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.

Scaphella dubia (Broderip, 1827) f. kieneri Clench, 1946<br />
VOLUTIDAE<br />
-100m, off Louisiana, USA, 232.5mm, F+<br />
The "Kiener's Volute" is a particularly elegant form of the "Dubious Volute", ranging from west Florida to Mexico, most specimens appear to originate from Florida or Louisiana, USA. A classic rarity, this form was made famous by S. Peter Dance who recognised it as one of the fifty "Rare Shells" (1969), when it was still thought to be a valid full species. Although now known to be rather common in its habitat, very little seem to be fresh caught nowadays with vast majority of specimens circulating the market coming from old collections. It is therefore still uncommon, and exceptionally large specimens over 200mm like the one shown are rare. It is a carnivorous gastropod living in rather deep water around depths of -50~500m, mostly on mud bottoms. Average shell length around 120~140mm, although exceptionally large specimens may exceed 220mm.

Argonauta nouryi Lorois, 1852 <br />
ARGONAUTIDAE<br />
By fishing net, Off San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico, Coll. 1990, 95.6mm, F+<br />
The "Noury's Paper Nautilus" is probably the rarest of all extant argonautids. It is a pelagic octopus and the 'shell' shown here is in fact an eggcase made by a female. The eggcase of this elegant species is easily separated from others by its elongate shape, relatively smooth keel, and wide aperture. It is best known from a limited range from west coast of Mexico to Panama, although its actual range is much wider in the Pacific Ocean reaching the Coral Sea and the holotype actually comes the the Marquesas Islands. The females with eggcases have been reported to aggregate to form a chain, perhaps to reduce swimming efforts or to increase chance of encountering a male. Argonautid females are known to be able to control the buoyancy of eggcase much like nautilids although to much shallower depth (maximum about -10m). It is a medium-sized paper nautilus with average eggcase length approximating 60~70mm, although very large specimens like the one shown here may exceed 90mm.

$Argonauta nodosus Lightfoot, 1786 <br /> ARGONAUTIDAE<br /> Off Rio Grande, Southern Brazil, Coll. 1990, 170mm, F++<br /> The "Nodose Paper Nautilus" is a pelagic octopus and the second largest of half-a-dozen or so species of extant argonautids. The 'shell' shown here is actually a calcareous eggcase produced by a specialised pair of dorsal tentacles in females before egg laying. The female resides in the shell for a while; the shell is often stranded on beach, sometimes with the female inside. It exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism and males are only a fraction of females' size and are much shorter lived. Males transfer sperm to females using a specialised arm, the hectocotylus, which detaches and launches to the female during mating. Unlike most octopuses the argonauts live close to sea surface in the open ocean and are predators with a salivary gland capable of injecting prety with poison. This species is very widely distributed around the globe in all warm, tropical waters but is most abundant in Southern Australia. A rather rare Brazilian specimen is shown here, specimens from South America often has protruding keels in the aperture near the umbilicus which the Australian specimens lack. Average length of eggcase around 150~170mm, although exceptionally large specimens may exceed 250mm.$

Buccinum pemphigus Dall, 1907 <br />
BUCCINIDAE<br />
-150~300m, In shell trap, 125km south of Magadan, Sea of Okhotsk, Russia, Coll. vii/2013, 125mm, F++<br />
This is a large species of cold water whelk ranging quite widely from Alaska, USA to China. It has an attractively pustulated periostracum, which is light to dark brown and quite easy to peel off. A carnivorous / scavenging species mostly found in moderately deep water around -100~500m, it is rather variable in shell thickness like many of its congeners. Although a relatively common species in its habitat, it is quite uncommon on the market and spectacular specimens like the one shown with large size and full periostracum are rare. Average shell length approximately 90~100mm, very large specimens may exceed 130mm.

Spondylus foliaceus Schreibers, 1793 <br />
SPONDYLIDAE<br />
-50m, By tangle net, Zamboanga, Philippines, 51.7mm, F++<br />
The "Leafy Thorny Oyster" is a widely distributed thorny oyster found throughout the Indo-Pacific from Japan to East Africa to Australia but best known from Philippines. Although characterised by spines which broaden at the tip, it is an extremely variable species like many spondylids. Colour varies from pale to orange to brown, and the formation of spine also differs from specimen to specimen. Adult specimens tend to be uniformly coloured, while juveniles like the one shown here often have attractive contrasting colouration between spines and shell. It is a common sessile filter-feeding species found most commonly in the depth range of -10~100m. Average size around 90-100mm including spines, very lage specimens often exceeds 140mm.

Trigonostoma scala (Gmelin, 1791) <br />
CANCELLARIIDAE<br />
Trawled, Off Mbour, Petite-Côte, Sénégal, Coll. vi/2013, 23.6mm, F+/F++<br />
The "Withrow's Nutmeg" is an intricately sculptured nutmeg shell native to west Africa. The common name originates from a quite well known synonym, Trigonaphera withrowi Petit, 1976. Best known from Senegal, it is a carnivorous species inhabiting shallow to moderate depths around -2~50m. A common species, it is variable in colouration and pattern and may be pale and uniform or rather dark patterned like the specimen shown. Average shell length around 20~25mm, large specimens may approach 30mm.

Pterochelus acanthopterus (Lamarck, 1816) <br />
MURICIDAE<br />
In mud at extremely low tide, Back Beach, Dampier, Western Australia, 74.9mm, F++<br />
The "Thorny Winged Murex" is a large and attractively winged muricid ranging from Western Australia to Torres Strait. It is locally fairly common but uncommon on the market in good condition. A predatory gastropod living among rocks on sandy to muddy bottoms, it is found in quite a wide bathymetric range from very shallow to moderate depths around -5~200m. Very variable in colouration from white to bright orange to dark brown. Average shell length around 70~80mm, very large specimens may approach 100mm.

Bathybembix bairdii (Dall, 1889) <br />
CALLIOTROPIDAE<br />
-880m, Trawled on mud, Off Coos County, Oregon, USA, 47.4mm, F+/F++<br />
The "Baird's Spiny Margarite" is a top shell with attracctive beaded sculpture much sought-after by collectors. It is a deposit-feeder found in deep water ranging from approximately -500~1500m depth, and although it is common in its habitat due to the inaccessible depth it is uncommon on the market. Best known from Washington, USA to Mexico; but its range is vast and extends from the Bering Sea all the way to Chile. It has a thin, glossy, yellowish-green periostracum and a white, fragile ostracum. Although originally considered a trochid, it is currently placed in another family Calliotropidae. Average size about 40mm, very large specimens may exceed 50mm.

Calcarovula longirostrata (Sowerby I, 1828) <br />
OVULIDAE<br />
-100m, Aliguay Island, Philippines, 43.4mm, F++<br />
The "Long-Snouted Volva" is an elegant ovulid with extremely elongated extremities. A very widely distributed species ranging from Japan to South Africa, it is a common species and most specimens come from the Philippines. Although quite variable in length of posterior and anterior canals, it may be distinguished from other ovulids by its slender, recurved extremeties and a distinct ridge running across the middle of body whorl. Although usually pure white and often semi-transparent, some specimens have orange pattern or tinge like the holotype and these are rather rare. Like most ovulids it is carnivorous and ectoparasite of octocorals, particularly Euplexaura crassa and Calicogorgia granulosa, and is found mostly in the depth range of -20~150m. Average shell length around 40~50mm, very large specimens may exceed 70mm.

Mitra belcheri Hinds, 1843 <br />
MITRIDAE<br />
-45m, Dredged, Mexico, 98.2mm, F++<br />
The "Belcher's Mitre" is a famous mitre with strongly corded sculpture. It ranges from the Gulf of California, Mexico to Panama and is a sought-after collector's item best known from Mexico; it was once considered rare but is known to be common nowadays, although large specimens in good condition are still uncommon. The shell is covered by a thick black periostracum, but the ostracum is cream in colouration; a pair of specimens with and without periostracum makes a very contrasting and visually attractive display. It is a carnivorous gastropod living in moderate depths, ranging from about -30m to -80m. A very large mitre, its average shell length is about 100mm but giants often exceed 130mm.

Lyria delessertiana (Petit de la Saussaye, 1842) <br />
VOLUTIDAE<br />
-50m, Trawled on sand, Nosy Bé, Madagascar, Coll. 2003, 49.1mm, F+++<br />
The "Delessert's Lyria" is an attractive volute endemic to northwest Madagascar. A rarity back in the days, this colourful species is now fairly common nowadays. It is a predatory gastropod living on sandy to muddy bottoms of sea grass beds, and are found in shallow water from just below the tide line to about -50m deep. Average shell length about 50mm, although very large specimens may approach 70mm.

Odontocymbiola pescalia Clench & Turner, 1964 <br />
VOLUTIDAE<br />
-600~650m, Dredged, Falkland Islands, 78.2mm, F++<br />
The "Pescal Volute" is a graceful rarity native to South Atlantic Ocean from Uruguay to Falkland Islands. It is a subantarctic volute found in deep water around -400~800m, and carnivorous like all volutes. The early whorls are often eroded, exposing the jade-like layer underneath. One of many deep water sub-Antarctic and Antarctic volutes from this region difficult to obtain due to the great depths they inhabit. Average shell length around 80mm, very large specimens may approach 115mm.

Harpovoluta charcoti (Lamy, 1910) <br />
VOLUTIDAE<br />
-200~300m, From Russian research vessel, Off South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, Coll. Late 1980s, 45mm, F++<br />
The "Charcot's Volute" is an unusual volute native to the Southern Ocean, Antarctica and its adjacent waters. A carnivorous species, it exhibits an extremely interesting commensal relationship with two actiniid anemone species Isosicyonis alba (Studer, 1879) and I. striata Rodríguez & López-González, 2008. One single polyp of anemone completely covers the shell, and the volute effectively mobilises the anemone to food souces. A few anemone-volute relationships are known in sub-Antarctic to Antarctic waters but this is perhaps the most striking. However, not all specimens of this volute carry an anemone. This species has a circum-Antarctic distribution and is found in a wide bathymetric range between -30~1500m but is most common in depths less than -400m. Shell paper-thin and covered by a light brown periostracum; the animal is very much larger than the shell. Although locally common, it is rarely seen on the market due to its remote habitat. Average shell length about 40mm, very large specimens may exceed 50mm.

Guildfordia yoka Jousseaume, 1888 <br />
TURBINIDAE<br />
-200~300m, By tangle net, Siquijor Island, Visayas, Philippines, 85.5mm, F++<br />
The "Yoka Star Turban" is an astonishing turbinid resembling a star-burst pattern native to waters from the southern half of Japan to Philippines. A prized collector's item due to its attractive shape, it is common especially from tangle nets in the Philippines but large specimens with spines intact are uncommon. It is an omnivorous gastropod which feeds on organic matter in sand and mud and inhabits sandy and muddy bottoms in rather deep water around the depth of -100~500m. Quite variable in form, with number of spines varying from seven to eleven and the curved-ness of the spines also vary. Sculpture and size of umbilicus also vary to a certain extent. Normally red-brown in colouration but there is a population around Siquijor Island, Philippines which is golden-brown in colouration as depicted here. Average shell length including spines about 80mm, very large shells may exceed 100mm.

Lyria beauii (Fischer & Bernardi, 1857) <br />
VOLUTIDAE<br />
-130m, By traps, Port-Louis, Guadeloupe, Coll. 2012, 58mm, F++<br />
The "Beau's Lyria" is a classic rarity among the volutes endemic to the West Indies and Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea. One of S. Peter Dance's fifty choice Rare Shells (1969); this lovely volute was discovered by Commandant Beau, whom it is named after, near the island of Marie-Galante. It is a carnivorous species living in rather deep water around the depth of -100~150m, and is still a scarce species today. Greatly variable in size and less in colouration, although a darker coloured form is known as Lyria beauii f. archeri (Angas, 1865). Average shell length about 50mm but can range from dwarves less than 40mm to giants more than 70mm, and the current world record size is a staggering 82.6mm from Guadeloupe.

Provocator corderoi Carcelles, 1947 <br />
VOLUTIDAE<br />
-200~300m, Trawled by fishing boat, Off Uruguay, 58mm, F++<br />
The "Cordero's Volute" is a rare sub-Antarctic volute ranging from southern Uruguay to Argentina to Falkland Islands. Vast majority of records are north of 55°S, and it is not found in circum-Antarctic waters. It is a carnivorous species living on sandy to muddy bottoms in a depth range between -100~700m. Like many other cold water volutes of this region, it is reported to have symbiotic relationships with commensal anemones, particularly the actiniid anemone Isosicyonis alba (Studer, 1879). The shell is pale white and covered by a very thin light yellowish brown periostracum which is rarely preserved in specimens, the specimen shown here is unusual in retaining it. Protoconch often glazed over like its congeners. With an average shell length of about 50mm, it is by far the smallest extant species in genus Provocator. Very large specimens may approach 70mm.

Circomphalus disjectus (Perry, 1811) <br />
VENERIDAE<br />
Scuba dived, Port Lincoln, South Australia, Ex-Coll. Peter Clarkson, 53mm, F++<br />
The "Wedding Cake Venus" is an extremely beautiful venus clam with many rows of delicate frilled lamellae endemic to Southeastern / Southern Australia and Tasmania. Understandably famed for its attractiveness, it is highly sought-after by collectors. It is a filter-feeding species which lives in shallow intertidal and subtidal waters buried in sand and mud, preferring sheltered locations. A common species in its natural habitat, specimens with intact lamellae are uncommon. Although often beached, beached specimens often have very worn out lamellae. Average shell length approximately 55mm, very large specimens may approach 70mm.

Phyllocoma scalariformis (Broderip, 1833) <br />
MURICIDAE<br />
Intertidal, Perlas Island, Panama, 29.8mm, F++<br />
The "Scaled False Triton" is a member of the peculiar muricid genus Phyllocoma which superficially resemble tiny versions of large ranellids complete with strong, flared varices. It has strong spiral ribs and slightly weaker axial ribs making the shell have a latticed appeareance. An uncommon species, it is not often offered on the market. It is a carnivorous species native to rocky substrates in intertidal to very shallow water around -10m depth of East Pacific Ocean from Mexico to Ecuador, including the Galápagos Islands. Average shell length around 30mm, very large specimens may reach 38mm.

Boreotrophon candelabrum (Reeve, 1848) <br />
MURICIDAE<br />
-15m, By scuba diver on oyster bed, Posyet Bay, Primorsky Krai, Russia, 47.1mm, F++<br />
The "Candelabrum Trophon" is a very variable cold water muricid ranging from Japan Sea to Sakhalin, Russia. The frequency and size of winged varices differ greatly, both slender form with small wings and wide form with elaborate wings (shown here) are known. It is a predatory gastropod mainly feeding on bivalves and inhabits shallow water from intertidal zone down to about -30m deep. An uncommon species on the market, the large-winged form being more uncommon than the small-winged form. Average shell length about 40-45mm, very large specimens may exceed 55mm.

Angaria poppei K. Monsecour & D. Monsecour, 1999 <br />
ANGARIIDAE<br />
Masbate, Philippines, 55.6mm, F++<br />
The "Poppe's Delphinula" is a colourful angariid native to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Philippines; best known from the Visayas, Philippines. A highly variable species, specimens differ greatly in spine length and comes in many colour forms, the two most common are green with black spines and red with white spines. It is a herbivorous gastropod living in moderate depths, most common around the depth of -10~40m. It prefers sandy bottoms with coral patches where there is strong current and is often found together with spondylids. A common species, long-spined specimens are less common than short-spined ones. Average size around 40-45mm, large specimens like the one shown often exceeds 55mm.

Chondropometes magnum elisabethae Torre & Bartsch, 1938<br />
ANNULARIIDAE <br />
Lying at base of cliffs or large boulders, "Giant's Cave", near the exit to Hoyo de los Helechos, Valle de San Carlos, Pinar del Río, Cuba, Coll. Simon Aiken, viii/2008, 21.2mm, F++<br />
This is a seldomly seen cave-dwelling annulariid landsnail endemic to Cuba. The animal exhibits a very curious behaviour of hanging from cave walls with a single thread of mucus, persumably a predator evasion strategy. It has very frequent delicate lamellae on shell surface, in a regular manner. The apex is deciduous and falls in mature specimens, a commonplace in annulariids. Curiously the operculums remains with the shell in most dead specimens, which is also known from other annulariids. Although locally common, it is rarely offered on the market due to its remote habitat. Average size about 20mm, large specimens may exceed 25mm.

Provocator palliatus (Kaiser, 1977) <br />
VOLUTIDAE<br />
-400m, From Russian Trawler, Falkland Islands, Coll. 1984, 114.3mm, F++<br />
A scarcely seen sub-Antarctic to Antarctic paper volute, Provocator palliatus is endemic to the Scotia Sea which borders South Atlantic Ocean and Southern Ocean. It is a deep water carnivore and inhabits sandy to muddy bottoms in depths ranging from around -200~1000m. Due to its remote distribution vast majority of specimens seen on the market originate from Antarctic trawlers around the Falkland Islands prior to 1990s, and as a consequence it is very rare and fetches high prices. In most specimens the protoconch is glazed over, a common feature of genus Provocator. The lip is slightly thickened and flared in mature specimens. Average size about 90mm, very large specimens such as the one shown here may exceed 110mm.

Provocator mirabilis (Finlay, 1926) <br />
VOLUTIDAE<br />
Dredged from extremely deep water, Chatham Rise, New Zealand, 100.7mm, F++<br />
The "Astonishing Volute" or the "Golden Volute" is an elegant deep water volute endemic to sub-Antarctic Pacific waters around New Zealand. It is a locally not uncommon predatory gastropod living on muddy bottoms and has a rather wide bathymetric range between approximately -200~1500m. Unlike other members of genus Provocator it has a rather thick shell and no columellar folds, and is thus often placed in its own genus Iredalina. The protoconch is usually glazed over and forms a posterior spike-like structure, which varies in length and is rarely preserved completely. Colour uniform, varying from pale to rather dark orange; a scarce white form occurs off Auckland Islands. Adults have thickened lip and the average shell length is about 100mm, but giants exceeding 160mm (with long, well preserved spike) are known to exist.

Septa peasei (Beu, 1987) <br />
RANELLIDAE<br />
Nuku Hiva, Marquesas, French Polynesia, 35.1mm, F+<br />
The "Pease's Triton" is an uncommon triton endemic to Polynesia. Characterised by a single, protruding white rib on the varix, this species is best known from the Marquesas where it is much more common than other parts of the Polynesia where it is scarce. Rather rarely offered on the market due to its restricted range like many species endemic to this area. It is a shallow water predatory gastropod inhabiting depths less than -20m. Average shell length about 30mm, giants such as the specimen depicted here may exceed 35mm.

Volutharpa ainos Kuroda & Kinoshita, 1956 <br />
BUCCINIDAE<br />
-400~450m, Trawled, Rausu Bay, Nemuro, Hokkaido, Japan, Coll. viii/2002, 43.2mm, F++<br />
This is a rather rare deep water buccinid endemic to northern Japan around the depths around -400~700m. It has paper-thin shell partly due to living in deep water where calcium carbonate dissolves more readily, and instead has a much thicker insoluble periostracum. The hairy periostracum has a complex lacy structure and is certainly one of the most beautiful in the genus. It is a carnivorous / scavenging species, with an average shell length of about 40mm but very large individuals can exceed 55mm.

Gloripallium speciosum (Reeve, 1853) <br />
PECTINIDAE<br />
Dived, Okinawa, Japan, 61.1mm, F++<br />
The "Specious Scallop" is a delicate and colourful scallop from Western Pacific with a range from southern Japan to Indonesia to Northwestern Australia. Extremely variable in colouration and patterning but the sculpture is usually consistent. Somewhat similar to Gloripallium pallium (Linnaeus, 1758) from the same region but it has undivided scales on ribs as opposed to divided to 2~3 in G. pallium. May also be confused with Gloripallium spiniferum (Sowerby I, 1835) from Polynesia but G. spiniferum has less ribs (around 7) than G. speciosum (around 11). It is a rather common filter-feeding species living in moderately shallow water around the depth of -10~50m. Specimens with complete, undamaged scales uncommon. Average size around 55mm, very large specimens may exceed 65mm.

Haliotis elegans Koch in Philippi, 1844 <br />
HALIOTIDAE<br />
-5~8m, Under limestone rocks in weed beds, Jurien Bay, 160km north of Perth, Western Australia, 62.9mm, F++<br />
The "Elegant Abalone" is an uncommon abalone endemic to Western Australia. It is a nocturnal algae grazer living beneath rocks and in rock crevices of subtidal waters down to depths of about -30m. Rather consistent in shape and sculpture but is slightly variable in colour and pattern. The sculpture is distinctive and characterises this species. Average shell length about 80mm, but specimens in excess of 110mm are known to exist.

Provocator pulcher Watson, 1882 <br />
VOLUTIDAE<br />
-200m, Trawled, Off Kerguelen Islands, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Coll. vii/1999, 91.7mm, GEM-<br />
The "Handsome Paper Volute" is a very famous classic rarity among the volutes and one of S. Peter Dance's fifty choice "Rare Shells" (1969). Discovered by the renowned HMS Challenger expedition of 1872-1876, Dance noted this as the second most remarkable mollusc found by the expedition, after the legendary Guivillea alabastrina (Watson, 1882). It is a subantarctic to antarctic volute virtually only known from waters around two island groups on the Kerguelen Plateau, southern Indian Ocean: the Kerguelen Islands and the Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI). A carnivorous species, it inhabits sandy to muddy bottom and has a enormous bathymetric range including depths between -155~3240m. One of the most sought-after volutes, it is still very rare on the market today due to lack of new materials from its remote habitat; most specimens in circulation were taken by research vessels before or during the 1990s. It is unique among the genus Provocator to have a stepped shoulder and is thus unmistakable. The outer lip is slightly thickened in mature specimens, and is often flared. Average shell length around 80mm, very large specimens may exceed 100mm.

Clinopegma chikaoi Tiba, 1968 <br />
BUCCINIDAE<br />
Trawled, Central Sea of Okhotsk, Russia, Coll. Russian fisherman, 136.2mm, F++<br />
The "Chikao's Whelk" is a large cold water whelk endemic to the Okhotsk Sea. A quite variable species in strength of spiral structure, and also differs in colouration of the periostracum from light brown to almost black. The periostracum is thin and has tendency to peel off when dried. Its distribution is more northerly than most other large cold water buccinids of the same region and therefore most specimens come from Russian boats instead of Japanese ones. A locally uncommon species, it is scarcely offered on the market and very rarely available in exceptional condition like the specimen shown here. It is a carnivorous / scavenging species found in rather deep water around -100~300m in depth. Average shell length around 110~120mm, giant specimens may exceed 135mm. It is named after Mr Chikao Toba, the first director of the 'Sea and Shells Museum' in Japan. He worked closely with Mr Ranji Tiba who named this species.

Boreotrophon alaskanus Dall, 1902 <br />
MURICIDAE<br />
-150~300m, In shell trap, 78 miles south of Magadan, Sea of Okhotsk, Russia, Coll. local whelk fisherman vii/2013, 50.7mm, F++<br />
The "Alaska Trophon" is a rather scarce trophon native to North Pacific Ocean with a quite wide range from nothern Japan to Alaska, USA. Somewhat variable in spine development, it is a very fragile species and good quality specimens are rare. It is a predatory gastropod living in rather deep water around -100~500m. Common size around 45mm, giant specimens may approach 60mm.

Scaphander lignarius (Linnaeus, 1758) <br />
SCAPHANDRIDAE<br />
-45m, Trawled by fishermen, Liverpool Bay, Western England, United Kingdom, Coll. iv/2005, 53.3mm, F++<br />
The "Woody Canoe Bubble" is a common, large bubble shell with a range extending from Norway and Iceland to Morocco including the Medterranean Sea. It is a carnivorous gastropod which feeds on polychaetes and bivalves, mostly found on sandy bottoms around -20~80m depth but can range from sublittoral zone down to -700m. Most interestingly, it has a gizzard consisting of a modified muscular esophagus with two large and one small shelly plates. The gizzard functions as a mill to grind food. The specimen shown is missing the small gizzard plate. The soft parts are much larger than the shell and cannot retract completely, which is commonplace in shelled opisthobranchs. Average shell length around 55mm, giants may exceed 70mm.

Pteropurpura macroptera (Deshayes, 1839) <br />
MURICIDAE<br />
-15m, Dived in silt/sand and sides of rocks, Monterrey, California, USA, 45mm, F++<br />
The "Frill-Wing Murex" is a common muricid with three large blade-like varices per whorl ranging from California, USA to Baja California, Mexico. It is a predatory gastropod primarily feeding on other molluscs living in shallow water around the depth of -10~30m. Extent of varix development highly variable but nearly always with 'wavy' edge, the shown specimen is typical of the species. Most specimens brown in colour but can also be pale or uncommonly brown with pale rays. Common shell length around 40~50mm, giants may rarely exceed 65mm.

Lambis robusta (Swainson, 1821) <br />
STROMBIDAE<br />
-15m, Scuba dived, Pueu, Tahiti, French Polynesia, 130.4mm, F+++<br />
The "False Spider Conch" is a bizarre spider conch endemic to Southeast Polynesia, characterised by the black tips on digits. It lives on sandy or coral rubble bottoms in shallow water around -10~30m depth, and is a herbivore feeding mainly on algae and other organic particles. A locally uncommon species, it is rather rare on the market due to its restricted range. It is usually well disguised with overgrowths in habitat and difficult to find. Like all spider conchs it has very strong foot and is capable of jumping action. Average shell length around 130mm, giants may exceed 150mm. Most similar to Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758) and Lambis indomaris Abbott, 1961, but is easily distinguished from them by the much less "wavy", less curved digitation, and the black digit tips.

Chicoreus damicornis (Hedley, 1903) <br />
MURICIDAE<br />
-100m, Trawled off Cape Moreton, Queensland, Australia, 36.4mm, F++<br />
The "Long Horned Murex" is a moderately uncommon muricid endemic to Eastern Australia from Queensland to Victoria. It is characterised by the bifurcated tip on the longest shoulder spine, and may grow to 80mm in shell length. A subtidal carnivore, it lives in moderately deep water around -30~250m. Rather variable in colouration, may be uniformly white / fawn or with distinct spiral brown bands.

Scaphella junonia (Lamarck, 1804) <br />
VOLUTIDAE<br />
Trawled by shrimp boat, Gulf of Mexico, Florida, USA, 137.2mm, F++<br />
The "Juno's Volute" is perhaps the most famous of all volutes and certainly one of the most striking with many rows of large, regular brown dots. One of S. Peter Dance's fifty "Rare Shells" (1969), it was very rare before mid-1900s and without doubt the most coveted of all volutes back then. It is native to moderately deep water around -20~150m from North Carolina to Gulf of Mexico, and is most famously known from Sanibel Island, Florida where it is known as "Pride of Sanibel" and very rarely washed up on shore. A carnivorous species living on sandy bottoms, its average shell length is around 100-110mm while giants like the one shown here may exceed 130mm. Quite a variable shell and many forms have been described. It is a thin-lip species normally with badly damaged or filed lip at large size and is also prone to growth scars; the giant specimen shown here is unusual in having an unfiled lip with only three tiny chips.

Poirieria zelandica (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833) <br />
MURICIDAE<br />
-15m, Dived, Ohope Beach, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, 45mm, F++<br />
The "New Zealand Murex" is an eccentric muricid endemic to New Zealand. Very prominently spinous and also typically has long siphonal canals which increases its perceived spinyness. The development of spines is actually very variable however, and many specimens are short spined. It is a predatory gastropod known from a wide range of depths ranging from 0 to -540m, but is most common in dethps around -20~200m. Average shell length about 50mm, but giants may reach 65mm.

Pelicaria vermis (Martyn, 1784) <br />
STRUTHIOLARIIDAE<br />
-30m, Dredged, Omaha, New Zealand, 46mm, F++<br />
The "Small Ostrich Foot" is a member of the ostrich foot family endemic to a small part of New Zealand ranging from the Cook Straight to North Island. It is the only extant species in genus Pelicaria (although a few subspecies exist) and many fossil specimens are known from Pliocene. It gains its common name from the fact that it is smaller than the closely related "Large Ostrich Foot", Struthiolaria papulosa (Martyn, 1786). It uses its large gill for filter feeding and is locally not uncommon from low tide down to depths around -100m. The shown specimen is slightly immature, mature specimens have thickened inner and outer lip and may exceed 55mm in shell length.

Panopea glycimeris (Born, 1778) <br />
HIATELLIDAE<br />
-80m from mud, Malaga, Spain, 205mm, F++<br />
The "European Geoduck" is a very large bivalve native to the Mediterranean Sea and Northwest Africa, most specimens coming from Spain. This species is well known in the fossil record since around the Triassic and fossil specimens are common, but live collected fresh specimens are quite uncommon on the market. It is a filter feeding species with a very long muscular siphon and lives buried, mostly in mud, in depths around -10~100m. One of the largest Mediterranean bivalves with an average shell length around 200~230mm, but giants can exceed 300mm.

Epitonium imperiale (G. B. Sowerby, 1844) <br />
EPITONIIDAE<br />
-10m, Dived in anemones, Garden Island, West Australia, 30mm, F++<br />
The "Imperial Wentletrap" is a beautiful and relatively large wentletrap with exceptional frequency of costae. Native to the Southwest Pacific, this uncommon species is best known from Australia. It is a predatory gastropod living in sandy bottoms of shallow water about -2~20m depth and feeds exclusively on tissue of anemone. Average size about 25~30mm, giants may grow to 40mm.

Trochia cingulata (Linnaeus, 1771) <br />
MURICIDAE<br />
False Bay, South Africa, 25.9mm, F+<br />
The "Corded Rock Shell" is a very uniquely sculptured muricid endemic to South Africa. The best known and perhaps the most commonly seen three corded form is unmistakable, although the cords are quite variable and can actually be anything from zero to four in number. It is a carnivore mainly preying on bivalves found from intertidal down to shallow water of about -30m. Average size about 30mm in shell length but large specimens often exceed 40mm.

Siratus pliciferoides (Kuroda, 1942) <br />
MURICIDAE<br />
-100m, East China Sea, 115.6mm, F++<br />
The "Japanese Spike Murex" has a wide range in the West Pacific from south Honshu, Japan to Australia to New Caledonia, and is a common carnivore inhabiting sandy bottoms about -50~200m deep. Like many members of its genus, this species is very variable in varix development and specimens differ in spine strength and webbedness. An uncommon, deep water form has large wing-like webbed varices. Large specimens may reach 150mm in shell length.

Erosaria englerti (Summers & Burgess, 1965) <br />
CYPRAEIDAE<br />
Dived in shallow water, Easter Island, Coll. xi/2012, 23.1mm, F++<br />
The "Father Englert's Cowry" is a famous and sought-after cowry best known from Easter Island. A beautiful cowry with distinct white spots, it is endemic to two islands in the easternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle: Easter Island and Isla Salas y Gómez. Although long considered a rare cowry, it is not uncommon in its habitat and its apparent rarity on the market was mostly due to its restricted range. Much easier to obtain nowadays, its current market rarity is perhaps best described as uncommon. It is an omnivorous gastropod living in rocky crevices of reefs from depths of around -2~40m, and has been reported to live in association with sea urchins. It is named in honour of Father Sebastian Englert, a well known pioneering missionary priest of Easter Island. Average adult shell length is about 22~25mm and the record size is 28.8mm.

Tylospira scutulata (Gmelin, 1791) <br />
STRUTHIOLARIIDAE<br />
Trawled, Off Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia, 31.2mm, F++<br />
An endemic species of Eastern Australia, this is an example the of "Ostrich Foot" family, a very small family of about five species virtually restricted to Australia, New Zealand, and Southern Ocean. This species is the only extant species in genus Tylospira and is unusual in the family in having a very smooth shell. It relies on filter-feeding with its gills for food and lives in sandy bottoms around the depths of -5~90m. Uncommonly offered on the market but it is in fact locally common. Average size about 40mm, giants may exceed 60mm.

Ophioglossolambis violacea (Swainson, 1821) <br />
STROMBIDAE<br />
Mauritius, 121mm, F+++<br />
The "Violet Spider Conch" is one of the most famous classic rarities of the conchology world, and perhaps the most beautiful of the spider conchs. Renowned for the deep violet hue inside the aperture, which distinguishes it from all other spider conchs. It is generally considered the most desirable strombid of the Indian Ocean, and was one of the fifty species chosen by S. Peter Dance in 'Rare Shells' (1969). Vast majority of specimens have been collected from Mauritius (especially Saint Brandon), and it appears to be endemic to the Mascarene Basin. Although it is probably not really a rare species in its locality, it is a rare species on the market even today due to limited access to its constrained habitat and the fact that shell collection is restricted by law in Mauritius. Development of digitation and length of siphonal canal highly variable. Immature specimens have unfilled digitation, lacks yellow spots on the outer lip, and has much weaker lirae in the aperture. Average shell length around 110-120mm but giant specimens may approach or even exceed 140mm.

Ampulla priamus (Gmelin, 1791) <br />
VOLUTIDAE<br />
Dredged, Almeria, Spain, 67.1mm, F++<br />
The "Spotted Flask" is a rather large volute ranging from West Medineterranean (Alboran Sea) to Northwest Africa. It is a representative volute of the Mediterranean region which is home to extremely few volutes. The spotted pattern is highly variable and there are both extensively spotted and completely unspotted forms. It is a common carnivorous gastropod found in moderate depths around -50~250m, on sandy and muddy bottoms. Average size is about 60-70mm but giants may grow as large as 100mm.

Pterynotus martinetanus (Röding, 1798) <br />
MURICIDAE<br />
-20m, Dived in the night, Balicasag Island, Bohol, Philippines, Coll. i/2011, 37.7mm, F++<br />
The "Fenestrate Murex" is a very colourful and beautiful muricid. This species appear to undergo colour change as growth progresses and comes in two forms, a smaller pink form and a larger yellow form shown here. The yellow form was known under the name of Murex fenestratus Dillwyn, 1817 but is generally accepted today as larger adults of the pink form, although some still consider it a separate species. The yellow form is rare and usually above 30mm in size and may approach 60mm, while the pink form is not uncommon and below 30mm in shell length. Interestingly, the yellow form is generally found in shallower depths (-5~50m) than the pink form (-50~300m). It is a predatory gastropod with a vast range from West Indian Ocean and Red Sea across to Philippines, Japan, and Hawaii. Specimens of the yellow form usually have lost the intricate scales and frills between varices, but the shown specimen is superb and retains them.

Sveltia lyrata (Brocchi, 1814) <br />
CANCELLARIIDAE<br />
Trawled, Off Ndayane, Petite-Côte, Sénégal, 41.0mm, F++ quality fresh dead collected vi/2013<br />
The "Lyrate Nutmeg" is an uncommon cancellariid native to West Africa ranging from Mauritania to South Africa. One of the easier to obtain species in genus Sveltia, which contains very unusual cancellariids including the elusive S. gladiator (Petit, 1976). A carnivorous gastropod, S. lyrata lives in moderate depths around -40~120m. Average size about 40mm, although they may grow to about 55mm.

Cymatium ranzanii (Bianconi, 1850) <br />
RANELLIDAE<br />
Ras Hafun, Somalia, 156mm, F++<br />
The "Ranzani's Triton" is a famous rarity among the tritons and one of S. Peter Dance's fifty Rare Shells (1969). Although described in 1850, it has a remarkable history of being "lost" for more than a century in literature until re-discovered by K. J. Grosch when diving in Mozambique in 1953. The remarks on Grosch's find was published by William K. Emerson and Anthony D'Attilio, who identified the species, in 1962. The angular but low shoulder and two distinct dark patches on the parietal callus together easily separates it from other Cymatium species. A predatory gastropod, it inhabits shallow water to about -40m depth and ranges from Northern Arabian Sea to Mozambique including Southern Red Sea. Average shell length is about 160mm, but giants are known to exceed 240mm.

Campanile symbolicum Iredale, 1917 <br />
CAMPANILIDAE<br />
-5~8m by scuba diver, Crawling in sand among rock ribbon weed, Canal Rocks, Southwestern Australia, 163mm, F+<br />
The "Bell Clapper" or "Giant Creeper" is a large gastropod endemic to Southwestern Australia. It is the only surviving member of family Campanilidae, which was abundant in the Tertiary Period and included one of the most gigantic gastropods -- Campanile giganteum (Lamarck, 1804) which is known to reach 60cm in shell length. The family has changed very little over time and this extant species is remarkably similar to its extinct relatives. It is a herbivorous species not uncommon in sandy bottoms of intertidal to shallow sublittoral waters. The record size is 244mm, although the average shell length is about 150mm.