Its beautiful varices are very delicate and often broken in specimens taken from the wild but attempts at artificially raising specimens in controlled environment have been quite successful, producing and supplying specimens with perfect or near-perfect varices to the shell trade market. Typical shell length around 65mm, giant specimens are known to exceed 100mm.

Textilia cervus (Lamarck, 1822)<br />
CONIDAE<br />
By tangle net, Cebu, Philippines, 106.7mm, F++<br />
The "Pallisade Cone" or "Deer Cone" is a large and magnificent cone ranging from Philippines to Moluccas to New Caledonia. It is and has always been among the most celebrated rarities in the family, and is one of S. Peter Dance's 50 "Rare Shells" (1969). Once extremely scarce, some considered it to be merely a form of Textilia bullatus (Linnaeus, 1758) but as more specimens became available for comparison it proved to be a distinct species. The actual provenance of it was unclear until after mid-1900s because majority of the specimens known in collections before then were from very old collections with unreliable locality data. It is a venomous fish-hunting gastropod and inhabit sandy to rubbly bottoms of rather deep water around -150~400m deep. It is the largest member of the genus Textilia with typical shell length at around 100mm, very large specimens are known to exceed 125mm. As is typical for the genus, mature specimens have a thickened lip; the pattern is quite variable.

Sinustrombus taurus (Reeve, 1857) <br />
STROMBIDAE<br />
-25~30m, Dived, 'Roco Island', Marshall Islands, 93.5mm, F+++, 1995/iv<br />
The "Bull Conch" is a striking classic rarity among the strombids characterised by two posterior spines; it is one of the most coveted conchs of the Pacific Ocean and also one of S. Peter Dance's 50 "Rare Shells" (1969). Originally described from the collection of Sir David Barclay who kept the then unique specimen in personal collection until his death, and it remained unique for more than a century until its re-discovery in the Marshall Islands by R. C. "Dick" Willis. Locating its home ground was difficult because when Lovell Augustus Reeve described it he misinterpreted the locality as 'Amirante Islands', part of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean; the actual locality appears to be Admiralty Islands in the Pacific Ocean which is much more likely. It is still rare today, mainly known from the Marshall Islands and Mariana Islands. A herbivorous gastropod, it is usually found on sandy to rubbly bottoms of moderately shallow water around -5~50m in depth. Often found in pairs or threes, rarely one may encounter a large 'herd' (known from many strombid species); and 'herds' may contain 50 or more individuals. Usually a rough species with much of the shell encrusted or corroded or damaged by cap shells and worm shells; specimen grade shells are difficult to find. A very heavy shell for its size, its typical shell length is around 90mm but giants are known to exceed 130mm.

Godfreyena luculenta (Adams & Adams, 1864)<br />
BUCCINIDAE<br />
-35m, Night dived, Cape Le Grande, Esperance, Australia, 46.0mm, F++<br />
Adorned with a band of orange and ornamented with speckles of brown, the "Torr's Whelk" is certainly one of the most stunning and exquisite buccinids of all. A very rare species endemic to southwestern Australia, specimens are usually dead taken and most of the live taken specimens available on the market were collected around Esperance during night dives by the late Mr Peter Clarkson, a famed Australian diver. A carnivorous / scavenging gastropod, it is a nocturnal species inhabiting sandy to rubbly bottoms of moderate depths around -20~50m. It is generally a little varied shell, although the pattern of brown speckles and the general colouration varies a little. Typicall shell length around 50mm, giant specimens occasionally exceed 70mm. It was originally described under genus Cominella and is often still seen listed under that genus but as it is quite distinctive from other Cominella species, a new monotypic genus Godfreyena was erected for it.

Cymbiola aulica (Sowerby I, 1825) <br />
VOLUTIDAE<br />
-10~20m, Taken by local fisherman, Zamboanga Peninsula, Philippines, 120.2mm, F++<br />
The "Princely Volute" is a very handsome volute and a famous collector's item coveted once ago for rarity and today for its endless variability and beauty. One of S. Peter Dance's 50 "Rare Shells" (1969), it was known from a single specimen of unknown origin until Hugh Cuming, the 'Prince of Shell Collectors', discovered its home ground in southern Philippines where it is endemic to and brought specimens back to the Western world in 1840. It remained scarce, however, until mid-20th Century; and today it is only uncommon. A predatory gastropod inhabiting sandy bottoms of relatively shallow water around -5~50m, it is extremely variable in pattern, form, and colouration. Usually recognised for irregular patterns of diffused red, but specimens with well-defined pattern or even completely solid red are known. Typically not so angulate with sloping shoulders, but many develop very strong shoulder spines. Several subspecies and forms have been named; some recently recognised as full species. Also very variable in size, the typical shell length is around 110mm but giants occasionally exceed 170mm.

Buccinum aniwanum Dall, 1907 <br />
BUCCINIDAE<br />
-200m, Off Abashiri, Hokkaido, Japan, 154.8mm, F+/F++, 2010/vi<br />
The "Aniwa Whelk" is a large cold-water buccinid endemic to the Sea of Okhotsk. The specific epithet is taken from name of the species' type locality: Aniva Bay, Sakhalin Island; an alternative spelling of which is Aniwa Bay. It is a carnivorous / scavenging gastropod found in deep water ranging around -100~1000m, usually on muddy bottoms. The form is somewhat variable but typically quote tall and fusiform for genus Buccinum (as shown). Typical shell length around 110mm, very large specimens may exceed 150mm. It is similar to Buccinum bayani Zenkevitch, 1963 and is sometimes confused with it; the most obvious difference is in sculpture, the spiral sculpture in B. bayani is much finer and does not become very strong near the siphonal canal like in B. aniwanum. B. bayani usually also has much more inflated whorls than B. aniwanum.

Volutoconus bednalli (Brazier, 1878) <br />
VOLUTIDAE<br />
-100m, Trawled in the Arafura Sea, Off Northern Territory, Australia, 130.1mm, F+++<br />
The "Bednall's Volute" is a classic rarity among the volutes and one of the most beautiful species characterised by the unique and extremely attractive chocolate-laced pattern. One of S. Peter Dance's 50 "Rare Shells" (1969); it was described from a shell that belonged to the Australian collector Mr William T. Bednall, its namesake. This shell remained the sole known specimen until 1893, and by early 1900s more specimens had appeared on the market; an anecdote tells that divers used to exchange each specimen caught with a bottle of brandy. Today it is known to be a moderately rare species ranging from northern Australia (in the Arafura Sea and the Timor Sea) to eastern Indonesia. It is a predatory gastropod inhabiting shallow to moderately deep water around -10~150m deep, and usually lives on sandy bottoms. Typical shell length around 110mm, although extreme giants may exceed 165mm. The spire height varies greatly and accounts for much of the size variation. The extent of surface sculture may also vary from rather smooth to strong and wrinkle-like; and the base colouration ranges between pure white and yellowish white.

Phymorhynchus buccinoides Okutani, Fujikura & Sasaki, 1993 <br />
RAPHITOMIDAE<br />
-1172m, Cold seep site, Off Hatsushima Island, Sagami Bay, Japan, 52.4mm, F++<br />
Phymorhynchus buccinoides is a peculiar raphitomid 'turrid' with an extremely restricted known distribution, being endemic to a single chemosynthetic ecosystem: the cold seep site off Hatsushima Island, Sagami Bay, Japan, at depth of -1172m. Furthermore, it is known from just four outcrops in the seep site where they occur in high densities, co-occuring with Bathymodiolus platifrons Hashimoto & Okutani, 1994. It feeds chiefly on the B. platifrons mussels, but more of a carnivorous scavenger / carrion feeder rather than predator as its toxoglossate radula is very reduced and unlikely to be used for hunting. The shell is white but covered by a rather thick layer of olive green periostracum, which is sometimes further covered in black deposits; the apex is always corroded. The soft parts are pure white when alive. Typical shell length around 50mm, very large specimens may reach 70mm. Due to its limited range and inaccessible habitat, it is virtually impossible to acquire.

Crucibulum spinosum (Sowerby I, 1824) <br />
CALYPTRAEIDAE<br />
On rock exposed at lowtide, Southeast coast of Gobernadora Island, Gulf of Montijo, Panama, 35.9mm, F++<br />
The "Spiny Cup-and-Saucer" is an elaborately ornamented calyptraeid native to eastern Pacific ranging from California, USA to Tomé, Chile. It has also been introduced by human activity to Hawaii, USA unintentionally, attached to ships' hulls during the World War II; and is now an exotic species found throughout the main islands there. A common to abundant species living attached to hard substrates from intertidal zone down to about -8m depth, it primarily filter-feeds with its extensive gill filaments like other calyptraeids but also grazes on algae. It is a very fecund protandrous hermaphrodite, each individual is male when young and grows to become a large female. Extremely variable in colouration and ornamentation; its typical shell length is around 50mm with giants occasionally exceeding 75mm.

Astralium pileolum (Reeve, 1842) <br />
TURBINIDAE<br />
At extreme low tide, Under rock slab on exposed muddy reef, Roebuck Bay, near Broome, Kimberley, Australia, 48.4mm, F++<br />
The "Frilled Star" is a turbinid endemic to northwestern Australia with a remarkable pleated lappet formed by wide spines merging together. A common grazing gastropod, it is found on reef flats among rocks in intertidal zone to very shallow water. The frilly spines are exceptionally variable in form and extent, in some specimens they are completely merged with no gaps or breaks. Usually a rather rough shell, with early whorls eroded exposing the nacre layer. Typical shell diameter around 40mm, giant specimens may exceed 65mm.

Craspedochiton producta (Carpenter in Pilsbry, 1892) <br />
ACANTHOCHITONIDAE<br />
-10m, Dived, East London, South Africa, 41.0mm, F+++<br />
Craspedochiton producta is an amazing chiton with extremely well developed girdles that partially cover the shell plates. It is endemic to South Africa, and live attached to hard substrates in rather shallow water ranging from about -5~30m. Very interestingly, members of genus Craspedochiton are known to use their wide, fleshy girdle to catch small prey; and are carnivorous unlike most chitons which are herbivorous grazers. Similar behaviour is known from genera Placiphorella (Mopalidae) and Loricella (Schizochitonidae), and are considered to be result of convergent evolution. An uncommon species, it is extremely variable in colouration and can even be bright pink or orange. Typical length including the girdle around 35mm (without girdle 20mm), very large specimens may approach 50mm (without girdle 30mm).

Nerita textilis Gmelin, 1791 <br />
NERITIDAE<br />
Intertidal in rock crevice, Toliara, Madagascar, 44.0mm, F++<br />
The "Textile Nerite" is a common neritid with striking pattern; it has a rather wide distribution in the western Indian Ocean ranging from eastern South Africa to the Red Sea. It is a grazing herbivore living attached on hard substrates of rocky shores, in the littoral zone; often quite high on the shore. It is very variable in size and also in pattern; although average size is about 30mm giant specimens may exceed 50mm. The specimen depicted here is rather large, but unfortunately without the granulose operculum.

Prev
1
2
13
14

15

16
17
19
20
Next

Copyright © Chong Chen 2013-2021 All Rights Reserved.