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Dr. Chong CHEN

Dr. Chong CHEN

Deep-sea biologist. Malacologist. Evolutionary biologist. "Mollusc collector", photographer.

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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.

Amalda vernedei herlaari Van Pel, 1989 <br /> OLIVIDAE<br /> -350~400m, Trawled, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, 91.0mm, F+++, 2005<br /> The "Herlaar's Amalda" is a very handsome ancillariin endemic to northern and western Australia. A. vernedei (Sowerby, 1859) represents a very widely distributed and very variable species in the Western Pacific and forms a complex of many subspecies such as A. v. herlaari, A. v. hilgendorfi (Martens, 1897) from Japan, and A. v. richeri Kilburn & Bouchet, 1988 from New Caledonia. It is one of S. Peter Dance's 50 "Rare Shells" (1969), which more specifically referred to the most elusive nominate subspecies A. vernedei vernedei; of which only a few specimens are known and appears to be endemic to deep water of the Solomon Islands. The conchologically similar but more accessible A. v. herlaari is often used as a substitute or placeholder when one attempts to collect all 50 and finds the nominate A. v. vernedei impossible to obtain. Although another subspecies of A. vernedei from the Philippines and South China Sea with similar spire callous but much more slender in form is also usually referred to as A. v. herlaari, it is clearly different from the Australian specimens and is from shallower depths of -50~200m (although a few Philippines records are similar in form to true A. v. herlaari). A futher subspecies similar to A. v. hilgendorfi is known from around Taiwan, and several more have been collected during expeditions of the MNHN (P. Recourt, pers. comm.). This complex contains the largest known members of the subfamily Ancillariinae, A. v. herlaari is one of the largest with a typical shell length of 80mm and giants exceeding 100mm. A carnivorous / scavenging gastropod, it is a sand-burrower inhabiting deep water around -200~800m.
Turbinella pyrum (Linnaeus, 1767) <br /> TURBINELLIDAE<br /> -30~50m, Trawled, Off Kayalpatnam, Tamil Nadu, India, 244.2mm, F++<br /> The "Sacred Chank" is a massive and extremely heavy turbinellid famous for being one of the eight auspicious symbols ('Ashtamangala') carrying religious and cultural significance in Hinduism and Buddhism. In both religions it is used as a ceremonial trumpet and libation vessel, often ornamented with gold or silver. It is called 'shankha' in Indian, meaning 'sacred conch', and the English name 'chank' was derived from this word. Sinistral specimens occurs but very rarely; in Hinduism a sinistral chank serves as the symbol of goddess Maa Lakshmi and is an extremely highly valued ceremonial item said to bring success, wealth, and purification. It is a shallow water dweller found around the depths of -5~50m, and is a predatory gastropod feeding mainly on polychaete worms. It has a very localised distribution in the Indian Ocean ranging only from southeastern India to Sri Lanka, and prefers a special type of sandy bottom with mud and organic material mixed in; which has very high abundance of polychaete worms. Typical shell length around 150mm but extremely large specimens may approach 300mm. It is very variable in form and many names have been given to the different forms. Young specimens often carry brown spots on the dorsum. Fresh specimens are covered in a layer of very thick, brown, fur-like periostracum.
Pyrulofusus dexius japonicus Habe, Ito & Tanji, 1980 <br /> BUCCINIDAE<br /> -150~200m, Off Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan, 139.7mm, F+, 1985/vii<br /> The "Japanese Right-Handed Whelk" is an uncommon buccinid endemic to area ranging from Japan (north of Fukushima Prefecture) to Kuril Islands to Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. This subspecies lacks the strongly raised radial ribs which is present in the nominate subspecies Pyrulofusus dexius dexius (Dall, 1907) mainly distributed in the Aleutian Islands, Bering Sea; and can thus be easily differentiated from it. A carnivorous / scavenging gastropod inhabiting sandy to muddy bottoms in moderately deep water around -50~200m. Typical shell length around 130mm, giant specimens may reach 160mm.
Swiftopecten swiftii (Bernardi, 1858) <br /> PECTINIDAE<br /> -50m, Trawled on mud and seaweed bottom, Japan Sea, Japan, 95.6mm, F++, 2012/xii<br /> The "Swift's Scallop" is a colourful and attractive medium-large pectinid distributed from Japan Sea to northeast Japan to Sakhalin, Russia. Although quite distinctively shaped, it is very variable in knobbiness depending on number of growth pauses the specimen has had, each pause forming a row of knobs. It is very variable in colouration from bright yellow to purple to red to dark brown, and it is very popular among collectors for this reason. A common filter-feeding bivalve, it inhabits mostly rock and gravel bottoms of shallow water from lowtide depths down to about -50m. Typical shell length around 80mm, very large specimens may exceed 100mm.
Eclogavena coxeni (Cox, 1873) <br /> CYPRAEIDAE<br /> Honiara, Solomon Islands, 23.6mm, F+++<br /> The "Coxen's Cowrie" is a pretty and pyriform cowrie endemic to Melanesia ranging from Papua New Guinea to Solomon Islands to Vanuatu, although vast majority of specimens appear to originate from Solomon Islands. Often mistakenly called "Cox's Cowrie" but it is in fact named after Mr. Charles Coxen, a conchologist and ornithologist from Queensland, Australia and should be "Coxen's Cowrie". An omnivorous gastropod, it is a common species inhabiting shallow water down to approximately -15m deep. It is nocturnal and is often found hiding under rocks or coral debris during the day. Typical shell length around 20mm, very large specimens sometimes attain 30mm. Generally a little-varied species but the thickness of callus do vary from specimen to specimen.
Pterochelus triformis (Reeve, 1845) <br /> MURICIDAE<br /> -3m, On oysters, Albany Harbour, western Australia, 61.1mm, F++<br /> The "Three-Shaped Murex" is a winged muricid endemic to southern Australia ranging from Albany in the west to New South Wales in the east, including Tasmania. It is a common carnivorous gastropod inhabiting shallow water from lowtide depths down to about -30m, often found among rocks and seaweeds. Typical shell length around 60mm, although very large specimens may attain 85mm. The colouration ranges from off-white to dark brown. It is often confused with Pterochelus acanthopterus (Lamarck, 1816) which is larger with deeper suture and usually much more undulated wing-like varices. The varices of P. acanthopterus is also much more scabrous on the aperture side compared to that of P. triformis.
Jolya elongata (Swainson, 1821) <br /> MYTILIDAE<br /> -20m, Surigao, Philippines, 110.5mm, F++, 2011<br /> Jolya elongata is a very elegant mussel with attractive shiny periostracum; rather widely distributed in the Western Pacific ranging from Hokkaido, Japan to southern China to Queensland, Australia. It is a filter-feeding species which lives buried in shallow sandy to muddy soft bottoms around -10~120m deep, inside a 'cocoon' built from surrounding material and its byssus threads. A locally uncommon species but somewhat rare on the market; its periostracum colour varies from light to dark brown, sometimes with a bluish hue. Typical shell length around 90mm, very large specimens such as the one shown sometimes exceed 110mm. Juvenile specimens are much less elongate and looks almost like a different species. This trend of increased elongation with age is common among mytilids.
Scutus antipodes Montfort, 1810 <br /> FISSURELLIDAE<br /> -6~10m, Under narrow limestone ledges in seagrass bed, Jurien Bay, western Australia, 127.9mm, F++<br /> The "Elephant Snail" is a very large duck's bill limpet endemic to the southern half of Australia, including Tasmania. The largest fissurellid of Oceania and like many fissurellids the animal is much larger than the shell; the mantle is jet-black in this species. It is a common to abundant algae grazer inhabiting very shallow water in lowtide depths down to about -20m. A nocturnal species, it hides under rocks or in crevices during the day and emerges at night to feed. Typical shell length around 80mm, specimens above 120mm may be considered large but in extreme cases it may exceed even 150mm.
Vexillum stainforthii (Reeve, 1842) <br /> COSTELLARIIDAE<br /> -25~30m, In sand and rubble, Off Bolo Point, Okinawa, Japan, 41.8mm, F++, 1988<br /> The "Stainforth's Mitre" is a strikingly spotted costellariid with a rather wide distribution in the Western Pacific ranging from Okinawa, Japan to Queensland, Australia. One of S. Peter Dance's 50 "Rare Shells" (1969), its description was based on a shell then in the famed Mrs de Burgh collection; which later passed to the hands of Reverend Francis John Stainforth after whom it is named after. In the 19th Century it was considered to be the rarest of all mitre shells, and it remained rare until late 20th Century. Today it is known to be a moderately common carnivorous species inhabiting sandy to muddy bottoms around -10~80m deep, although it still remains as a popular collector's item. Typical shell length around 35mm, very large specimens may approach 60mm. It is somewhat variable in form, but varies little in general pattern and colouration and thus is an easily recognisable species.
Lucinoma yoshidai Habe, 1958 <br /> LUCINIDAE<br /> -260m, Trawled from gravel and sand bottom, East China Sea, 36.2mm, F++, 2008/v<br /> Lucinoma yoshidai is a strongly costated lucinid ranging from East China Sea to Japan to Taiwan, with one ambiguous record from Tasmania, Australia which is likely a separate species. It is particularly interesting as it inhabits cold seeps of Sagami Bay, Japan; making it a member of Japanese chemosynthetic ecosystems. In fact, symbiosis with sulphur-oxidising bacteria is most likely obligate in Lucinidae and it is the most diverse group of molluscs exhibiting chemosymbiosis. Most species however, inhabit sulphide-rich reducing sediments and are not endemic to patchy chemosynthetic ecosystems such as hydrothermal vents or cold seeps. Likewise, this species also mainly inhabit reducing sediments around -100~1200m and relies on endosymbionts in its gill for nutrition. It is an uncommon species, the typical shell length being around 50mm although giants may approach 90mm. Adult valves are almost circular but juvenile valves are wider than tall. Fresh specimens are covered in a moderately thick layer of brown periostracum. It is similar to congener Lucinoma annulatum (Reeve, 1850), but has much less inflated valves and a keeled posterior end which ends abruptly in a straight line instead of forming a curve.
Plastiscala morchi (Angas, 1871) <br /> EPITONIIDAE<br /> -146m (-80 ftms), In nets, Panglao, Bohol, Philippines, 24.7mm, F++, 2011, Ex-Coll. David DeLucia<br /> Platiscala morchi is a very unusual wentletrap best known from southeastern Australia but with some records extending as far as Philippines and Okinawa, Japan. Like many epitoniids it feeds exclusively on sea anemone and lives in sand among sea anemone colonies around -20~300m deep. In early whorls the sculpture is cancellate but in large specimens (as shown) the axial ribs weakens and almost dissapears in later whorls leaving only spiral cords. Typical shell length around 10mm, very large specimens may approach 25mm. A rare species, specimens from southeast Australia (type locality) is smaller and differs in form from specimens found in other localities, which may prove to be a separate species in future studies. The giant specimen shown here is virtually identical to the one illustrated by Guido T. Poppe in "Philippine Marine Mollusks: Volume I" (2008, p. 706-707).
Vexillum dennisoni (Reeve, 1844) <br /> COSTELLARIIDAE<br /> Dived, west of Sorsogon, Luzon Island, Philippines, 56.0mm, F++<br /> The "Dennison's Mitre" is a flamboyant costellariid famous for being listed as one of S. Peter Dance's 50 "Rare Shells" (1969). It was described from the collection of Hugh Cuming, the 'Prince of Shell Collectors', and named after John Dennison, one of the greatest British shell collectors of the 19th Century who owned two specimens. It was a rare species even into the late 20th Century, but today it is only moderately common. A carnivorous gastropod, it inhabits moderately shallow water around -10~50m deep and has a Indo-West Pacific range centering around Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Vast majority of specimens come from the Philippines, especially south of Luzon Island. It is rather variable in form and very variable in colouration, the orange hued form depicted here is somewhat uncommon. Typical shell length around 50mm, very large specimens may approach 70mm.
Cymbium pepo (Lightfoot, 1786) <br /> VOLUTIDAE<br /> -10~20m, Trawled by local fisherman, Sanyang, southern Gambia, 244.8mm, F+, 2012/iii<br /> The "Neptune Volute" is a very large volute endemic to west Africa with a distribution from Western Sahara to Nigeria. It is the most globular and one of the largest Cymbium species, Cymbium being a genus of large to very large volutes known from west Africa to Mediterranean Sea. A common species, it has a gigantic foot which like many other Cymbium species is used by locals as food and sometimes exported in frozen state. It is a carnivorous gastropod usually found on sandy bottoms of shallow water around -10~50m deep. Typical shell length around 200mm, very large specimens may exceed 300mm. Large specimens are uncommon on the shell market, partly due to difficulty in transporting its large and fragile shell. Sinistral specimens appears to be more frequent than usual in this species, as well as other species in genus Cymbium.
Bathytoma atractoides (Watson, 1881) <br /> BORSONIIDAE<br /> -400~600m, Pratas Island, Taiwan, 69.5mm, F+, 2013/viii<br /> Bathytoma atractoides is a large borsoniid widely distributed from eastern Indian Ocean to Philippines to Taiwan to western Australia. It is a rather common deep-water carnivore inhabiting sandy to muddy bottoms around -250~900m, most common around -400~500m. Typical shell length around 50mm but very variable in size and gigantic specimens in excess of 85mm are known. Usually a rough shell quite frequently disturbed by growth scars and lines, young shells tend to be prettier, brighter coloured, and often with a more pronounced cord near the suture line.
Haliotis squamosa Gray, 1826 <br /> HALIOTIDAE<br /> Collected on rock by local person, Fort Dauphin, Madagascar, 83.1mm, F++, 2001/viii<br /> The "Squamose Abalone" is a strongly corded abalone endemic to southern Madagascar. It is a locally common species and gains its name from numerous fine scales on its strong ribs. A algae-grazing herbivore like all abalones, it lives attached on rocks of shallow water from intertidal zone down to about -20m. Typical shell length around 65mm, very large specimens may attain 90mm.
Buccinum kinukatsugi Habe & Ito, 1968 <br /> BUCCINIDAE<br /> -180m, By bottom trawler, Off southeast of Cape Terpeniya (48 deg 30'N, 145 deg 20'E), Sakhalin, Russia, 96.2mm, Gd/F, 1975/x/7<br /> Buccinum kinukatsugi is a cold-water buccinid with a very characteristic hirsute periostracum, endemic to the Sea of Okhotsk. A locally uncommon species, it is rarely seen in the shell market outside Japan, especially specimens retaining full periostracum complete with the fine hairs. It is a carnivorous / scavenging gastropod inhabiting muddy bottoms of rather deep water around -70~500m. Typical shell length around 70mm, very large specimens are known to exceed 100mm. It is said to be very tasty and may be seen in Japanese fish markets, albeit rarely.
Toxiclionella elstoni (Barnard, 1962) <br /> CLAVATULIDAE<br /> -100m, Dredged, Off Mbotyi, Transkei, South Africa, 36.6mm, F+<br /> Toxiclionella elstoni is an uncommon clavatulid with a very unusual shape, endemic to South Africa. The strongly undulating sculpture is quite unique among gastropods and is one of the most easily recognisable species among Clavatulidae. A carnivorous gastropod, it inhabits rather deep water around depth of -70~120m on the continental shelf along Transkei and Natal. Typical shell length around 30mm, very large specimens may approach 40mm. A broadly lanceolate operculum is present and occupies approximately 1/3 of the aperture length. A shell not often offered on the market, probably due to its restricted range.
Naria lamarckii (Gray, 1825) f. phuketensis (unknown author)<br /> CYPRAEIDAE<br /> -20~30m, By scuba diver near Ko Racha Yai and Ko Racha Noi islands, south Phuket Province, Thailand, 27.4mm, F+++, 2013<br /> The "Lamarck's Cowrie" is a pleasingly spotted common cowrie widely distributed throughout the Indian Ocean and named in honour of the famous French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. It is a very variable species in terms of both pattern and form. The uncommon form shown here is characteristic of population endemic to a small area around Phuket Island, Thailand usually referred to as N. lamarckii f. phuketensis, although the author of the name is unclear and it carries no taxonomic authority. This form can be regarded as an extremely callous and depressed variation of L. lamarckii f. redimita (Melvill, 1888) which is itself a short and callous form of N. lamarckii best known from Zanzibar, Natal, and Thailand. The two are sometimes treated as synonymous on the market, treating f. phuketensis as simply a variation of f. redimita. N. lamarckii f. redimita was often treated as a subspecies, but no sufficient genetic evidence was found to support this from the Cowrie Genetic Database Project and now best considered simply as a form. It is a nocturnal omnivore often found to inhabit muddy bottoms, and is usually found from very shallow intertidal zone down to about -50m deep. Typical shell length of N. lamarckii is around 35mm with giants sometimes exceeding 50mm; N. lamarckii f. phuketensis is smaller with a typical shell length around 30mm and rarely exceeding 40mm.
Circomphalus foliaceolamellosus (Dillwyn, 1817) <br /> VENERIDAE<br /> -10~20m, Trawled, Attached to fishing nets, Gunjur, Gambia, 66.3mm, F+, 2012/iii, Coll. Carl Ruscoe & Craig Ruscoe<br /> Magnificently ornamented with frequent frilly ribs, the "Scaly-ridged Venus" is a large venus clam and the most extensively ribbed species of genus Circomphalus. It is a common burrowing filter-feeder endemic to western Africa ranging approximately from Morocco to Angola and inhabits intertidal to subtidal waters down to about -80m deep. Typical shell length around 60mm, very large specimens are known to exceed 80mm. The radial ribs vary somewhat in frequency from specimen to specimen, and they are quite prone to damage especially in large specimens; examples with all ribs intact are not easy to find.
Cymbiola chrysostoma (Swainson, 1824) <br /> VOLUTIDAE<br /> Sulawesi, Indonesia, 72.1mm, F++, Ex-Coll. Paul Johnson<br /> The "Golden-Mouth Volute" is a classic collector's item among the volutes endemic to Indonesia, characterised by the brilliant golden hue in its aperture for which it was named. It was selected by S. Peter Dance as one of his fifty "Rare Shells" (1969) and was very rare even into the late 1900s. Today it is only uncommon and much easier to obtain, although giant specimens still fetch high prices. The spire height is somewhat variable as well as the prominence of the two dark bands, the shell is quite prone to growth scars. The number of spines per whorl is also variable. It is a carnivorous gastropod inhabiting shallow sandy bottoms of about -2~50m deep. Typical shell length around 55mm, giant specimens may occasionally exceed 70mm.
Angaria sphaerula (Kiener, 1839)<br /> ANGARIIDAE<br /> In deep water, by local fisherman using tangle net, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines, 62.9mm, F++, early 2014<br /> With its long, recurved spines the "Kiener's Delphinula" is perhaps the most beautiful angariid, and certainly one of the most variable. S. Peter Dance chose this species as one of his 50 "Rare Shells" (1969) as it was for a long time considered very rare. Today it is known to be a rather common species native to the tropical Indo-West Pacific, and an algae grazer inhabiting rocky surfaces of intertidal zone up to moderate depths of around -100m. It is very variable in colouration and ornamentation, the spines can vary from a simple tube to being extensively webbed. A large specimen of the frilly form is shown here, with wide spines like petals of a flower. It is quite rare to find a specimen of this form with intact spines and good size combined. Typical shell length around 60mm including spines, although very large specimens may approach 100mm.
Volutoconus coniformis (Cox, 1871) <br /> VOLUTIDAE<br /> -14m, On sand of pearl farm, Roebuck Bay, Broome, Australia, 70.0mm, F++, Ex-Coll. Paul Johnson<br /> The "Cone-shaped Volute" is a rare and appealing volute endemic to the portion of northwest Australia between Dampier and Broome. It is a nocturnal carnivorous gastropod inhabiting sandy to rubbly bottoms of shallow water ranging from intertidal zone down to about -20m deep. Although a shallow water shell it is a seldomly seen species, live-taken specimens such as the one shown especially so. Characteristically of the genus Volutoconus, it has a sharp needle-like tip in its protoconch. Typical shell length is around 60mm, giant specimens may grow to approach 80mm.
Trophonella echinolamellata (Powell, 1951) <br /> MURICIDAE<br /> -200~220m, Trawled, King George Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica, 63.2mm, F+/F++, 1996/xii<br /> Trophonella echinolamellata is a beautifully ornamented Antarctic trophon endemic to the Southern Ocean, with a range from South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands to the Antarctic Peninsula although the actual range might be wider. It appears to be extremely rare in the shell market due to its inaccessible habitat and distribution. Originally placed in genus Trophon, it was placed in the newly erected genus Trophonella in 2010 by Harasewych & Pastoino along with four other species due to significant differences from the type species of Trophon, ie. Trophon geversianus (Pallas, 1769). It is a carnivorous gastropod with a bathymetric range of around -50~500m, but live specimens are usually found between -100~200m deep. Typical shell length approximately 50mm, very large specimens are known to attain nearly 70mm.
Tenorioconus cedonulli (Linnaeus, 1767) <br /> CONIDAE<br /> -12~14m, Scuba dived at night, Young Island, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 44.0mm, F+++<br /> With its specific epithet meaning 'second-to-none', the "Matchless Cone" is a gorgeous Caribbean cone greatly celebrated for its beauty and rarity. One of the 'Four Famous Rarities' in S. Peter Dance's book "Shell Collecting: An Illustrated History", it was originally described by Linnaeus as a subspecies of Leptoconus ammiralis (L., 1758) with reference to the famous figure by Albertus Seba (1758) drawn from the then unique specimen owned by Johan de la Faille, a famous Dutch collector. Johan de la Faille ultimately had two specimens, one was sold to the King of Portugal and the other (not the one figured by Seba) later passed to the naturalist Pierre Lyonet (who refused to sell the specimen for £100, equivalent to about US$15000 today, believing it was worth triple of that), then to Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, and the same shell supposedly now rests in the Natural History Museum of Geneva. It is now considered a full species with three subspecies: T. c. cedonulli from St Vincent, T. c. dominicanus (Hwass in Bruguiere, 1792) from Grenadines and Grenada, and T. c. insularis (Gmelin, 1791) from St Lucia and Barbados. It is extremely variable in pattern and colouration (the specimen depicted here is typical of T. c. cedonulli) and somewhat variable in form; and is likely to have been confused with other species especially in the 18th and 19th Century. A predatory gastropod inhabiting sandy to rubbly bottoms around -2~80m deep, its typical shell length is around 45mm but very large specimens may reach 60mm.
Lyria lyraeformis (Swainson, 1821) <br /> VOLUTIDAE<br /> -40m, Dived, Lamu Island, Kenya, 112.1mm, F++<br /> The "Lyre-formed Lyria" is a beautiful classic rarity among the volutes endemic to east Africa ranging from Somalia to Mozambique, with majority of specimens coming from Kenya or Somalia. One of S. Peter Dance's fifty "Rare Shells" (1969), it was truly scarce until the mid-20th Century. Today it is still a rare and coveted shell especially in live-taken condition; although a good amount were brought into the market from Somalian and Kenyan fishermen decades ago this seems to have stopped today and most specimens available on the market are from old collection. A carnivorous gastropod inhabiting sandy to muddy bottoms, its bathymetric range is around -10~200m from subtidal to moderately deep water. Typical shell length around 100mm, giant specimens are known to exceed 140mm. Typical of genus Lyria, this species also has a horny operculum but specimens complete with operculum is very rarely seen. Its form is quite variable from the slender and fusiform shown here to a much wider and robust form; the colour is also somewhat variable, for example some specimens only carry various hues of orange.
Chicomurex superbus (Sowerby III, 1889) <br /> MURICIDAE<br /> -100~200m, By tangle nets, Balut Island, Philippines, 68.1mm, F++<br /> Chicomurex superbus is a rather widely distributed muricid ranging from Honshu, Japan to northeast Australia and Coral Sea. For a long time this common species was incorrectly referred to as Chicomurex problematicus since T.C. Lan's description in 1981 of it as a subspecies of C. superbus. This is because Sowerby III's original figures in C. superbus' description was misinterpreted and considered to be a different species (now described as C. lani Houart, Moe & Chen, 2014) which was what Lan compared his specimens to. When the holotype of C. superbus was seen however, it turned out to be exactly the same species as C. problematicus. Therefore C. problematicus is in fact a junior synonym of C. superbus which takes precedence. A carnivorous gastropod inhabiting moderately deep water around -40~300m, the typical shell length is around 65mm although exceptionally large specimens may exceed 80mm.
Aforia circinata (Dall, 1873) <br /> COCHLESPIRIDAE<br /> -205m, Trawled in mud, Off Monbetsu, Hokkaido, Japan, 68.7mm, F++, 1986/v/13<br /> The "Keeled Aforia" is a rather rare conoidean with a distribution ranging from Honshu, Japan to Bering Sea to Gulf of Alaska, USA. With its distinctive keel, it is a representative species of genus Aforia which was placed in Turridae until its recent revision, and is now in Cochlespiridae. This genus contains some of the most rare and desirable 'turrids' characterised by strong keels. It is known for exhibiting very clear sexual dimorphism in aperture shape, females have a strong notch in the lower part of the outer lip whereas males (shown here) lacks it. This feature is unusual in gastropods, and is also known for some species of the true turrid genus Gemmula. The shell is usually quite rough and worn. A carnivorous gastropod inhabiting muddy bottoms around -60~600m deep, its typical shell length is around 65mm but giants may exceed 80mm.
Margarya yangtsunghaiensis Tchang & Tsi, 1949 <br /> VIVIPARIDAE<br /> Yangtsunghai Lake, Yunnan Province, China, 50.0mm, F++, 2013<br /> Margarya yangtsunghaiensis is a very attractive freshwater snail endemic to a single small lake with surface area of 32km2 -- the Yangtsunghai Lake in Yunnan Province, China. It is listed on both IUCN Red List and Chinese Red List as Critically Endangered; some claim it may already be extinct. This is because the last official records of live specimens were back in 1949, and supposedly no live specimens were found in recent surveys of the lake. Given this background it is unsurprisingly a rare shell on the market, although it is puzzling that apparently live taken specimens claiming to be taken in recent years are sometimes seen for sale. Viviparids are known for having a wide-range of feeding methods, including grazing, detritus feeding, and filter feeding; genus Margarya is no exception. It lives across all depths of Yangtsunghai Lake, the maximum depth of which is about -30m. Typical shell length around 45mm, very large specimens may approach 60mm. The genus Margarya includes some of the most amazingly sculptured freshwater gastropods of all, and once common enough to be used for food by local people. Nowadays however, unfortunately most species of this small (11 species) genus endemic to Yunnan Province are in sharp decline or alread extinct due to anthropogenic pollution of the lakes they inhabit since the 1980s. This continues today and Yangtsunghai Lake, for example, was affected by a large-scale Arsenic pollution from a local fertilizer factory in 2008.
Pomaulax japonicus (Dunker, 1845) <br /> TURBINIDAE<br /> -50~60m, Off Owase, Mie Prefecture, Japan, 132.1mm, F+, 2013/x<br /> The "Japanese Star" is an intriguing turbinid endemic to Japan where it is locally common and Korea where it is rarer. It is a grazing herbivore inhabiting rocky substrates in shallow water up to -50m deep. The shell height is quite variable in relation to shell diameter, meaning the shell form can vary from very flat to rather tall. The thick nacre layer of the shell was used in Japan to make buttons. Typical shell diameter around 120mm, very large specimens may reach 170mm; in general the larger the specimen the shorter the spine becomes. Specimens with long and well-preserved spines are not easy to acquire.
Beringius polynematicus Pilsbry, 1907 <br /> BUCCINIDAE<br /> -300~400m, Trawled on mud, Off Chōshi, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, 131.0mm, F++<br /> Beringius polynematicus is a cold-water buccinid ranging from northern Japan to Bering Sea. It is similar to Beringius frielei (Dall,1895) and sometimes confused with it, but B. frielei have numerous deep spiral ridges in reglar intervals on the upper half of the body whorl which is lacking in B. polynematicus. A common carnivorous / scavenging species found on muddy bottoms around -150~500m deep, it is edible and sometimes seen in Japanese fish markets. Typical shell length around 140mm, very large specimens may exceed 170mm. It is quite variable in form and may be much wider than the fusiform specimen shown.
Cancellaria cooperii Gabb, 1865 <br /> CANCELLARIIDAE<br /> -20m, Dived, Off Santa Barbara, California, USA, 50.0mm, F++<br /> The "Cooper's Nutmeg" is a particularly lovely nutmeg shell native to California, USA and Baja California, Mexico. It has a very special feeding mechanism -- it is a blood sucking parasite of larger animals and feeds by making wounds with its radula and then inserting the proboscis, as well as using existing wounds. First reported in 1987 as a specialised parasite of the Pacific electric ray, Torpedo californica (first reported gastropod parasite of fish), but now known to parasitise a large variety of animals such as echinoderms and other molluscs. An uncommon gastropod living buried in sand most of the time, it appears to be most common in shallow water around -20~30m deep. It is quite variable in form ranging from the stout form shown here to much more elongate and fusiform, usually the more elongate the less shouldered and 'spiny' looking. Distinctness and contrast of the pattern is very variable too, the specimen shown here shows rather clear pattern. Typical shell length around 60mm, very large specimens may approach 90mm.
Happy Easter, with a Molluscan Easter Egg!<br /> <br /> Lyncina aurantium (Gmelin, 1791) <br /> CYPRAEIDAE<br /> -30m, Dived in cave, Samar Island, Philippines, 96.5mm, F++<br /> The "Golden Cowry" is a stunning cowry of legendary fame and a greatly prized collector's item. Named for its vivid orange dorsum, the colour is very intense in fresh specimens but slowly fades after collection. Although it was never very rare, its magical beauty ensured its listing as one of 50 "Rare Shells" (1969) by S. Peter Dance, who wrote "evidently the Golden Cowry exerts a strange power over shell collectors". Today it is known to range from Philippines to Polynesia, it is only uncommon but very prone to growth scars or stress lines meaning large and perfect specimens are still quite rare. It is usually found in moderately shallow water between -5~30m deep, and is a omnivorous nocturnal species that feeds on sponge and algae; often dwelling in caves or crevices in the reef during the day. Typical shell length around 90mm, very large specimens are known to exceed 120mm. It was first discovered apparently during Captain Cook's second voyage (1772-1775) in Tahiti where the shell was highly valued among natives as ornaments; these decorative specimens were taken in Fiji and all had holes perforated to pass string through for hanging in the neck. Live taken specimens were not available till later due to difficulty in accessing Fijian waters (its only known locality then) dominated by cannibal tribes. It has been used as a currency and symbol of status throughout the south Pacific, most well-known example is as a status symbol of Fijian chiefs.
Neptunea beringiana (Middendorff, 1848) <br /> BUCCINIDAE<br /> In deep water by Russian fisherman, Central Sea of Okhotsk, Russia, 83.1mm, F++<br /> The "Fat Neptune" is a peculiarly shaped cold-water buccinid distributed from the Sea of Okhotsk to Bering Sea. It is a very variable species and can range from completely lacking in significant sculpture (as shown) to having several rather strong radial cords; although usually the wide and squat shape is conserved. The name N. beringiana is in fact junior to Fusus bulbosus Valenciennes, 1846 which referred to the same species; but N. beringiana was conserved according to the ICZN Article 23.9.1-2 as a nomen protectum by Kantor & Sysoev (2002) because it was already in prevailing usage. A carnivorous / scavenging species inhabiting rather deep water around -100~500m; it is supposedly common in its habitat but somewhat rare in the shell market. Typical shell length around 90mm, very large specimens may reach 120mm.
Caribachlamys pellucens (Linnaeus, 1758) <br /> PECTINIDAE<br /> -18m (-10 fathoms), Scuba dived under dead coral on hard reef top, Pompano Beach, Florida, USA, 39.8mm, F+/F++, 2010/iv<br /> The "Knobby Scallop" is a colourful pecten with delicate sculpture endemic to the Caribbean region from south Florida, USA to Brazil. Often both valves carry well-developed nodules, but the knobbyness vary greatly and in some specimens they are reduced to scales or even almost completely lacking. A very well-known synonym is C. imbricata (Gmelin, 1791) which it was known under until the synonymy with Linnaeus' name became apparent. A moderately common filter-feeding species, it is usually found in shallow water ranging from -5~50m deep. Typical shell length around 40mm, very rarely giants may exceed 65mm.
Charonia tritonis (Linnaeus, 1758) <br /> RANELLIDAE<br /> -20~30m, Dived, Siargao Island, Philippines, 388.2mm, F++<br /> The "Triton's Trumpet" is a giant ranellid commonly found throughout the Indo-West Pacific region including Red Sea and Hawaii, and is perhaps one of the best known mollusc species of all. It is a predatory gastropod well-known for feeding on the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci, but it actually feeds on a wide variety of echinoderms. A shallow water dweller usually found in depths less than -80m, it inhabits rocky to sandy bottoms, often of coral reefs. The shell is often used as a decorative object, and the meat is edible. In many cultures it was traditionally made into a horn, for example in Japan it was once used as war horn in the Sengoku period and in Hawaii it is the most common type of 'pu' (conch horns), blowing of which has cultural and spiritual significance and often done in ceremonial occasions. Many consider it to be overfished and it is listed as a protected species in some countries such as Philippines and Australia. In 1994 Australia proposed to include it on CITES Appendix II, but the proposal was withdrawn later due to lack of sufficient support data. Typical shell length is around 380mm, giants may sometimes exceed even 500mm; the protoconch is always missing in adult specimens. The specimen shown has clearly defined pairs of dentitions inside the the outer lip, such specimens seem to be less common.
Bathyancistrolepis trochoideus (Dall, 1907) f. ovoideus (Habe & Ito, 1965) <br /> BUCCINIDAE<br /> -300~400m, Off Choshi City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, 30.3mm, F+/F++, 1976/x<br /> Bathyancistrolepis trochoideus is a very peculiar buccinid endemic to the Pacific side of Honshu, Japan. Recent specimens are very rare, especially so in collections outside Japan; and it is better known from Pleistocene fossils frequently found in Iioka Formation of Chiba Prefecture for example, around 0.7~2 million years old and currently considered to be the same species. It is a carnivorous / scavenging gastropod usually inhabiting muddy bottoms of deep water ranging from -100~1000m. Shown here is a specimen of form ovoideus, which is more bulbous with a shorter spire and fewer cords near the siphonal canal. Typical shell length around 30mm, very large specimens may exceed 40mm.
Lussivolutopsius emphaticus (Dall, 1907) <br /> BUCCINIDAE<br /> -400m, By bottom trawler on muddy bottom, west of Rebun Bank, off west of Rebun Island, Hokkaido, Japan, 103.7mm, F+/F++, 1986/x/12<br /> Lussivolutopsius emphaticus is a rare deep-water buccinid ranging from Japan to Korea to Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. Colour vary from white to reddish or yellowish, and it tends to be a very rough species difficult to find in decent condition especially with mature flaring lip and operculum. It is a carnivorous / scavenging gastropod inhabiting muddy bottoms around -200~500m deep. Typical shell length around 90mm, very large specimens may reach 120mm.
Cymbiola chrysostoma (Swainson, 1824) <br /> VOLUTIDAE<br /> -10~15m, Banggai Island, East Sulawesi, Indonesia, 55.7mm, F++<br /> The "Golden-Mouth Volute" is a classic collector's item among the volutes endemic to Indonesia, characterised by the brilliant golden hue in its aperture for which it was named. It was selected by S. Peter Dance as one of his fifty "Rare Shells" (1969) and was very rare even into the late 1900s. Today it is only uncommon and much easier to obtain, although giant specimens still fetch high prices. The spire height is somewhat variable as well as the prominence of the two dark bands, the shell is quite prone to growth scars. It is a carnivorous gastropod inhabiting shallow sandy bottoms of about -2~50m deep. Typical shell length around 55mm, giant specimens occasionally exceed 75mm.
Abyssogena phaseoliformis (Métivier, Okutani & Ohta, 1986) <br /> VESICOMYIDAE<br /> -5960m, Cold seep, Landward wall, Japan Trench, 164.2mm, F++, 1980s<br /> Abyssogena phaseoliformis is an extremely remarkable bivalve endemic to cold seeps of abyssal to hadal depth ranging from -4700~6500m, in Japan Trench and Kuril Trench. Its elongate shape is unusual for vesicomyids and although originally described in genus Calyptogena it was recently moved to the newly erected genus Abyssogena. As is the norm for vesicomyid clams of chemosynthetic ecosystems it houses sulphur oxidising endosymbiont in special bacteriocytes of much enlarged gills. It relies on these bacteria for nutrition and has reduced digestive system as a result. It forms dense aggregations in sediments where hydrocarbon-rich seepage occurs and it lives buried upright with umbo side down, usually only about 40% of shell is exposed. It is very large for shelled mollusc at this extreme depth, typical shell length around 150mm and very large specimens occasionally reach 200mm. As the great depth it inhabits is only accessible by research submersibles, this extraordinary species is unfortunately virtually unobtainable for shell collectors. The specific epithet means 'peapod-shaped' and its Japanese name is "Naginata Clam", also inspired by the shape which resembles the Japanese traditional weapon of that name.
Buccinum sagamianum Okutani, 1977 <br /> BUCCINIDAE<br /> -300~400m, By lobster pots, Sagami Bay, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, 48.7mm, F++<br /> The "Sagami Whelk" is a strikingly corded buccinid endemic to Sagami Bay, Tokyo Bay, and Suruga Bay in central Japan. It is a representative species of its type locality Sagami Bay, which is well known for housing a high molluscan diversity especially Japanese endemics. It is a locally uncommon carnivorous / scavenging gastropod found in sandy to muddy bottoms of deep water around -250~700m. Typical shell length around 35~40mm, the shown specimen is already large but giants may approach 55mm.
Astralium asteriscum (Reeve, 1843) <br /> TURBINIDAE<br /> -10m, Dived, Poindimié, New Caledonia, 50.6mm, F++<br /> The aptly named "Asterisk Star" is a very attractive turbinid which appears to be endemic to New Caledonia (may actually extend to northwestern Australia). Although generally accepted as a species in its own right, it is sometimes considered as a subspecies of Astralium stellare (Gmelin, 1791). On average the shell of A. asteriscum is more depressed and the spines are more prominent compared to A. stellare. The number of spines per whorl vary from about 10 to 13. It is locally not uncommon and is a grazing herbivore found in shallow water down to about -40m deep. Typical shell length about 45mm including spines, very large specimens may approach 65mm.
Buccinum rausicum Shikama, 1952<br /> BUCCINIDAE<br /> -250~300m, Off Abashiri, Hokkaido, Japan, 133.1mm, F+, 1974/viii<br /> The "Rausu Whelk" is a large cold-water buccinid endemic to northeastern Hokkaido, Japan. It is unusual among genus Buccinum in having swollen, thin shell with strong radial ribs very much resembling genus Ancistrolepis or Clinopegma; large specimens are especially similar to Clinopegma chikaoi Tiba, 1968. The telltale concentric operculum, however, easily distinguishes it from those two genera which has claw-like opercula. It was first discovered by Mr Goro Osagawa, a famous Japanese collector, in Rausu-cho, Hokkaido (well known for housing a high diversity of cold-water buccinids); hence the name. Although locally only uncommon, it is very rare in the shell market outside Japan. It is a carnivorous / scavenging species inhabiting sandy to muddy bottoms of rather deep water around -250~800m. Typical shell length around 100mm, very large specimens may exceed 130mm. It is edible and in Autumn it is sometimes found in Japanese fish markets mixed with Buccinum kinukatsugi Habe & Ito, 1968.
Demoulia abbreviata (Gmelin, 1791) <br /> NASSARIIDAE<br /> -82m (-45fms), Trawled, Mossel Bay, South Africa, 35.2mm, F+++<br /> This is an interesting nassa snail endemic to South Africa. It is highly variable in pattern and colouration, live specimens are covered by a thick brown periostracum. It is a common scavenging gastropod found on sandy to muddy bottoms of shallow water around -10~100m deep. Typical shell length around 25-30mm, very large specimens may exceed 35mm. The protoconch is often lacking in adults, the large specimen shown is superb in retaining it.
Pteropurpura festiva (Hinds, 1844) <br /> MURICIDAE<br /> -1.4m, Low tide on boulders inside the breakwater, Cabrillo breakwater, San Pedro, California, USA, 32.7mm, F++, Coll. Phil Liff-Grieff, 2002/i/26<br /> The "Festive Murex" is a memorable muricid ranging from south California, USA to Baja California, Mexico; and is one of the representative muricids of the California region. Characterised by narrow, sharply recurved wing-like varices and chocolate spiral lines, it is a carnivorous gastropod living in intertidal zone down to shallow water of about -20m. It serves as a symbol of the San Diego Shell Club, which also publishes a malacology journal named "The Festivus". Typical shell length around 40mm, very large specimens can approach 70mm.
Coralliophila radula (A. Adams, 1855) <br /> MURICIDAE<br /> Off Kusui, Nada-Cho, Gobou City, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, 43.2mm, F++, 2000/iv<br /> The "Radula Coral Shell" is a beautifully coloured coral shell ranging from Honshu, Japan to Philippines to New Zealand. It is a ectoparasite of scleractinian stony corals and feeds nocturnally on coral flesh, usually found attached to host corals around water depth of -10~50m. A common species, the dorsum colour ranges from white to light violet and the shell surface is very scabrous with numerous scale-like spines. Typical shell length around 40mm, very large specimens may exceed 70mm.
Japelion hirasei (Pilsbry, 1901) <br /> BUCCINIDAE<br /> -300m, Off Iburi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan, 108.3mm, F++, 2009/viii<br /> The "Hirase's Japelion" is a very appealing buccinid with a stepped spire. A deep-water carnivore / scavenger inhabiting muddy bottoms with a bathymetric range around -150~400m; its range extends from Chiba Prefecture, Japan to Bering Sea but vast majority of specimens come from Hokkaido, Japan. Although locally it is only uncommon, it rarely appears on the market outside Japan. It is very similar to its congener Japelion pericochlion (Schrenk, 1863) and often confused with it, the most clear difference is that J. hirasei lacks a well-defined siphonal canal. Both species are edible and sometimes seen mixed together in Japanese fish markets. Typical shell length around 100mm, very large specimens may approach 130mm.
Pagodula lata Marshall & Houart, 2011 <br /> MURICIDAE<br /> -1200m, Off Hokianga, Northwest Auckland, New Zealand, 42.9mm, F+, 2013/viii<br /> The "Broad Trophon" is a large Pagodula species recently described with a distribution from Eastern Australia to New Zealand. Prior to the description it has been confused with Pagodula carduelis (Watson, 1882), but P. lata is much larger, broader, and lacks spiral cords completely. Like many congeners, it is also very variable in the length of shoulder spines. It is an uncommon carnivorous gastropod inhabiting deep water ranging around -400~1400m. Typical shell length around 45mm, very large specimens may approach 55mm.
Parancistrolepis fujitai (Kuroda, 1931) <br /> BUCCINIDAE<br /> -500m, Off Shinchi-machi, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, 82.6mm, F++, 2013/vi<br /> The "Fujita's Whelk" is a rather rare cold-water buccinid with beautifully sculptured periostracum, endemic to Japan ranging from Aichi Prefecture to Hokkaido. The operculum is very small for the aperture and is characteristic of Parancistrolepis, a genus otherwise very similar to Ancistrolepis which this species was originally placed in. It is a carnivorous / scavenging gastropod living in sandy to muddy bottoms in quite deep water around -100~700m. It is named after late Mr. Tadashi Fujita, a Japanese malacologist. Typical shell length around 80mm, very large specimens may approach 110mm.
This is a paratype of a species which I had the honour of describing with Roland Houart and Chris Moe. Up until this year it had erroneously been referred to as Chicomurex superbus.<br /> <br /> Chicomurex lani Houart, Moe & Chen, 2014 <br /> MURICIDAE<br /> -150~200m, Trawled, South East Taiwan, 72.4mm, F++, PARATYPE<br /> For a long time this lovely Chicomurex was thought to be the species Sowerby III described as Chicomurex superbus (Sowerby III, 1889), published with drawings of a single specimen from Hong Kong. However When photographs of the holotype was published by the National Museum of Wales, the specimen was clearly identical to species widely recognised as C. problematicus (Lan, 1981). This meant the name C. problematicus was rendered a junior synonym of C. superbus, and that the species referred to as C. superbus in the past was due to misinterpretation of Sowerby III's drawings -- it remains undescribed. It was formally described as C. lani in 2014, named in honour of the eminent Taiwanese collector and dealer T.C. Lan. Such intricate history of this species teaches important lessons -- species identification without knowing the actual holotype specimen (or at least photograph of it) is dangerous; and that the taxonomy of even 'well known' species may be very entangled. It is a rather common carnivorous gastropod distributed from southern Japan to Taiwan to Northeast Australia to New Caledonia, with a depth range of around -40~300m. Typical shell length around 65mm, giant specimens may approach 90mm.
Homalocantha anatomica pele (Pilsbry, 1918) <br /> MURICIDAE<br /> -60ft, Dived on Porites coral reef, Waianae Oahu, Hawaii, USA, 60.5mm, F++, Coll. Chris Moe<br /> The "Pele's Murex" is an endemic muricid of Hawaii well known for its vibrant colour variations and highly sought-after by collectors. The colour ranges from white to yellow, orange, pink, red, purple etc., and a colour set of quality specimens makes a wonderous display. It is usually treated as a Hawaiian subspecies of Homalocantha anatomica but is considered by some to be a separate full species. It is an uncommon carnivorous gastropod inhabiting a bathymetric range of around -10~50m. Typical shell length around 45mm, very large specimens may exceed 60mm.
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