Skip to content
Dr. Chong CHEN

Dr. Chong CHEN

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

  • Home
  • Research Interests
  • Publications
    • Browse Publications
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Full CV [PDF]
  • Expeditions
    • Expedition Gallery
  • The C. Chen Collection
  • Google Scholar
  • Researchmap
  • ResearchGate
  • ORCID
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Bluesky
  • Twitter

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.

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.
Homalocantha anatomica pele (Pilsbry, 1918) <br /> MURICIDAE<br /> -60ft, Dived on Porites coral reef, Waianae Oahu, Hawaii, USA, 45.1mm, 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.
A "shell" which deceives!<br /> <br /> Hydrissa sodalis (Stimpson, 1859) <br /> HYDRACTINIIDAE<br /> -50m, Hokkaido, Japan, 54.3mm, F+/F++<br /> It may be difficult to believe but this "shell" is not made by a mollusc, but a species of shell-mimic hydrozoan. Hydrozoans are not molluscs but cnidarians, a phylum characterised by stinging cells called cnidocytes that includes animals such as corals and jellyfish. This colonial species forms commensal relationship with a hermit crab species, Pagurus constans (Stimpson, 1858); it protects the hermit crab with its sting and the hermit crab leads it to food. The hydroids first settle on small gastropod shells on young hermit crabs, and the polyps slowly grow and increase in number to cover the entire shell. The amazing thing is that the hydroid colony "shell" grows like a gastropod shell as the hermit crab grows larger, and thus the hermit crab does not need to change its shell throughout whole life. It is an omnivorous species ranging from Sea of Okhotsk to Kyushu, Japan (actual range may be wider in the north); living in rather deep water from about -30~400m. The average size is around 50mm, very large specimens may exceed 70mm.
Aulacofusus periscelidus (Dall, 1891) <br /> BUCCINIDAE<br /> -400m, Off Kunashir Island, Kuril Islands, 61.3mm, F++, 2009/viii<br /> The "Garter Whelk" is an attractively sculptured buccinid ranging from Alaska to Russia to Hokkaido, Japan. An uncommon species but rarely seen on the market, it is a carnivorous snail living on rocky to sandy/muddy substrates from about -20~400m deep. The siphonal canal appears to vary in length and distinctiveness between individuals. Typical shell length around 60mm, large specimens can exceed 85mm. Live specimens are often covered by a layer of overgrowth made by other marine organisms, such as bryozoan and algae.
Ifremeria nautilei Bouchet & Warén, 1991 <br /> PROVANNIDAE<br /> -2000m, White Lady Hydrothermal Field, North Fiji Basin, 58.2mm, F++, early 1990s<br /> The "Black Snail", as this species is often referred to as during expeditions in contrast to the "White Snail" Alviniconcha, is a gigantic provannid gastropod endemic to hydrothermal vents of North Fiji Basin, Manus Basin, and Lau Basin in the Pacific Ocean ranging from -1700~2800m in depth. It is unique among gastropods in exhibiting internal brood protection for a specialised type of larva ("Warén's larva") in a modified pedal gland. Like its close cousin Alviniconcha (they are sister genera) it houses chemosynthetic endosymbionts in its enlarged gill and rely on them for nutrition; their common ancestor most likely acquired gammaproteobacteria symbionts before the two split and took different evolutionary paths. It is named in honour of IFREMER, France's national oceanographic institute, and its manned deep-submersible Nautile which discovered this species. Typically it is black in colouration with a metallic sheen presumably due to hydrothermal deposits; the depicted specimen shows the true colour of the original periostracum. The spire is always heavily corroded leaving only 1.5~3 whorls. Typical shell length around 70mm, very large specimens can exceed 100mm. Unfortunately its habitats are accessible with deep-submersibles only and thus it is virtually unobtainable for shell collectors.
Alviniconcha hessleri Okutani & Ohta, 1988 <br /> PROVANNIDAE<br /> -3610m, Alice Springs Hydrothermal Field, Mariana Trough, 48.5mm, F+++, 1980s<br /> The "Hairy Gastropod" is one of the most famous representatives of hydrothermal vent endemic molluscs and unmistakable with its heavily hirsute periostracum. It houses chemosynthetic endosymbionts in greatly enlarged gill and relies on these for nutrition, the digestive system is reduced as a consequence. Although once thought to be widely distributed from Mariana Trough (its type locality) to Kairei Field in the Central Indian Ridge, genetic studies have revealed at least three cryptic species (Mariana, North Fiji to Manus, and Central Indian Ridge); and thus only populations from Mariana Trough should be referred to as the species A. hessleri. It is best known from Alice Springs field (about -3600m) and Forecast field (-1470m), where individuals form dense aggregations on vent chimneys dominating areas closest to the vent effluent. It uses both hemocyanin and hemoglobin for oxygen carrier. It is named after the American manned deep-submersible Alvin and deep-sea biologist Robert R. Hessler. The typical shell length is around 45mm, large specimens may approach 60mm. The other species ranging from North Fiji to Manus basin is much larger and may exceed 80mm; it often co-occurs with another large provannid Ifremeria nautilei Bouchet & Warén, 1991, whose aggregations frequently surround that of Alviniconcha. Like most other vent endemic molluscs, Alviniconcha is virtually unobtainable for shell collectors due to its extremely inaccessible habitat.
Lambis pilsbryi Abbott, 1961 <br /> STROMBIDAE<br /> -10~15m, Dived, Nuku Hiva, Marquesas, 172.3mm, F++<br /> The "Pilsbry's Spider Conch" is a large spider conch endemic to the French Polynesia and best known from the Marquesas Islands. For a long time it was regarded as a subspecies of Lambis crocata (Link, 1807) but now often recognised as a full species. It can be differentiated from L. crocata by lack of a large bulge in the columella and longer digits, as well as being much larger on average. Once considered rare due to its limited range but now it is only uncommon on the market. Presumably a herbivore / detritivore like other spider conchs, it inhabits shallow intertidal waters down to about -40m deep. Two forms exist, the slender form shown with long digits and a robust form with larger body and relatively shorter digits. The typical shell length is about 200mm including digits, giants are known to exceed 250mm.
Entemnotrochus rumphii (Schepman, 1879) <br /> PLEUROTOMARIIDAE<br /> -180m, Trawled, East China Sea, 92.8mm, F+, 2013/xii<br /> The "Rumphius' Slit Shell" is the largest of all known extant slit shells and a species of legendary fame among collectors. Only three specimens were known until 1969 when a fourth one turned up in Taiwan. Toba Aquarium in Japan purchased that specimen with 10,000USD, which is often cited as the most expensive shell in history. Nowadays it is still rare but is obtainable at a cost, although recently specimens from East China Sea are exchanging hands at relatively low price. It ranges from Honshu, Japan to Taiwan to Philippines inhabiting rather deep water around -50~400m deep. It is a grazer mostly feeding on sponges but also soft corals, and is mostly found on rocks where these grow. The average adult size is around 180mm, with very large specimens exceeding 250mm. The final whorl inflates and exhibit most clearly the "flame patterns" this species is known for. Young specimens such as the one shown tends to have yellow colouration, whereas mature specimens are dominated by red.
Fulgoraria hirasei (Sowerby III, 1912) <br /> VOLUTIDAE<br /> -250~300m, Kumano-Nada, Off Owase City, Mie Prefecture, Japan, 186.2mm, F+/F++, 2009/vi<br /> The "Hirase's Volute" is a large volute endemic to Pacific side of Japan. It is a representative species of Fulgoraria, a genus of slender deep-water volutes which Japan is famous for having many endemic species. A locally common species, it is a carnivore living on sandy/muddy bottoms in rather deep water about -100~400m in depth and mostly taken by bottom trawlers. The typical shell length is about 140mm but very large specimens are known to reach 230mm, anything over 200mm is rare.
A special gift from Ann Yen. Thank you Ann! :)<br /> <br /> Siphonalia nigrobrunnea Lee & Chen, 2010 <br /> BUCCINIDAE<br /> -100~200m, Off Kueishan Island, Yilan County, Taiwan, 25.3mm, F++, 2011/vii<br /> This is a recently described buccinid only known from waters around Kueishan Island, Taiwan. This area is known to contain many hydrothermal hotspots, and this species is reported from sandy bottoms influenced by hydrothermal activity from -50~200m deep. First discovered from products of shrimp trawlers, it is not clear yet if is endemic to vent fields or also found in off-vent seafloor. Its habitat is quite shallow for hydrothermal vent associated species and thus specimens are seen on the market, albeit rarely outside Taiwan. It is presumably a carnivore / scavenger like other congeners. The typical shell length is around 30mm, much smaller than the closely related Siphonalia spadicea (Reeve, 1846) which is also found in the same area.
Paziella pazi (Crosse, 1869) <br /> MURICIDAE<br /> -200~250m, Trawled, Caribbean Sea, Cuba, 36.6mm, F+, 1984/vi<br /> The "Paz's Murex" is an uncommon muricid native to the Caribbean Sea and adjacent waters, ranging from Florida Keys to French Guiana. It is a predatory gastropod inhabiting rather deep water around -30~550m. A spiny species, the number of varices can range from six to eight per whorl. The typical shell length is around 40mm but it is very variable in size and giants are said to reach even 90mm.
Calliostoma scotti Kilburn, 1973 <br /> CALLIOSTOMATIDAE<br /> -40~45m, Trawled, Natal, South Africa, 38.5mm, F++, 2002/vi<br /> The "Scott's Top Shell" is a very beautiful top shell with golden colouration and attractively keeled shell. It is distributed from Mozambique to South Africa, and is a herbivore / detritivore mostly found on sandy to muddy bottoms between -30~400m deep. It is locally moderately common but it is rather variable in colouration, form, and sculpture and handsome specimens like the one shown are uncommon. Typical shell length around 35mm, giants may approach 45mm.
Cellana mazatlandica (Sowerby I, 1839) <br /> NACELLIDAE<br /> Intertidal on rocks, Chichi-jima, Bonin Islands, Japan, 82.4mm, F+, 1980/viii<br /> Contrary to the specific epiphet, the "Bonin Islands Limpet" is not distributed in Mazatlán, Mexico but is a famous endemic species of the Bonin Islands (aka. Ogasawara Islands), Japan. Sowerby I is said to have mistaken the locality when giving this species a name. Although for a long time it was known as C. boninensis (Pilsbry, 1891), a much better and descriptive name, due to the strict rules of zoological nomenclature it is now synonymised with C. mazatlandica and we are stuck with that senior name. This species is famous and significant because it is the only marine gastropod recognised as a natural monument in Japan and protected by law from collection (since 1970/xi/12). Thus although it is locally common in its habitat it is quite uncommon on the market. It is an intertidal grazer feeding on microalgae films, characterised by a tall shell and very strong radial ribs. It is a large cellanid, the typical shell length is about 70mm but very large specimens may reach 100mm.
Turriconus excelsus (Sowerby III, 1908) <br /> CONIDAE<br /> -120~150m, Tangle net, Panglao, Bohol, Philippines, 67.2mm, F++, 2004/iii<br /> The "Illustrious Cone" is one of the most coveted rare cones of all, and surely one of the most attractive. It is a very famous species included in S. Peter Dance's fifty "Rare Shells" (1969), only three specimens were known then and none of them fresh. A predatory gastropod living in rather deep water of about -100~400m, it has a wide distribution range in the Indo-Pacific ranging from Burma to Philippines to Japan to northern Australia to Solomon Islands. Most specimens seen on the market today comes from Balut and Aliguay islands of Philippines. Average shell length around 75mm, gigantic specimens may exceed 100mm. Its colour and pattern are both quite variable and the now synonymised name T. nakayasui (Shikama & Habe, 1968) was given to a form with less patterns than usual. It is the rarest of the three famed cones characterised by tall, stepped spires; the other two being Cylinder gloriamaris and Leptoconus milneedwardsi.
Annepona mariae (Schilder, 1927) <br /> CYPRAEIDAE<br /> New Caledonia, 14.2mm, F+++<br /> Described by Franz Schilder who dedicated the specific epiphet to his wife, the "Maria's Cowrie" is one of the most lovely cowries of all with its unique eye-catching brown fringed yellow spots. An omnivore, it has a very wide range throughout the Indo-Pacific ranging from east Africa to northern Australia to Philippines to Hawaii to French Polynesia. The depth range of this nocturnal cowry is approximately -5~45m. The spotted pattern vary greatly between individuals, usually at least some parts are blurry; it is difficult to find a specimen with all spots having sharp and well-contrasted edges. The average shell length is around 15mm for this rather uncommon species, although very large specimens may reach 20mm.
Odontocymbiola magellanica (Gmelin, 1791) <br /> VOLUTIDAE<br /> Rio Negro, Argentina, 141mm, F++<br /> The "Magellanic Volute" is a large and common volute found throughout the Magellanic province, ranging from Uruguay to Magellan Strait to southern Chile to Falkland Islands. It is a carnivorous gastropod and can be seen from very shallow intertidal waters down to about -800m deep. Average shell length is around 160mm, but very large specimens may exceed even 240mm. A highly variable species in both form and pattern, various forms have been given different names. Its form ranges from wide and stout to relatively slender with a tall spire; the pattern usually consists of dark zigzag lines. Many specimens lack patterns, however, especially those with rough and worn shells. The tall form is sometimes mistaken with Adelomelon ancilla (Lightfoot, 1786), another common volute from the same area. A. ancilla is in general more fusiform with a smaller body mass than O. magellanica, the radula is also different. Both species are fished for meat and are of some economic importance for local fisheries.
Lioconcha castrensis (Linnaeus, 1758) <br /> VENERIDAE<br /> Cebu, Philippines, 59mm, F++<br /> The "Camp / Zigzag Venus" is a strikingly patterned venus clam widely distributed across the Indo-west Pacific. It is a filter-feeding species which lives buried in sand from lowtide to about -30m deep. The shell is white to light tan in colouration but the pattern varies greatly, generally with dark lines forming tent-like repetitive pattern. Although a common species, it is quite sought-after by collectors for its beautiful pattern. Average shell length around 40~45mm, very large specimens sometimes exceed 55mm; the depicted specimen is a real giant.
Trichotropis bicarinata (Sowerby I, 1825) <br /> CAPULIDAE<br /> Sawara-Cho (now Mori-Cho), Kayabe District, Hokkaido, Japan, 33.7mm, F++, Coll. Shigeo Igarashi, 1978/vi/25<br /> The "Two-Keeled Hairy Snail" is a remarkable capulid with a vast range from northern Japan to British Columbia to New Foundland, Canada to Svalbard Archipelago, Norway. It is a cold water species with a depth range around -10~400m. Capulids are known to vary greatly in shape and sculpture, including some amazing ones like this species. Although it is not uncommon across its range, specimens retaining full periostracum are uncommon as it peels quite readily. Members of genus Trichotropis are generally suspension feeders but some have been reported to be kleptoparasites as well, stealing food from polychaete worms (e.g., T. cancellata and T. conica). It gains its common name from the two strong keels on the shell (also the reason for its specific epiphet) and a light brown periostracum with many hair-like protrusions. The actual shell is milky white with no hairs. Average shell length around 35mm, very large specimens can exceed 45mm.
Propeamussium sibogai (Dautzenberg & Bavay, 1904) <br /> PROPEAMUSSIIDAE<br /> -150~200m, Trawled off Balicasag Island, Philippines, 37.3mm, F+/F++<br /> The "Siboga Glass Scallop" is not a true scallop (Pectinidae) but belongs to a closely related family Propeamussiidae, which includes mainly fragile deep-water species with the lower valve much smaller than the upper valve. It is named after Siboga, the Dutch ship during whose famous 1899-1900 expedition to Indonesia this species was discovered. A filter-feeding species, it has a very wide range including at least Japan to New Zealand to South Africa and lives in rather deep water around -50~400m. Although moderately common, it is very difficult to find a quality specimen due to its extremely fragile shells. The average shell length of the upper valve is around 40mm but in very large specimens this may approach 60mm.
Boreotrophon flos Okutani, 1964 <br /> MURICIDAE<br /> -300~400m, Off Kunashir Island, Kuril Islands, 40.1mm, F++, 2009/viii<br /> Boreotrophon flos is an elegant and fragile muricid species known from northern Japan to Kuril Islands. It appears that most specimens come from around the southernmost islands of Kuril Islands, a disputed area claimed by both Russia and Japan. A rare species, it is very difficult to find specimens with the characteristic upturned wings intact. A carnivorous gastropod, it lives in rather deep water ranging from about -300~800m. Average shell length around 35mm, very large specimens may approach 45mm.
Melapium elatum (Schubert & Wagner, 1829) <br /> STREPSIDURIDAE<br /> -100~150m, Trawled off Inhambane, South Africa, 40.1mm, F++, 1996/viii<br /> With a vivid violet columellar, Melapium elatum is a famous and attractive collector's item known from southern Africa. It is quite uncommon on the market, especially specimens with good colouration as the intensity of purple vary between specimens. It is a carnivorous / scavenging gastropod with a bathymetric range approximating -20~200m, usually taken by trawling. Average shell length around 45mm, although giants may exceed 65mm. The genus Melapium was traditionally considered as strange olive shells and placed in Olividae, but now separated and placed in Strepsiduridae containing only this genus and two species; the other being M. lineatum (Lamarck, 1822).
Haliotis laevigata Donovan, 1808 x rubra conicopora Péron, 1816 <br /> HALIOTIDAE<br /> Farmed, Port Fairy, Victoria, Australia, 132.5mm, F++<br /> This stunning blue abalone is supposedly a hybrid between the "Smooth Australian Abalone" H. laevigata and "Conical Pore Abalone" H. r. conicopora, and is a commercially developed hybrid for meat with increased growth rate. Many abalone species readily hybridize with each other, and hybrids between various species are known all around the world. The shell colouration of abalones reflect colouration of food they eat, and the vivid blue colouration in this specimens is caused by colour and chemicals in artificial feeds. Both parent species are algae grazers on hard substrates such as rocks occuring in shallow water down to -40m deep. They are large abalones with average shell length of around 150mm and maximum length may exceed 200mm. It is rare for hybrids bred by aquaculture to reach large size because they are culled for meat after a certain period of growth. Abalones are considered a delicacy in many cuisines particularly Asian cuisines, and their meat fetch very high prices.
Marginella sebastiani Marche-Marchad & Rosso, 1979 <br /> MARGINELLIDAE<br /> Trawled, Off Pointe des Almadies, Dakar, Senegal, 60.8mm, F++, Collected by local fisherman, 2013/vi<br /> The "Sebastian's Marginella" is a beautifully spotted margin shell ranging from Mauritania to Guinea in west Africa. It is a carnivorous / scavenging gastropod living on sandy bottom with a bathymetric range of approximately -20~100m. It is very variable in size and although the average shell length is around 50m, mature shells range from 35mm to over 70mm. One of many spectacular large, spotted marginellids endemic to west Africa where this family is particularly diverse.
Murex spectabilis Ponder & Vokes, 1988 <br /> MURICIDAE<br /> Bohol, Philippines, 121.7mm, F++<br /> This is a quite uncommon murex species best known from shallow waters of Philippines, although its range supposedly extends to Thailand. A carnivorous species like all Murex, it is similar to Murex pecten but has only seven spines on the siphonal canal which are rather strongly recurved, notably the most anterior one. The opening of siphonal canal zigzags strongly along the length especially in the posterior part, which also helps in differentiating it from other congeners. Average shell length around 110mm, although very large specimens may approach 140mm.
Spondylus reesianus Sowerby III, 1903 <br /> SPONDYLIDAE<br /> -25m, Dived on reef, Davao, Mindanao, Philippines, 95.2mm, F++<br /> Originally known the Maluku Islands, Indonedia, Spondylus reesianus is a striking thorny oyster now known to have a distribution ranging from Japan to Philippines. It is a sessile filter feeder found in moderately deep water, most specimens are collected around -50~200m. It is unique among spondylids to have numerous strong and obvious radial ribs on the shell surface made out of a continuum of fine spines, and thus readily separated from other species. Like many spondylids, young specimens of this species often have spine tips with broad and leafy tips. Although a common species, it is only uncommonly seen on the market. Usually uniformly orange in colouration; average shell length around 90mm, very large specimens may exceed 120mm.
Galeodea rugosa (Linnaeus, 1771) <br /> CASSIDAE<br /> -400m, On mud bottoms, 5 miles off Isla de Alborán, Spain, 96.8mm, F++, 2013/v<br /> The "Rugose Bonnet" is a large bonnet shell native to northeast Atlantic Ocean ranging from the British Isles to West Africa, as well as West Mediterranean. It is a carnivorous gastropod most likely feeding on echinoderms and other molluscs, and is found between a depth range of about -50~700m. The shell is usually cream to orange in colour and covered by a translucent periostracum when alive. The fragile parietal shield varies in extent and is often badly broken. Average shell length around 80mm, large specimens often exceed 100mm.
Acharax johnsoni (Dall, 1891) <br /> SOLEMYIDAE<br /> -180~200m, Trawled by Alaska pollock fishing boat, Off Shiraoi, Hokkaido, Japan, 152.2mm, F++, 2013/xi<br /> The "Johnson's Awning Clam" is a very large solemyid famously known from cold seeps -- a type of chemosynthetic environment often associated with thick sediments where reduced substances such as methane or hydrogen sulphide slowly ooze out of seafloor. It houses sulphide-oxidising endosymbionts in large gills and relies on them energetically; solemyids are well-known for their greatly reduced to even absent digestive tracks due to this. It lives completely buried in sediments in a wide depth range from about -100~5500m, and is found in all reducing sediments and not exclusively in seeps. Best known from Japan, it has an almost global distribution ranging from Morocco to Japan to Alaska to Peru and further; although this may contain some cryptic species. One of the largest solemyid, it is very rare on the market due to its patchy distribution and special habitat. The shell is cream coloured and fragile, covered by a thick dark brown periostracum with wide radiating ribs which characteristically extends far beyond the shell forming digit-like structures. The average shell length is around 80~100mm, the specimen shown is gigantic. Usually when dried the periostracum and shell both cracks and eventually fall to pieces, specimens preserved in good condition like the one shown is extra-rare.
Aporrhais serresianus (Michaud, 1828) <br /> APORRHAIDAE<br /> -500m, Mud bottoms, Isla de Alborán, Spain, 51.5mm, F++, 2013/vii<br /> The "Mediterranean Pelican's Foot" is an elegant aporrhaid ranging from Morocco to west Mediterranean to Iceland. A common species, it can be found on fine mud between very shallow water up to -800m deep but is mostly seen around -100~300m. It is a specialised detritivore feeding on organic material and algae contained in mud. The digits are rather variable in length and curvedness, and the shown specimen has rather long and recurved ones. While the average shell length is around 40~45mm, giants may exceed 60mm.
Ocenebra inornata (Récluz, 1851) <br /> MURICIDAE<br /> -15m, Dived in oyster bed, Posyet Bay, Primorsky Krai, Russia, 51.2mm, F++<br /> The "Japanese Oyster Drill" is a muricid famous as an invasive species. Although the native distribution range of this species is from Sakhalin, Russia to northern China, South Korea, and Japan; it has been introduced to North America and western Europe with exports of the Pacific Oyster Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg, 1793). It is a major predator of oysters and is widely recognised as a great threat to oyster aquaculture both in native and introduced regions, often causing devastating damage. Its vertical distribution is from intertidal waters down to about -20m deep, and it is commonly found on rocks or bivalves. Very variable in sculpture and form like many members of genus Ocenebra, and the specimen shown has very well developed wing-like varices. Average shell length around 40mm, although large specimens may exceed 55mm.
Lotoria perryi (Emerson & Old, 1963) <br /> RANELLIDAE<br /> Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India, 127.1mm, F++<br /> The "Perry's Triton" is an attractive triton native to Indian Ocean ranging from Sri Lanka to Mozambique. It is a common carnivorous and predatory gastropod living in shallow water ranging from very shallow water up to about -80m deep. Average shell length around 110mm, large specimens often exceed 130mm. It is the type species of genus Lotoria and is similar to L. lotoria (L., 1758) and L. grandimaculata (Reeve, 1844) but can be distinguished from them by the lack of dark spots on the columellar shield, more knobby form, and more regularly spaced pattern on the varices.
Hydatina albocincta (van der Hoeven, 1839) <br /> APLUSTRIDAE<br /> Trawled, off Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 56.4mm, F++<br /> The "White Banded Bubble" is a rather large shelled opisthobranch widely distributed from Japan to New Zealand to South Africa. It is a common species found across wide depth range from intertidal waters down to -100m, but most abundant around -10~20m. It lives on sandy bottoms and is a predatory species feeding mostly on polychaete worms. As is the norm with shelled opisthobranchs the soft part of the animal is much larger than the shell, and in this species it is beautiful with frilly white edges. Average shell length around 40~45mm, very large specimens like the one displayed can exceed 55mm. The most common pattern is with three regular cream bands (shown), but many variations exist.
  • Prev
  • 1
  • 2
    • ..
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
    • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • Next
  • Prev
  • Next

Copyright © Chong Chen 2013-2021 All Rights Reserved.

Proudly powered by WordPress