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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.

Aliger gigas (Linnaeus, 1758)<br /> STROMBIDAE<br /> -24~31 m (-80~100 ft), Trawled on sandy bottom, Cancun, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, 288.4 mm <br /> <br /> Characterised by a large, flaring outer lip whose interior is richly coloured in pink or orange, the "Queen Conch" is a very large strombid native to the western Atlantic ranging from Bermuda to the Caribbean Sea to Brazil. A commercially important species, it is the source of conch meat which has been consumed traditionally in the West Indies islands as well as Florida, U.S.A and one of the most representative food of the region. Exploitation for meat (and as a by-product, shells for souvenir and decoration) has led to its rapid decline -- currently it is illegal to fish this species in Florida, but harvest continues in the Caribbean. In many regions the population has already been depleted or close to depletion, resulting in numerous conservation efforts across the region targeting this species. Since 1992 it has also been listed in CITES Appendix II, heavily restricting the international trade of this species. <br /> <br /> Inhabiting sandy substrates of seagrass meadows in shallow waters from low tide down to about -40 m, it is a herbivorous gastropod feeding mostly on algae and seagrass. Though it only takes three to five years for A. gigas to reach adult stage with developed outer lip, its lifespan can even reach 20 to 30 years in deeper areas (though typically much shorter in shallower waters) during which the shell continues to thicken. Typical shell length around 230 mm, extremely large specimens may exceed even 350 mm. <br /> <br /> Although always instantly recognisable, it is a quite variable species in terms of the development of both the shoulder nodules and the outer lip. A number of different names have been given to unusual forms, such as A. gigas f. horridus Smith, 1940 which has two rows of shoulder nodules and A. gigas f. canaliculatus Burry, 1949 where the nodules are reduced to a weakly raised ridge. The colouration inside the aperture is typically pink (hence it is also known as the "Pink Conch"), but can range from cream to orange to a very dark magenta. Most shells seen for sale have holes on the aperture and smoothed lips, these are shells discarded after extracting conch meat, the hole has been punctured in order to cut the columellar muscle easily for extracting its meat. It is actually very difficult to find a specimen without holes and with natural lips. Originally described in the genus Strombus, it has been moved across some others such as Eustrombus and Lobatus before its current placement in Aliger.
The "Fortunate Calypto Clam" is here to bring some good fortune for 2022!<br /> <br /> Archivesica fortunata (Okutani, Kojima, Kawato, Seo & Fujikura, 2011)<br /> VESICOMYIDAE<br /> -1189 m, Taken by DSV SHINKAI 6500 using a scoop sampler, Off Hatsushima hydrocarbon seep (34°59.4278'N, 139°13.4994'E), Sagami Bay, Japan, 52.4 mm <br /> <br /> The "Fortunate Calypto Clam" is a chemosymbiotic vesicomyid clam endemic to central Japan, whose discovery came as a real surprise. The first specimen recognised was serendipitously found among a large sample of vesicomyids from the Off Hatsushima seep site in Sagami Bay, Japan. Located in 1984, this seep site was the first deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystem found in Japanese waters and is dominated by two large chemosymbiotic vesicomyid clams, Phreagena soyoae (Okutani, 1957) and P. okutanii (Kojima & Ohta, 1997), which form dense mixed colonies of over a hundred individuals per square metre. The site has been subjected to extensive biodiversity research since 1984 but for nearly three decades, nobody noticed that a third chemosymbiotic clam species inhabited the area. In addition to this fortunate finding, another piece of luck was that the DNA barcode sequence of the Sagami Bay specimen actually matched an existing sequence on the database from an unidentified vesicomyid clam collected from another seep site Off Sanriku (the northeastern part of Honshu), Japan as early as 1999. This provided more specimens for study, and finally resulting in its formal description in 2011. It was given the name 'fortunata' (i.e. fortunate) for these two 'lucky' events surrounding its discovery. This name is also apt in that it is a very rare species and finding a specimen would be truly fortunate, even if you were already in its habitat -- among hundreds of Phreagena spp. clams, you will be lucky if you can find one or two individuals of A. fortunata. <br /> <br /> It relies on sulfur-oxidising symbiotic bacteria living inside specialised cells on its gill for energy, via chemosynthesis using hydrogen sulfide available in the seep sediment as the energy source. It is only known from the two seep sites Off Hatsushima and Off Sanriku in Japan, between 1170~1700 m deep. The shell morphology is somewhat variable among individuals and localities, with those from Off Hatsushima having thicker, slightly more rounded shells with less pronounced growth lines than those from Off Sanriku. Typical shell length around 45 mm, very large specimens can approach 70 mm. Three morphologically similar Pacific congeners including A. angulata (Dall, 1895) and A. suavis (Dall, 1913) from the Eastern Pacific and A. nanshaensis (Xu & Shen, 1991) from South China Sea are known, distinguished by subtle differences in hinge morphology. Unfortunately molecular sequences are not available from these three species, and the true relationship among them warrants future studies.
Callipara festiva (Lamarck, 1811)<br /> VOLUTIDAE<br /> East side of Masirah Island, Oman, 94.6 mm <br /> <br /> The true "Festive Volute", as it was recently revealed, is a striking volutid endemic to Oman characterised by a 'festive' colouration consisting of chocolate axial lines and irregularly distributed reddish patches. Until recently, the name was considered to comprise of a few geographically segregated forms ranging between Oman and Somalia -- with the best known one being the large, knobby form from Somalia (typical shell length around 200 mm, largest specimens can exceed 250 mm) showing strong red colouration on the spire. In the last few years, collectors in Oman rediscovered and once again brought to light the much overlooked smaller, narrower Arabian form (typical shell length around 80 mm, very large specimens may reach 135 mm) which also lacks the red-stained early whorls seen in the Somalian form. <br /> <br /> The collection of over 200 specimens in Oman led to a study published in 2020 pointing out that the Arabian form should be considered distinct from the Somalian form due to clear conchological differences, and that the holotype of Callipara festiva (housed in Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris) is in fact a specimen of the Arabian form, making the smaller Oman population the true Callipara festiva. Indeed, the holotype of C. festiva is only 71 mm in shell length (though sub-adult) and lacks a reddish spire; the collection locality was not known and Lamarck hypothesised that it probably came from South America, which is clearly incorrect. This means the Somalian form actually did not have a name, and it was described as a new species, Callipara casaana Childs, Aiken & Bail, 2020 -- this is the taxon figured and discussed in S. Peter Dance's 50 "Rare Shells" (1969) as Festilyria festiva. The same authors also named two nomenclaturally unavailable form names for the true C. festiva: f. lizzae for specimens with darker background colouration and the black-red markings (accounting for about 2% of the known specimens) and f. dobsonae for very rare specimens with even darker, brownish background colour. <br /> <br /> There is an intermediate form between C. festiva and C. casaana, known as Callipara festiva f. deceptrix Palazzi, 1981, found around Yemen between Oman and Somalia. The shell of f. deceptrix is typically around 175 mm in length (very large specimens exceeding 220 mm) and is narrow like typical C. festiva but has the reddish spire that characterises C. casaana. The exact affinity of this form is yet unclear, and requires further investigation. The type specimen of f. deceptrix, however, is a 116 mm subadult with a spire showing very strong reddish colouration suggesting a closer affinity to C. casaana. <br /> <br /> The true C. festiva appears to be only uncommon in Oman with numerous specimens beached after storms, but live-taken specimens remain exceedingly rare. Almost certainly a carnivorous and predatory gastropod feeding on other invertebrates, judging from the number of beached shells it probably lives in shallow subtidal waters (unlike C. casaana which is only taken by trawl and supposedly live in deeper waters). The only species that C. festiva can be confused with, other than C. casaana, is the very rare Callipara victoriae Childs, Aiken & Bail, 2020 endemic to Masirah Island, Oman, but they are actually easy to distinguish based on the indistinct shoulder knobs and the much wider shell of C. victoriae.
Calcitrapessa leeana (Dall, 1890)<br /> MURICIDAE<br /> -200~250 m, Dredged, Nayarit, Mexico, 43.5 mm <br /> <br /> An unmistakable muricid, the characteristic trialate shell of "Lee's Murex" carries three varices per whorl, each with only a single prominent, rounded, straight spine at almost right angle to the siphonal canal. Vast majority of specimens have been collected either near Cedros Island, Baja California, Mexico or within Gulf of California; though its range supposedly extend northwards to the southernmost part of California, U.S.A.. A very rarely seen species inhabiting rather deep waters between around -150~400 m, it is a carnivorous and predatory gastropod feeding on invertebrate animals and living on silt and mud bottoms. There are very fine spiral striae across the whole shell surface, and there is one intravarical node between each pair of varices. Though a little-varied species, specimens do vary in the length of the varical spine which is straight in most specimens but can also be slightly recurved anteriorly. The colouration ranges from light to dark tan. In vast majority of the specimens at least one of the three varices on the body whorl is damaged, and it is very difficult to find a specimen with all three intact. Typical shell length around 50 mm, extremely large specimens can reach 85 mm. Initially described in the genus Pteropurpura, the genus Calcitrapessa was later established due to its unique shell morphology and to date it is the only species assigned to that genus.
Maurea chilena (Rehder, 1971)<br /> CALLIOSTOMATIDAE<br /> -1100 m, Trawled, Off Constitución, Talca, Maule Region, Chile, 26.7 mm <br /> <br /> A lustrous, iridescent shell lacking strong spiral ridges anterior of the peripheral keel characterises the "Chilean Top". Though majority of the specimens have been taken from Chile where it was first discovered, its distribution range actually extends northwards all the way to Gulf of Panama. A very rarely seen species, it inhabits deep waters ranging from -200~1200 m and is primarily taken as by-catch from trawl fisheries, especially shrimp trawlers in Chile. The early whorls carry numerous strong axial ribs crossed with three spiral cords above the suture resulting in a prickly sculpture, but after about three whorls these rapidly fade and the rest of the shell becomes almost completely smooth above the suture except very fine spiral striae. The base is encircled by a raised spiral keel, and is marked by numerous strong spiral cords. The shell surface is naturally pearly with strong structural colouration, showing varying hues of blue and olive depending on the viewing angle. Typical shell length around 25 mm, very large specimens are known to exceed 35 mm. <br /> <br /> Originally described in the genus Calliostoma, it has later been placed in Otukaia and Akoya by various authors. Recently however, it was transferred to Maurea based on the argument that its shell morphology is likely convergent with similar northern hemisphere species, and that its radular morphology is more similar to other Maurea species. Nevertheless, it is rather different in shell morphology from other Maurea species and future research will likely lead to further updates in its genus assignment.
Lyria grangei Cernohorsky, 1980<br /> VOLUTIDAE<br /> -20~25 m, Dredged, Chesterfield-Bellona Reef Complex, Coral Sea, New Caledonia, 57.1 mm <br /> <br /> The "Grange's Lyria" is a volutid with an attractive and colourful shell endemic to the remote Chesterfield-Bellona Reef Complex, a uninhabited archipelago in Coral Sea administrated by New Caledonia. First discovered by a research expedition by the New Zealand Oceanographic Institution's R/V Tangaroa in May 1979, it is a rare species primarily due to its remote distribution and a lack of regular collecting activity there. In its natural habitat it is actually not uncommon in shallow to moderate depths between -10~50 m on sand to rubble bottoms, where it is a predator of other invertebrate animals. Almost all available specimens were collected on dedicated collecting trips to the Chesterfield Islands and Bellona Reef, and the supply is limited. Though the shell is generally little-varied, the colouration can range from golden to dark orange to reddish brown. Typical shell length around 55 mm, very large specimens can approach 75 mm. It was named in after Mr K.R. Grange, who collected the first specimens on-board R/V Tangaroa in 1979. The very broad columellar callus and the numerous close-set, crisply defined spiral striation on the entire shell surface serve to distinguish this species from other congeners.
Hemipolygona aldeynzeri (Garcia, 2001)<br /> FASCIOLARIIDAE<br /> -100~200 m, By tangle net, Tinina, Balut Island, Mindanao, Philippines, 87.3 mm <br /> <br /> An instantly recognisable species with a shell typified by an exceptionally wide pseudoumbilicus and a strikingly developed, funnel-like siphonal fasciole, the "Al Deynzer's Latirus" is an unusual fasciolariid ranging between Philippines and Thailand. The first known specimen was reported in Hawaiian Shell News in 1974 from deep water in Andaman Sea trawled off Kantang Province, Thailand, but this publication did not name the species. The formal description had to wait until 2001, when the conchologist Emilio F. Garcia based in Lafayette, U.S.A. published the description paper in Novapex based on a shell of the same species he received from the shell dealer Al Deynzer (the species' namesake), taken by tangle net in 200 m deep off Talikud Island, Philippines. At the time only three specimens were known, with the last one being a paratype in the collection of the shell collector Peter G. Stimpson of Tennessee, U.S.A., with no collecting data but suspected to be from the Philippines also. Since then, a number of specimens have come up in tangle nets in the Philippines between 100~200 m deep, but it remains a very rare species today with only a few adult specimens collected each year. <br /> <br /> Though little-varied in colouration and sculpture, specimens can vary in the degree of siphonal canal development. Young and subadult individuals lack the expanded anterior siphonal fasciole and appear to be very different at the first sight, although careful examination would reveal exactly the same sculpture as the typical adults. When alive the shell is covered by a layer of brownish periostracum, concealing the orange colouration. and It is persumably a carnivorous gastropod feeding on other invertebrate animals like other fasciolariids. Typical shell length around 80 mm, very large specimens may approach 100 mm. It cannot be confused with any other Hemipolygona species due to the characteristic siphonal fasciole, but it is sometimes confused in the shell trade with geronic specimens of Nodolatirus recurvirostra (Schubert & Wagner, 1829) which often also exhibit fanned siphonal fascioles. They are actually easily distinguishable as the sculpture is very different with much finer, more frequent spiral ribs overall in H. aldeynzeri. The former species also has a much smoother siphonal canal compared to that of geronic N. recurvirostra in which it is usually heavily crenulated.
Nodulotrophon coronatus (Adams & Adams, 1864)<br /> MURICIDAE<br /> -49~59 m, In whelk traps on mixed broken shells, mud, and gravel bottom, Mordvinova Bay (46°53.5'N, 143°21.9'E), Sakhalin Island, 2016/ii/09, 49.1 mm <br /> <br /> Characterised by a club-like shell with the shoulder crowned by a series of nodulous spines, the "Dall's Trophon" is a rather rare cold-water muricid ranging from northern Hokkaido, Japan to Aleutian Islands and extending towards the Arctic through Bering Sea. Its common name originates from the much better-known junior synonym Nodulotrophon dalli (Kobelt, 1878), in honour of the American malacologist William Healey Dall (1845-1927). It was listed in many publications under that name, often in genus Trophon or Boreotrophon. A carnivorous and predatory gastropod feeding on bivalves and other invertebrates, it is found across a range of depths from subtidal at around 20 m deep down to about 150 m deep. The shoulder nodules have an interesting property in being semi-transparent, unlike the rest of the shell which is chalky and opaque. When alive it is covered by a layer of thin greenish to yellowish periostracum that is easily worn out and lost. Though not too variable, specimens do differ somewhat in the number of varices per whorl and spire height -- the high-spired form was described as a variety under the name altus Dall, 1902. Typical shell length around 40 mm, extremely large specimens may reach even 60 mm. It is the type species of genus Nodulotrophon Habe & Ito, 1965.
Emarginula poppeorum Romani & Crocetta in Romani, Rolán, Simone & Crocetta, 2017<br /> FISSURELLIDAE<br /> -100~200 m, By tangle net, Tinina, Balut Island, Mindanao, Philippines, 47.5 mm <br /> <br /> With an average shell length around 45 mm and the largest known specimen reaching 55 mm, the "Poppes' Emarginula" is currently the largest described species of the genus characterised by a tall shell profile and finely reticulate sculpture where the concentric sculpture is weaker and more frequent than the radial ones. Edges of the slit are marked on both sides by thin, fragile dorsal extensions of shell material, but this is often damaged. Only known from a small area around Balut Island in the Philippines, it lives attached on hard substrates in moderate depths around -100~200 m and is a grazing gastropod likely feeding on detritus or sessile animals like sponges. It was originally described in 2008 by the Belgian conchologist and shell dealer Guido Poppe as Emarginula gigantea Poppe, 2008, but this name was later found to be preoccupied by both Emarginula gigantea Coquand, 1859, and E. gigantea Seguenza, 1863. Although the Seguenza name is firmly established as a junior synonym of Emarginula crassa Sowerby, 1813, the Coquand name refers to a valid fossil species from Italy. As such, the replacement name Emarginula poppeorum was designated in honour of Guido Poppe and his son Philippe Poppe, also a conchologist and shell dealer. <br /> <br /> An extremely scarce species, only a handful of specimens have apprently been collected since its description and its known distribution range remains very limited. Although adult specimens are usually instantly recognisable due to its very large size, specimens do vary somewhat in shell form with regards to both the relative shell width and height (likely substrate-shape dependent). The only described species it can be confused with is Emarginula kashimaensis Shikama, 1962, another very large Emarginula species reaching 40 mm in shell length. Originally described from Japan, E. kashimaensis has also been recorded in Philippines from similar habitat as E. poppeorum, but can be differentiated from E. poppeorum by its typically lower shell profile and coarser, beaded sculpture.
Neolepetopsis ardua Chen, Zhou, Watanabe, Zhang & Wang, 2021<br /> NEOLEPETOPSIDAE<br /> Holotype (RSIO 49001), 5.1 mm, On inactive sulfide deposit, Longqi vent field, Southwest Indian Ridge (49°38.88'E,37°46.80'S, station '49I-S011-TVG04'), 2778 m deep, taken by a video-guided grab sampler on-board R/V Xiangyanghong 10, 2018/vi/01<br /> <br /> A neolepetopsid limpet characterised by an intricate, densely clathrate sculpture where the concentric ones being stronger than the radial ones with weak nodes being formed where the two directions intersect, Neolepetopsis ardua is known only from the surface of inactive chimneys in Longqi hydrothermal vent field at 2778 m deep on the Southwest Indian Ridge, Indian Ocean. Just over a dozen specimens of this recently described species have been collected so far, all on a single sampling event using a video-guided grab sampler. Strangely, all but one specimen has lost the shell (except fragments) upon recovery on-board the research vessel, possibly damaged during sampling and being tossed around with chimney fragments in the sampler. The one intact specimen, with a shell length of 5.1 mm, was naturally desginated the holotype (shown). It can be differentiated from other described Neolepetopsis species by the details of its shell sculpture, although the pluricuspid tooth with two heavy cusps and much reduced marginal teeth also help. The shell is translucent, does not exhibit prismatic structure colour, and is covered by a layer of greenish periostracum. The specific epithet means 'high, steep, difficult or troublesome', and it was named in witness of the difficulty of extracting and mounting the minute radula of this species, which is only about 30 micrometers in width.
Eulepetopsis crystallina Chen, Zhou, Watanabe, Zhang & Wang, 2021<br /> NEOLEPETOPSIDAE<br /> Holotype (Top & Right; NSMT-Mo 79222), 8.4 mm, On active chimney, Kairei vent field, Central Indian Ridge (25°19.2315'S, 70°2.4187'E), 2424 m deep, taken by suction sampler, DSV Shinkai 6500 dive #1449, R/V Yokosuka cruise YK16-E02, 2016/ii/13; Bottom & Left (RSIO 35734), 14.1 mm, Tiancheng vent field, Southwest Indian Ridge (63°55.398'E, 27°51.030'S), 2682 m deep, taken by manipulator, HOV Jiaolong dive 87, R/V Xiangyanghong 9 cruise DY35, 2014/xii/23<br /> <br /> Found in deep-sea hydrothermal vents where it inhabits surfaces of active chimney structures, "Crystal Limpet" is one of only two species in genus Eulepetopsis in the enigmatic family Neolepetopsidae. It is a large-sized species for the family, with a typical shell length around 10 mm and the largest specimens approaching 15 mm. Though little-varied, specimens do vary in the width-to-length ratio, and larger specimens have a much higher shell profile. The shell surface is smooth with only concentric growth lines visible. <br /> <br /> The genus Eulepetopsis is characterised by the strikingly transparent shell, composed of lathic calcite, the most transparent type of calcium carbonate structure possible. While E. crystallina is found across three mid-ocean ridges (Central Indian Ridge, Carlsberg Ridge, Southwest Indian Ridge) in Indian Ocean between approximately 2400~3300 m deep, its sister species E. vitrea McLean, 1990 is only known from vents on the East Pacific Rise and Galapagos Rift between approximately 2450-2650 m deep. The two species are extremely similar and are only distinguishable in radular features, with E. crystallina having much sturdier pluricuspid teeth carrying a mid-shaft lateral projection as well as finely serrated cutting edge, both lacking in E. vitrea. It is surprising that no other species of the genus has been found outside Indian Ocean and East Pacific, leaving the distribution of the genus disjunct as far as we know today.
Neolepetopsis prismatica Chen, Zhou, Watanabe, Zhang & Wang, 2021<br /> NEOLEPETOPSIDAE<br /> Holotype (Top & Right; RSIO 38210), 4.1 mm; paratype 1 (Bottom & Left; NSMT-Mo 79214), 4.2 mm<br /> On inactive sulfide deposit, Daxi vent field, Carlsberg Ridge, 60°10.8'E, 6°48.0'N, 3450 m deep (station DV128), R/V Xiangyanghong 9 cruise DY38, by HOV Jiaolong during Dive #128, 2017/iii/11 <br /> <br /> An iridescent limpet in the enigmatic patellogastropod family Neolepetopsidae restricted to deep-sea chemosynthetic habitats such as hot vents and cold seeps, Neolepetopsis prismatica is currently only known from the Daxi hydrothermal vent field on Carlsberg Ridge in the Indian Ocean, at 3450 m deep. As its name suggests, the translucent shell carries strong prismatic structure colours and exhibit a regular, strong, concentric ribbing that overshadows the dimunitive radial striation. The structural colour can even be observed through the very thin, greenish periostracum from the dorsal side. It is a little-varied species and individuals only differ slightly in the shell width-to-height ratio. Like other described species of Neolepetopsis, it is only known from a very specific habitat type that this genus appears to specialise in -- surfaces of inactive chimneys in the peripheral area of the vent field. Typical shell length around 3.5 mm, very large specimens approach 5 mm. <br /> <br /> Together with Neolepetopsis ardua Chen, Zhou, Watanabe, Zhang & Wang, 2021 it is the first species in this genus found ouside the eastern Pacific. This is likely due to the fact that inactive chimneys are rarely studied by biologists who mostly focus on active edifices, and the discovery of these Indian Ocean species suggest that the genus has a much wider distribution than previously thought. The predominantly concentric sculpture of N. prismatica serves to easily distinguish it from all other described Neolepetopsis species, which exhibit stronger radial sculpture and form nodes where the two sculpture types intersect. At the time of description, it is only known from about a dozen specimens, all collected together at a single sampling event by the Chinese manned submersible HOV Jiaolong.
Cheilea imbricata (Fischer von Waldheim, 1807)<br /> HIPPONICIDAE<br /> -15 m, Bohol Island, Central Visayas, Philippines, 2021/v, 24.5 mm <br /> <br /> Characterised by a shell with numerous shingle-like layers of translucent varices resembling multi-storied pagodas, the "Imbricating False Cup-and-Saucer" is an exquisite hipponicid distributed widely across the Indo-West Pacific. Although most specimens originate from southern Japan, Taiwan, and Philippines, its distribution extends westwards as far as eastern Africa where it is known from localities such as Réunion. Currently the earliest available name applied to this species is deemed to be C. imbricata, but it has been illustrated under the junior synonym Cheilea tectumsinensis (Lamarck, 1822) in many publications and is better known under that name. A deposit-feeding gastropod, it inhabits hard substrates on reefs such as corals from intertidal waters down to subtidal depths of about -30 m (though shells have supposedly been collected much deeper to about -200 m in tangle nets). A rather variable species, the overall shell shape and sculpture appear to depend on the substrate each individual occupies, and the frequency and number of varices vary greatly among specimens. Despite this, no other Cheilea species exhibit such an exaggerated sculpture and it is therefore easily identified. It is a common species in most parts of its extensive range, but finding a specimen with intact 'roofs' can be a challenge. The typical shell diameter is around 15 mm, while very large specimens may exceed 25 mm.
Buccipagoda kengrahami (Ponder, 1982)<br /> BUCCINIDAE<br /> -700~800 m, Trawled, Off Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia, 1980's, 47.3 mm <br /> <br /> With a highly unusual shell characterised by a strongly constricted suture and flaring, rounded shoulder, the "Ken Graham's Whelk" is surely one of the most exquisitely sculptured buccinids. An enigmatic rarity endemic to Australia, its unique shell form resembling a soft serve ice cream has captivated many collectors and it is a greatly sought-after species. Initially, it was discovered in 1975 as a number of empty shells trawled by the New South Wales State Fisheries vessel FRV Kapala. Although clearly a new species, its description was held off in the hope of eventually finding fresh, live-taken specimens and the existing shells were housed in the Australia Museum. Before any actually came up however, the malacologist Dr. Anders Warén visited the museum and realised he had seen live-taken specimens of similar whelks in the Galathea collection, housed at Zoological Museum, Copenhagen where he worked at the time. These specimens, which had been in Copenhagen since their collection in the 1950s, were forwarded to the Australian Museum and finally the species could be described by Dr. Winston F. Ponder there in 1982, complete with anatomical details. It is much better known by the original name at the time of description, Kapala kengrahami Ponder, 1982 (with the genus named after FRV Kapala), but unfortunately that genus name was pre-occupied by the insect genus Kapala Cameron, 1884 and a replacement name, Buccipagoda, had to be proposed. <br /> <br /> A carnivorous and predatory gastropod, it inhabits muddy to sandy bottoms of deep waters around -400~1300 m and is now known to range from New South Wales south to Tasmania and Great Australian Bight. Though some specimens were available in the 1980s shortly after its description, few specimens have been taken since and it has become an exceedingly rare species today. Typical shell length around 60 mm, extremely large specimens are known to exceed 90 mm. The specific epithet honours Mr. Ken Graham of New South Wales State Fisheries, who collected many molluscs on-board FRV Kapala and provided them to the Australian Museum, including the first known specimens of this species. <br /> <br /> Originally considered to exhibit considerable variation in the strength of shoulder constriction at the time of description due to some individuals from Great Australian Bight having nearly flat shoulders, but Marshall & Walton recently examined a series of Buccipagoda specimens from Australia and in 2019 concluded that the flat-shouldered form should be treated as a separate species as no intergrades were found. The flat-shouldered form was described as Buccipagoda ponderi Marshall & Walton, 2019 and two Great Australian Bight paratypes of B. kengrahami were found to actually be B. ponderi -- now these two specimens are included in the paratype series of B. ponderi. Buccipagoda ponderi differs from B. kengrahami in having a consistently less adapically flared shoulder, a less vertically compressed spire, and usually also weaker spiral threads. Although both species are endemic to southeastern Australia, B. ponderi has a narrower distribution from the Great Australian Bight to Tasmania.
Angulyagra thersites (Reeve, 1864)<br /> VIVIPARIDAE<br /> On muddy sand, Zhuo River, Near Nanning, Guanxi Province, China, 2001, 26.5 mm<br /> <br /> Characterised by an attractive shell sculpture with four strong, thick spiral keels and depressed interspaces, Angulyagra thersites is a small viviparid freshwater snail endemic to Guangxi Province of China. Inhabiting soft bottoms of shallow waters down to about -20 m, it is a mixotrophic species capable of combining filter-feeding, grazing, and feeding on detritus. As is typical with vivipariids, female snails brood eggs inside the ovary until they hatch as juveniles. Although a locally common species in the rivers it inhabits, due to its restricted distribution it is rarely seen in collections. Although a little-varied species, individuals do vary somewhat in the strength of sculpture and the periostracum ranges between light olive to dark green in colouration. The early whorls are typically corroded in adult shells. Typical shell length around 25 mm, very large specimens may reach 30 mm. Though other members of genus Angulyagra also carry strong spiral sculpture, no other species have such dramatic undulating sculpture and thus it cannot be mistaken for any other described species.
Bolma massieri Bozzetti, 1992<br /> TURBINIDAE<br /> -85 m, Dredged, Off Mdumbi, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, 2018, 92.5 mm <br /> <br /> The "Massier's Star" is a moderately large turbinid characterised by a peripheral keel carrying over ten short, wide spines per whorl and a colour pattern consisting of alternating lighter and darker axial colour bands. Though usually considered an endemic species of South Africa ranging between Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, there are also some questionable records from southern Mozambique. Feeding by grazing on organic matter of various sorts, it inhabits hard substrates of moderate depths and most live-collected specimens have been found around 100 m deep -- although the known bathymetric range including empty shells is much wider between 50~500 m deep. A rare species, it is typically taken crabbed and finding a nice live-collected specimen can be very challenging. The operculum is thick and calcareous as is typical for the family, in this species the operculum lacks significant sculpture and often exhibit semi-transparent zones. Although instantly recognisable, specimens do vary in the number of spines and also the base colouration, which can range from light beigh to brown to yellow. Typical shell diameter around 75 mm, very large specimens may reach 100 mm. <br /> <br /> The only species it may be confused with is Bolma tayloriana (Smith, 1880) which has a more western distribution between Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces in South Africa, and indeed when B. massieri first appeared in the literature in 1979 it was identified as "Bolma cf. tayloriana". Though B. tayloriana often carry a similar alternating colour pattern as B. massieri, the two species are easily differentiated because B. tayloriana lacks spines on the periphery. The namesake of B. massieri is the German conchologist and shell dealer Werner Massier, who moved to Namibia in his youth and has since become a major supplier of African specimen shells worldwide.
Conus adamsonii Broderip, 1836 <br /> CONIDAE<br /> -8 m, Dived, Taiohae Bay, Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia, 42.6 mm <br /> <br /> With truly spellbinding patterns on its shell, the "Rhododendron Cone" is a great classic rarity among the conids and one of the most sought-after by collectors. One of S. Peter Dance's 50 "Rare Shells" (1969), it is still a very difficult species to obtain today in fine condition. The shell characteristically carry three broad spiral bands with sparse nebulous patterns which alternate with another three narrower spiral bands with small triangular spots. <br /> <br /> Rather widely distributed in the Pacific Ocean ranging from Coral Sea to French Polynesia, different populations vary in shell form, size, as well as colouration. Specimens from the Marquesas Islands (shown), for example, are notable in being instantly recognisable by their exceptionally intense magenta colouration and are also typically more cylindrical in form. Due to the attractive colouration and the fact that it appears to be locally rare in that restricted locality, Marquesan specimens are by far the most sought-after by collectors. In contrast, the most widely available Cook Islands population is typified by a pinkish colouration and generally conical shells. Its greater availability in Cook Islands is largely due to specimens being often beached after typhoons pass, but most of such specimens are worn with badly damaged lip. A predatory gastropod like all conids, it is a piscivorous species which hunt fishes using venom injected from its harpoon-like radula. Inhabiting sandy bottoms of coral reefs and lagoons, it can be found from low intertidal waters down to moderate depths around -60 m deep. <br /> <br /> Its vernacular name comes from a famous synonym, Conus rhododendron Jay, 1839, which is very appropriate but unfortunately must give way to Broderip's earlier name. Typical shell length around 35~40mm depending on the locality, extremely large specimens are known to exceed 55mm. It is considered to be a member of the subgenus Textilia, which many prefer to treat as a full genus.
Tudivasum westrale Morrison in Morrison, Kirkendale & Wilson, 2020<br /> TURBINELLIDAE<br /> -150 m, Taken by R.O.V. on sandy bottom near low profile reef, Northwest of Bernier Island, Western Australia, Australia, 37.0 mm <br /> <br /> Characterised by a very prickly shell ornamented by numerous spine-bearing spiral ribs with intricate lamellae in the interspaces, Tudivasum westrale is a memorable small turbinellid endemic to Australia. As its name suggests, it is found along the western coast of Australia, ranging between Cape Lambert and Augusta where it inhabits sand and mud bottoms in moderate depths around -50~200 m. Although the exact diet is unknown, it is most likely a carnivorous and predatory gastropod feeding on invertebrate animals such as polychaete worms, sipunculids, and bivalves, as has been suggested for other Tudivasum species. Typical shell length around 30 mm, very large specimens are known to exceed 40 mm. <br /> <br /> A very rare species, although it has been collected by scientific dredging expeditions since the 1960s its rarity contributed to it being dismissed as an extreme variation of the sympatric congener Tudivasum spinosum (Adams & Adams, 1864). Recent expeditions yielded more specimens, examination of which revealed that the two species do not overlap in morphology and differ consistently in shell form, leading to the description of T. westrale. The two species are now revealed to be easily separable, with T. spinosum exhibiting only one row of long spines on the body whorl and entirely lacking spines on the siphonal canal, more numerous lirae inside the inner lip (9-11 vs 6-7), larger shell size (average length of 40 mm vs 30 mm), and larger protoconch (average diameter 1.9 mm vs 1.6 mm). Like many other Tudivasum species, T. westrale is variable in spine development among individuals, but many rows of spinous spiral ribs are always present. <br /> <br /> Unlike T. spinosum which has a wider bathymetric range and can occur in shallow water up to only 10 m deep, the deeper distribution of T. westrale beyond normal diving depths meant almost no specimens were known outside of scientific collections. Recently however, surveys by commercial remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) primarily targeting Zoila cowries have yielded a number of specimens.
Fulgurofusus brayi (Clench, 1959)<br /> COLUMBARIIDAE<br /> -300~350 m, Dredged in Colombian Basin, Off Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia, 2015/vi, 60.3 mm <br /> <br /> The simple yet astonishing shell sculpture consisting of a single sharply raised, blade-like peripheral fringe makes the "Bray's Pagoda" one of the most elegant columbariids of all. Inhabiting soft bottoms of considerable depths between -250~800 m, it has a rather wide distribution ranging from the lesser Antilles along the southern Caribbean Sea to Panama and further extending to northern Brazil. Although highly coveted by shell collectors due to its unique and attractive shell shape, it is very rarely seen in collections -- likely owing to the depth it inhabits. Most specimens are recovered with major damages to the flange, locating a high-quality specimen is a real challenge. A carnivorous and predatory gastropod specialising on polychaete worms like other columbariids, the examination of its stomach contents has revealed polychaete setae belonging to Serpulidae and Chaetopteridae. <br /> <br /> Despite being unmistakable and instantly recognisable from its shell form, specimens vary greatly in the development of the peripheral keel with some having short, upturned ones and others exhibiting flat flanges as wide as the aperture. The spire height is also somewhat variable, in extreme cases the reduced spire height means the peripheral keel is at the suture line, resulting in keels of all whorls converging on the same plane. There are numerous fine spiral striae anterior of the periphery, and the strength of these striae vary greatly among individuals. The shell colour can range from whitish to tan; there is a very thin, yellowish periostracum but typically only traces remain on the shell. Typical shell length around 45 mm, extremely large specimens can exceed 70 mm. It was named after W. Scott Bray, Captain of R/V Atlantis on its cruise number 240 in 1957, during which the first two specimens of this species were collected (later holotype and paratype) off Cabo Codera, Venezuela.
Cucurbitula cymbium (Spengler, 1783)<br /> GASTROCHAENIDAE<br /> Hat Arunothai Beach, Thung Tako, Chumphon, Thailand, 2012/i/11, 17.6 mm <br /> <br /> Living a sessile life cemented to hard substrates, typically dead molluscan shells, the "Flask Cockle" is an unusual bivalve in Gastrochaenidae capable of building a gourd-shaped calcareous case (shown) that covers and protects its true shells. The case has a 'stepped' appearance and often contains materials such as sand grains and shell fragments, it encloses the entire animal with only a narrow opening to allow the siphons to extend into the surrounding seawater. The true valves contained within the case are narrow and near-rectangular in shape with the dorsal and ventral margins being almost parallel, having a very slight curvature that vary from specimen to specimen; as is typical for gastrochaenids there is a large opening on the ventral side when the valves are closed. A rather common filter-feeding species inhabiting low intertidal to infralittoral waters down to about -10 m, the typical length of the casing is about 15 mm but very large specimens may reach 25 mm (valves typically 10 mm in length but may exceed 20 mm). A very widespread Indo-West Pacific species, it ranges from the eastern Indian Ocean to Japan to Australia. <br /> <br /> It has also been introduced to the Mediterranean Sea where it definitively occurs in Israel, but records based only on external cases from other Mediterranean localities are likely to be misidentifications of the native Gastrochaena dubia Pennant, 1777. The source of confusion is that G. dubia is more typically a rock-borer, and only rarely occurs on surface of molluscan shells and other hard substrates. When living inside rocks it does not produce a case similar to C. cymbium and instead produces a more elongated 'siphonal tube', so its capacity to produce a similar casing to C. cymbium is often neglected. The two species are easily differentiated by the morphology of the true valves, which are ovate in shape with convex margins in G. dubia.
Megasurcula carpenteriana (Gabb, 1865)<br /> PSEUDOMELATOMIDAE<br /> -30~33 m, Dived in soft sand, One mile (1.6 km) south of Marina Del Rey Harbour, California, U.S.A., 1999/xi, 72.7 mm <br /> <br /> The "Carpenter's Turrid" is a large pseudomelatomid snail characterised by a shell with regular shoulder knobs, a distinct subsutural ramp, and dense spiral lines, ranging from California, U.S.A. to Baja California, Mexico. A carnivorous and predatory gastropod feeding on other invertebrate animals, it inhabits sandy bottoms of moderate depths between -20~100 m and is a rather common species sometimes found in large colonies. Although many specimens have strong shoulder knobs all the way until the adult body whorl, this is variable and some specimens only have shoulder knobs on early whorls. The frequency of shoulder knobs also often decreases towards the later whorls. Typical shell length around 70 mm, extremely large specimens exceed 90 mm. Most closely related to the co-occurring congener Megasurcula stearnsiana (Raymond, 1904), which is easily distinguished from M. carpenteriana by the following characters: 1) Complete lack of knobs on the spire, 2) Weaker subsutural ramp than M. carpenteriana, 3) A smaller shell (typically does not exceed 50 mm in length), and 4) Darker, wider spiral banding. It was named in honour of the British malacologist Rev. Dr. Philip Pearsall Carpenter (1819-1877).
Umbilia armeniaca Verco, 1912<br /> CYPRAEIDAE<br /> -135~145 m, Trawled on soft bottom, Off Ceduna, Great Australian Bight, South Australia, Australia, 85.4 mm <br /> <br /> As its name suggests, the "Apricot-Coloured Cowrie" is a cypraeid with a spectacularly coloured, large shell endemic to southern Australia; and one of the most iconic species of the region. Ranging between Perth, Western Australia and Port Lincoln area, South Australia, it is currently divided into four subspecies. <br /> <br /> The nominal subspecies (shown) is distributed throughout the Great Australia Bight between around -40~200 m, with a typical shell length of 85 mm and the largest specimens exceed 120 mm. Once very rare in the 1900s, the nominal subspecies has since been collected in large numbers as trawl bycatches and is now moderately common. The form name f. southstralica has once been proposed for generally smaller, darker shells supposedly from the eastern part of the range and f. westralica for the lighter, larger ones from supposedly the western part, but now it has become clear that both co-occur throughout the Great Australian Bight and are not regional variations. The easternmost subspecies U. a. diprotodon Lorenz & Beals, 2012 is limited to moderate depths of -30~60 m in the Port Lincoln area, characterised by large shells (typical shell length 100 mm, largest around 120 mm), short extremities, hints of blue along the margins and extremities, fine and short columellar teeth. This subspecies has been known under the form name f. brunnea for a long time but never received a formally published name; the informally published name f. hypersaturata also points to the same population. This subspecies used to be common in the 1990s, but is now very rare due to unclear reasons. Immediately west of the Great Australia Bight is home to the subspecies U. a. clarksoni limited to around -30~60 m deep in the Esperance area. Characterised by light, elongate shells with reduced margins and extremities (typical shell length 90 mm, largest shells exceed 105 mm), this is the rarest subspecies and it is suspected that its true habitat has not been located. Finally, U. a. andreyi inhabits deeper waters around -100~250 m further to the west, up to around Perth. This is a subspecies with very heavy, smaller shells (typical shell length 75 mm, very large specimens exceed 85 mm) and coarser, longer columellar teeth; it used to be extremely rare but recently a considerable number have been collected using remotely operated vehicles near Albany. All subspecies live on sand and rubble bottoms, they are spongivorous grazers and are usually found in association with their food sponges. <br /> <br /> The dorsal pattern is greatly variable among individuals, and to a lesser extent the saturation of the colour; albinistic specimens are extremely rare but do exist. The three non-nominal subspecies have been named in honour of the extinct giant marsupial Diprotodon, the famed Australian collector and diver Peter Clarkson, and the Russian cowrie collector Andrey Kostin.
Spondylus clarksoni Lamprell, 1992<br /> SPONDYLIDAE<br /> -27 m, Dived on flat reef, Exmouth, Western Australia, Australia, 115.4 mm <br /> <br /> The "Clarkson's Thorny Oyster" is a captivating spondylid characterised by a shell with pinkish colouration, especially near the umbo, and raised spatulated spines. Endemic to the northern part of Western Australia, Australia, it lives permanently cemented to hard bottoms on reefs between about -10~50 m deep and is a filter-feeder like all spondylids. Although unlikely to be truly rare in its natural habitat, individuals are typically covered by sponges and it is only rarely found with the shell in good condition. A little-varied and easily recognisable taxon among Spondylus species, individuals only differ in shell shape (determined to a certain extent by the substrate shape) and spine development. Typical shell length around 110 mm, very large specimens may exceed 140 mm. <br /> <br /> Named in honour of the famed Australian diver Peter Clarkson, who was a commercial abalone diver but also one of the most prolific shell diver and collector, discovering many new species and previously unknown habitats. Clarkson tragically lost his life in February 2011 to a shark attack while diving near Port Lincoln, but he is remembered by his extensive contributions to the understanding of molluscan life in Australia and will remain an inspiration for collectors many generations to come.
Serratifusus virginiae Harasewych, 1991<br /> AUSTROSIPHONIDAE<br /> -350~550 m, Dredged, Of Isle of Pines, New Caledonia, 2002, 48.2 mm <br /> <br /> Endemic to waters around Isle of Pines, New Caledonia, Serratifusus virginiae is a typical representative of the unusual buccinoidean snail genus Serratifusus whose shell superficially resembles members of Columbariidae (Turbinelloidea), the pagoda snails, and was initially placed in that family. The protoconch characters hinted that it may have different affinities and some authors even placed it in Fasciolariidae, but until the description of S. virgineus in 1991 all known species including the type species, Serratifusus craspedotus (Tate, 1888), were fossils from Miocene which precluded the examination of its radula and anatomy. Finally, dissection of S. virgineus revealed radula and soft part features typical of Buccinidae, resulting in its transfer to that family. More recently, a systematic revision of Buccinoidea has redistributed genera originally assigned to Buccinidae into several families, with Serratifusus being moved to Austrosiphonidae. <br /> <br /> Inhabiting soft bottoms of moderately deep waters around -350~500 m, it is a rather rarely seen species due to its restricted distribution. The shell is somewhat variable with regards to spine development and curvature (can be directed either to the anterior or posterior), spire height, and curvature of the siphonal canal. Although the feeding ecology is not known, it is probably a carnivorous and predatory snail feeding on other invertebrate animals. Typical shell length around 40 mm, very large specimens may reach 55 mm. It differs from all known living species in the genus by its long, hollow spines, and a colour pattern that lacks clear spiral bands as is typical of other species. In fact, it is mroe similar to the extinct Miocene species S. craspedotus in terms of shell form and spine formation. It’s name honours Virginie Heros, curator of Mollusca at Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris.
Otukaia kiheiziebisu (Otuka, 1939) <br /> CALLIOSTOMATIDAE<br /> -860 m, On the tube of the siboglinid worm Lamellibrachia columna Southward, 1991, 'Off Hatsushima' seep site (35°00.954'N 139°13.326'E), Sagami Bay, Japan, KM-ROV dive #150, R/V KAIMEI Cruise KM21-E02, 19.2 mm <br /> NSMT-Mo 79206 [National Museum of Nature and Science, Tsukuba, Japan]<br /> <br /> A striking shell ornamented with three to four pleating keels makes the unmistakable the "Kiheizi's Top" one of the most famous Japanese calliostomatids and a classic rarity. It is endemic to Japan with its range restricted to the Pacific side of southern Hokkaido to Honshu to Shikoku. Most specimens are collected as trawling by-catch from soft bottoms of deep water around -200~1000 deep, but it is very rare throughout its range and is a highly sought after species. Typical shell length around 30mm, very large specimens as shown may exceed 35mm. It was christened 'kiheiziebisu' after a famous Japanese collector, Mr. Kiheizi Ōshima, who first collected it from the fish market of Chōshi, Chiba Prefecture; 'ebisu' literally means 'top shell' in Japanese. It is also the type species of genus Otukaia, as designated by Ikebe, 1942. Although its feeding habits are not well known it is most likely a carnivorous grazer feeding on cnidarian and other sessile organisms. The specimen shown here was collected living on the tubeworm Lamellibrachia columna Southward, 1991, and appeared to be feeding on the hydroids which were growing on the tubes. This was not only its first record from a cold seep (a chemosynthesis-based ecosystem), but also the first record of a live specimen from Sagami Bay. Furthermore, this makes it just the second calliostomatid species known from a cold seep worldwide. It is most similar to the more southern sister species Otukaia ikukoae Sakurai, 1994 with five or more finely granulated keels instead of three to four smooth ones, which is distributed from off Shikoku south to Okinawa in Japan. Similarly, O. ikukoae has also been spotted living on the same Lamellibrachia columna tubeworms, but in a hydrothermal vent in Okinawa Trough.
Sagamilepeta sagamiensis (Kuroda & Habe in Kuroda, Habe & Oyama, 1971)<br /> LEPETIDAE<br /> -760 m, On plastic debris, KM-ROV dive #150, R/V KAIMEI Cruise KM21-E02, Off Misaki, Sagami Bay, 35°04.197'N 139°32.575'E, Japan, 10.5 mm<br /> NSMT-Mo 79213 [National Museum of Nature and Science, Tsukuba, Japan]<br /> <br /> Originally described based on materials in the collection of Japan's Emperor Showa dredged from Sagami Bay, the lepetid true limpet Sagamilepeta sagamiensis is, as its name suggests, apparently endemic to Sagami Bay. A grazer feeding on bacterial mats and organic deposit on rocks and other hard substrates, it has a known depth range between 180 and 905 m and typically occur on dead shells and gravels among muddy bottoms. Recently, it was also found to inhabit plastic debris, like the specimen depicted here. It is a rarely seen species due to the depth range it inhabits being rarely sampled in Sagami Bay. Shells of individuals from deeper part of its range exhibits coarser shell sculpture (shown), which is known to intergrade with shallow water populations with finer sculptures. Most specimens have shells covered by a layer of black deposits, although the underlying shell colour is dirty or yellowish white. Typical shell length around 10 mm, very large specimens exceed 15 mm. First described in the genus Lepeta based on shell only, later the Japanese malacologist Takashi Okutani proposed the genus Sagamilepeta for it based on radula features. Today it remains the only species assigned to Sagamilepeta.
Circomphalus hiraseanus (Kuroda, 1930)<br /> VENERIDAE<br /> -150~200 m, Trawled, East China Sea, 2019/iii, 19.2 mm <br /> <br /> Sharply upturned commarginal ribs characterises the shell of "Hirase's Venus", a venerid bivalve ranging from central Honshu to Izu-Ogasawara region in Japan and southwards throughout the East China Sea. A filter-feeding bivalve inhabiting sandy bottoms, it inhabits shallow to moderate depths between -20~200 m. The commarginal ribs give the shell a frilly appearance and it is considered one of the most distinctive and attractive among bivalves of this region, and has always been a highly sought-after classic species by collectors, especially in Japan. Once extremely rare, only in the recent decade it has become more obtainable through Chinese trawl ships operating in the East China Sea. Most specimens have considerable damage to the frilly concentric ribs, it is still difficult to obtain a high-quality specimen. The shell is little-varied, although specimens vary somewhat in the number and frequency of commarginal ribs. The shell colouration is typically white, but it may also carry some yellowish or pinkish hue. Typical shell length around 20 mm, very large specimens may exceed 25 mm. Originally described in the genus Callanaitis, it was later moved to Circomphalus. <br /> <br /> It has an elegant Japanese name, 'Yume-Hamaguri', literally meaning the 'Dream Clam'. The Japanese malacologist Tetsuaki Kira (1888-1965) named his remarkable Japanese shell club magazine (the 'Yumehamaguri'), which continued for 14 years and 100 volumes since its start in 1946, after this species. Despite being in a different genus, it bears great superficial resemblance to the much larger Australian "Wedding Cake Venus" Bassina disjecta (Perry, 1811), which is also acknowledged in the Japanese name of B. disjecta, 'Ijin-No-Yume-Hamaguri', literally meaning the 'Foreign Dream Clam'.
Africolaria thersites (Reeve, 1847)<br /> FASCIOLARIIDAE<br /> -250 m, Trawled, Agulhas Bank, South Africa, 81.3 mm <br /> <br /> One of the most peculiar fasciolariid snails with the shell bearing highly characteristic strongly raised auriculate (ear-like) axial ribs, Africolaria thersites is a species endemic to South Africa where most specimens have been trawled from the Agulhas Bank region. Originally described as a turbinellid by Lovell A. Reeve (1814-1865) based on a single holotype from the Admiral Sir Edward Belcher (1799-1877) collection, the locality was supposedly China. This species was then "lost" for over a Century, with no specimens resembling the holotype being collected in Asian waters. Finally in 1993 the South African malacologist Richard 'Dick' Kilburn (1942-2013) noted that the holotype is morphologically identical to juvenile specimens of a rare and previously unidentified fasciolariid from South Africa and the holotype must have been mislocalised, settling both its true distribution and familial assignment. Since Admiral Belcher also led dredge expeditions in South Africa, the holotype was probably accidentally mixed with other materials in his collection; several other such cases of locality confusion in specimens originating from the Belcher collection have been noted in the literature. Although a single specimen supposedly from Nacala Bay, Mozambique, Kilburn concluded that this is also likely a mislocalisation and that the species is most likely a South African endemic. <br /> <br /> Placed in Fasciolaria by Kilburn, it was later moved to Africolaria in 2012 when that genus was proposed for a number of fasciolariids endemic to South Africa, based on the uncrenulated outer lip whose inner surface lacks lirae. The auriculate axial ribbing in this species is unusual among Africolaria species too, making it impossible to confuse with other fasciolariid species. The raised ribs usually become weakened in later whorls, but this is very variable among individuals and some exhibit the ribs throughout (shown). A rarely seen species found on soft bottoms of moderately deep waters around 100~300 m depth, it is presumably a carnivorous and predatory snail like other fasciolariids. Typical shell length around 80 mm, very large specimens may exceed 120 mm.
Heterogen longispira (Smith, 1886) <br /> VIVIPARIDAE<br /> -5~15 m, On mud bottom, Lake Biwa, Near Okishima, Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan, 60.3 mm<br /> <br /> A large viviparid snail endemic to Lake Biwa, the largest freshwater lake in Japan, Heterogen longispira is morphologically distinctive among all Japanese viviparids with its tall spire and angular whorls with a deep suture. Inhabiting shallow depths between -2~30 m, it used to be common across the entire Lake Biwa until 1950s but the population in the (much smaller) southern basin have dwindled since 1960s; the population the larger northern basin is also decreasing in numbers and it is now overall a rare species listed as Near Threatened in the Japanese Red List. Though sparse records of this species exists outside Lake Biwa in Japan (e.g., Kyoto, Gifu Prefectures), these are considered to be results of either misidentification or introduced with freshwater fishes from Lake Biwa, none of the introductions are known to have led to established populations. As is common with large viviparids, it is considered to be a mixotrophic species combining algae grazing, detritus ingestion, and filter-feeding using the gill. It is viviparous and female snails brood juveniles inside the ovary. Large individuals often have the shell surface covered by a layer of mineral deposit. Typical shell length around 55 mm, very large specimens can exceed 70 mm. <br /> <br /> The genus Heterogen was originally established in 1921 for housing only this species, but recent genetic studies have shown that the more widespread species widely known as Cipangopaludina japonica (von Martens, 1861) is very closely related to H. longispira and should be moved to the same genus, as H. japonica. In fact, these two morphologically distinct species are apparently indistinguishable based on the mitochondrial COI gene but introgressive hybridisation has been cited as a possible factor and future studies with nuclear markers are needed to clarify whether they are truly two separate species.
Zoila orientalis Raybaudi, 1985 <br /> (ssp. Z. o. raybaudii Lorenz, 1992)<br /> -18~25 m, On red sponge, Backstairs Passage, <br /> Kangaroo Island, South Australia, Australia, 57.1 mm <br /> <br /> The "Eastern Margin Cowrie" is a member of the Australian endemic cypraeid genus Zoila, once considered to be a subspecies of the closely related Z. marginata (Gaskoin, 1849) but now accepted as a separate species on its own right. From other species in the Z. marginata complex, including Z. marginata itself and Z. ketyana (L. Raybaudi, 1978), Z. orientalis is distinguished by a combination of shell characters such as the strongly corrugated margin whose left side is rounded, blut anterior extremity, and a lack of collar-like projections above the extremities. The margin is typically less well-developed compared to Z. marginata or Z. ketyana, while the spire is more exposed. The dorsum ranges from white to ivory to pink, the dorsal pattern almost always consists of more or less evenly and sparsely distributed circular, brownish spots. <br /> <br /> Only found along the southern coast of South Australia, currently it is considered to comprise two subspecies. The more western, nominal subspecies ranges from Great Australian Bight to St. Vincent Gulf and inhabits moderately deep waters around -70~150 m, and is characterised by smaller (typical shell length 45 mm, very large specimens exceeding 55 mm), narrower shells with a taller spire. The eastern subspecies Z. o. raybaudii Lorenz, 1992 (shown) lives on red sponges in shallower waters around -10~40 m deep and ranges between Adelaide to Ceduna; it is characterised by larger shells (average shell length around 55 mm, very large specimens are known to exceed 65 mm) that are also much more inflated and humped than the nominal subspecies. At the time of discovery, the species was extremely rare with the few known examples all belonging to the deeper population; today the nominal subspecies from this population remains extremely rare, while the shallower subspecies Z. o. raybaudii is only uncommon. Like other Zoila it is a spongivorous grazer, and is typically found living on its food sponge. <br /> <br /> The species' original description was a short one in The Connoisseur of Seashells and did not provide detailed locality data of the slightly aberrant holotype, leading to years of confusion about which population it came from. The holotype was considered lost for many years, but in 2007 it was rediscovered in Felix Lorenz's collection and the collection data of -80 m confirmed it to be from the deeper population. This was shortly after the deeper population was given a different name, Z. gabensis Van Heesvelde & Deprez, 2007, which is now considered to be a junior synonym of Z. o. orientalis. Three form names (not valid according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature) have been proposed for the shallower population, including f. intermedians Lobetti, 1986, f. extrema Raybaudi, 1992, and f. meridionalis Raybaudi, 1993; these are all based on different examples of Z. o. raybaudii. The subspecies name of the shallower population, raybaudii, honours Luigi Raybaudi Massilia (1913-2003), an Italian conchologist and shell dealer who concentrated his efforts on cowries.
Lirapex felix Chen, Han, Copley & Zhou, 2021 <br /> PELTOSPIRIDAE<br /> Paratype (NSMT-Mo 79160): -2785 m, 'Tiamat' Chimney / DFF11 (37.7838°S, 49.6495°E), Longqi vent field, Southwest Indian Ridge, RRS James Cook expedition JC67, ROV Kiel6000 Dive 142, 2011/xi/29, 3.7 mm <br /> <br /> Known only from two individuals taken from a single chimney structure ('Tiamat' Chimney / DFF 11) in Longqi vent field on the Southwest Indian Ridge, Lirapex felix is a small peltospirid snail characterised by a depressed spire and a lack of coil loosening on the body whorl that occurs in other Lirapex species. The digestive tract is filled with dark mineral deposits among organic matter, indicating that it feeds by deposit feeding or grazing the chimney surface, like other Lirapex species. The shell is trochoid and carries weak but frequent axial ribs that vary in strength among individuals but are always evident near the shoulder and around the umbilicus. The holotype is 2.6 mm and the paratype is 3.7 mm in shell width, typical for the genus Lirapex which contains small peltospirid snails. <br /> <br /> On the same chimney, it co-occurs with four other peltospirid snails, including the congener L. politus Chen, Zhou, Wang & Copley, 2017, which were all collected in large numbers through considerable collection efforts at Longqi field through multiple research cruises. The fact that only two specimens of L. felix have been taken indicates that it is either a rare species or its microhabitat is obscure and has not been successfully sampled. The specific epithet 'felix' means 'lucky, happy or blessed' in Latin and was given in reference to the serendipitous discovery of the first specimen of this apparently rare species and the fortunate finding of the second specimen that allowed for a comprehensive description.
Columbarium subcontractum (Sowerby III, 1902)<br /> COLUMBARIIDAE<br /> -150 m, Trawled, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 41.2 mm <br /> <br /> Only known from a small area around Durban off KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Columbarium subcontractum is a columbariid with a small yet elegant shell characterised by a very angulated, diamond-like shell shape -- due to the strongly sloped shoulder and a single, distinct, keel between suture lines. The shell is typically white and may carry some yellowish patches; there are fine spiral lirae throughout the entire shell surface, all of which are similar in strength. <br /> <br /> Originally described in genus Fusus (now Fusinus) as a fasciolariid, it was once moved to Latirus, also in Fasciolariidae, as a senior synonym of Latirus mosselensis Tomlin, 1932 (now Hemipolygona mosselensis (Tomlin, 1932)). Finally in 1973, the South African malacologist Richard 'Dick' N. Kilburn (1942-2013) identified several conchological features, such as the protoconch, showing that this name does not refer to Hemipolygona mosselensis (Tomlin, 1932) but in fact to a different species that should be placed in Columbarium. <br /> <br /> Presumably a predatory gastropod feeding on tube-dwelling polychaete worms like other columbariids, it is found in moderately deep waters around -150~400m. A rather rare species, despite the characteristic shell shape and the uniform strength of spiral lirae throughout the whorls make its identification relatively straight-forward, most specimens exchanged under this name on the shell market are misidentified and finding a real C. subcontractum can be a real challenge. Typical shell length around 45 mm, very large specimens may exceed 60 mm.
Casmaria unicolor (Pallary, 1926)<br /> CASSIDAE<br /> -10 m, Dived on sand, Red Sea, Egypt, 86.2 mm <br /> <br /> A cassid endemic to the Red Sea, the "Unicolor Bonnet" inhabits shallow water from the extreme low tide down to about 50 m deep and is typically found on sandy bottoms. A common carnivorous gastropod, it is a predator specialised in echinoderms, especially sea urchins. Like many other Casmaria species, it exhibits considerable variations in shell morphology in that 1) the shoulder ranges between completely smooth to highly nodulose (the early whorls are typically more nodulose), 2) height vs width ratio, related to shoulder morphology with the more nodulose specimens being wider in appearance, 3) colouration ranging from white to bluish to light brown. The shell size at maturation is also greatly different among individuals, "dwarf" mature specimens can be under 30 mm in shell length while very large specimens (like the one shown) may exceed even 85 mm; typical specimens tend to be around 45 mm. <br /> <br /> Though many Casmaria species are similarly variable in shell form and thus appear to be confusing at first, the number of brown blotches on the terminal varix in combination with the number and position of spines on the outer lip provide useful characters that reliably distinguish the different species. The combination of 11-12 blotches on the varix and 10-12 spines along almost the entire stretch of the outer lip in C. unicolor is unique among all currently recognised Casmaria species. Among them, C. unicolor is perhaps most similar to C. ponderosa (Gmelin, 1791) (East Africa to Hawaii) and Casmaria boblehmani Fedosov, Olivera, Watkins & Barkalova, 2014 (India to Hawaii) in overall shell morphology, but C. ponderosa has five major blotches plus two to three intermediate strokes with seven to nine spines on the anterior half of the outer lip and C. boblehmani exhibits nine to ten blotches of more or less equal size with 8-9 spines also concentrated on the anterior half of the outer lip.
Perotrochus amabilis (Bayer, 1963)<br /> PLEUROTOMARIIDAE<br /> -150 m, Dredged, Off Florida, U.S.A., 98.3 mm <br /> <br /> Ranging between Texas to southern Florida, U.S.A. along the northern Gulf of Mexico, the "Lovely Slit Shell" is a medium-sized pleurotomariid with strongly beaded whorls overlaid by brilliant brick-red flammules. Inhabiting rubble bottoms of moderately deep waters around 100~300 m depth, it is a grazing gastropod feeding mainly on sponges. Originally described based on a single specimen trawled by R/V Gerda in 226 m deep southeast off Sombrero Light, Florida, U.S.A., it has always been a rare species and remains scarcely seen in collection today. A number of specimens have come up around 1980s in dredgings by Riley and Donna Black, but since then virtually no fresh specimens have been collected in the recent years. The shell is rather thin and light for its size, specimens vary somewhat in the strength of beading and spire height. Typical shell diameter around 75 mm, extremely large specimens can exceed 90 mm and such geronic specimens (shown) often become taller than wide. <br /> <br /> It is most closely related to the congener Perotrochus maureri Harasewych & Askew, 1993 distributed more northernly between northern Florida and South Carolina, U.S.A; the emergence of Florida Ridge during Neogene has been cited as the event when these two species became isolated as separate evolutionary lineages. The two species apparently have slightly different adapations to water temperature, with P. maureri living below the 10°C thermocline and P. amabilis above it. They are in fact not difficult to differentiate, as P. maureri is much smaller (average diameter 45mm vs 70mm), has lower spire and fewer spiral cords, and is typically much darker in colouration with more frequent dark flammules. Furthermore, the early spire angle of P. amabilis is typically much steeper than in P. maureri, resulting in a sharply pointed apex. The much more southern, Brazilian, species Perotrochus atlanticus Rios & Matthews, 1968 is also rather similar, but can be differentiated by its heavier shell with a less steep spire and much finer sculpture.
Calliotectum tibiaeforme tibiaeforme (Kuroda, 1931) <br /> VOLUTIDAE<br /> -200~250 m, Trawled, Tosa Bay, Kochi Prefecture, Japan, 69.5 mm <br /> <br /> The "Tibia Volute" is a deep water volutid ranging widely in the western Pacific, known from localities such as Japan, Australia, New Caledonia, Philippines, and Indonesia. A carnivorous and predatory gastropod, it inhabits soft bottoms of rather deep waters around -100~900 m. It is an extremely variable species with populations from different localities exhibiting discrete shell morphology, leading them to once be all treated as separate species. The discovery of intermediate populations revealed that these are more likely variations within a single species, today the geographically disjunct populations are typically treated as subspecies, although some authors prefer to treat them as forms. <br /> <br /> The nominal subspecies C. t. tibiaeformis (shown) is only known from southern Japan, with the type locality being Kii Peninsula; it is easily distinguishiable from the other subspecies by its small adult size of around 60~95 mm shell length and a very short anterior siphonal canal. This nominal subspecies was once collected in some numbers by deep water trawlers in 1950s and 1960s, but have become rather scarce in the recent years. The common East China Sea population described as C. t. williamsorum (Rehder, 1972) has much larger and relativelly lighter shells compared to C. t. tibiaforme typically between 120~150 mm, and have more distinct siphonal canal. There are two forms or subspecies known from the Philippines, C. t. johnsoni (Bartsch, 1942) being common in the Central Philippines characterised by a very slender shell with purplish colour and C. t. barneli Bail, 2006 being rare and restricted to a small area off Balut Island with broad, brownish shells; both forms are similar in size to the East China Sea population. The uncommon northwestern Australian form is known as C. t. dupreyae (Emerson, 1985), characterised by very large shells ranging between 120~230 mm in length and a white shell. There are further unnamed forms or subspecies from many localities such as New Caledonia, Indonesia, and Western Australia that obscure the boundaries between subspecies and forms; their true relationships must await comprehensive sampling and analyses using both morphological and genetics. <br /> <br /> All subspecies can be distinguished from the morphologically most similar Calliotectum smithi (Bartsch, 1942) from the Philippines by the adpressed suture resulting in the whorls appearing to expand less rapidly, and the axial ribs with square cross-sections (compared to triangular in C. smithi). Shells of C. tibiaeforme also typically carry a dark spiral band just beneath the suture, which is entirely lacking in C. smithi.
Perotrochus deforgesi Métivier, 1990<br /> PLEUROTOMARIIDAE<br /> -520 m, Dredged, Western part of Chesterfield Plateau, Coral Sea, New Caledonia, 35.6 mm <br /> <br /> With an unmistakable depressed trochoid shell, the "de Forges' Slit Shell" is a small pleurotomariid endemic to the Chesterfield-Bellona Plateau, New Caledonia, in the Coral Sea. Found between 300~600 m deep on the slope, it is a spongivorous grazer as is typical for the family and is often collected with sponges in dredges. Although scientific collecting off Chesterfield and Bellona have yielded dozens of specimens indicating its presence in considerable numbers there, outside of public collections its isolated and restricted distribution means it is a very rare species on the shell trade market. A very remarkable aspect of its morphology is that it appears to lacks the operculum entirely post-settlement, the only case among all described living pleurotomariids. Although pleurotomariids are known to frequently lose the operculum when alive, it seems highly unlikely that this was the case for all live-collected individuals from research dredgings which also included juveniles. Typical shell diameter around 30 mm, extremely large specimens can approach 45 mm. Its species name honours the carcinologist Dr. Bertrand Richer de Forges who organised the research dredgings that led to its discovery. <br /> <br /> Among living pleurotomariids it is one of four species in the Perotrochus caledonicus Bouchet & Métivier, 1982 group which also includes the two recently described species P. wareni Anseeuw, Puillandre, Utge & Bouchet, 2015 (previously often referred to as the 'granulose form' of P. caledonicus) and P. pseudogranulosus Anseeuw, Puillandre, Utge & Bouchet, 2015. The prominently beaded spiral cords of P. deforgesi is sufficient to distinguish it from P. caledonicus and P. pseudogranulosus, and the depressed shell form is very different from the classic trochoid shells of the other three species. In terms of distribution ranges, Perotrochus deforgesi and P. pseudogranulosus are endemic to the Chesterfield-Bellona Plateau where P. caledonicus is not present and P. wareni is rarely seen. The two latter species have their main distribution ranges between Ile des Pins and Grand Passage, closer to the main island Grande Terre.
Empressostrea kostini Huber & Lorenz, 2007 <br /> GRYPHAEIDAE<br /> -10~30 m, Taken by diver, Nocnocan Island, Bohol, Philippines, 2017/iii, 117.8 mm <br /> <br /> The largest member of the superfamily Ostreoidea (the 'oysters'), the graphaeid Empressostrea kostini typically grow to over 200 mm in shell length with large specimens exceeding even 500 mm. It is perhaps surprising how such a large bivalve living in shallow to moderate water depth of 20~100 m was only described in the 2000s, but this may be explained by its highly concealed habitat within submarine caves. Living permanently cemented to the walls inside the caves, it has been reported to feed by trapping particles using numerous mucous strings and is therefore a suspension-feeder. Originally discovered during a diving expedition to the Spratly Islands, South China Sea in 2006, it has since then been found in several other localities in the southern Pacific including Indonesia, Philippines, and Palau. <br /> <br /> Like many gryphaeids the shell shape is very variable depending on the substrate, but generally the outline is more or less circular. The white shell surface is sculptured with numerous delicate, sharp-edged layers of raised foliations which are most conspicuous in young specimens (shown) but are usually completely worn out during later growth. The hinge line is unusual in being completely straight without protrusions from the resilium. <br /> <br /> The genus Empressostrea is monotypic and was erected anew to house this species on the basis of the very large size and its atypical feeding mode using mucous strings. Whether these are sufficient to distinguish it from the closely related Neopycnodonte at a genus level has been debated and remains unsettled. Morphologically it is perhaps closest to Neopycnodonte zibrowii Gofas, Salas & Taviani, 2009 from the Azores Archipelago in the northeastern Atlantic which also has the straight hinge line, but the muscle scar of N. zibrowii is much closer to the hinge and the shell is often pigmented in that species. It is difficult to be confused with any Pacific ostreoid, however on the specimen shell trade market it is very commonly misidentified as other gryphaeids or even ostreids.
Babylonia feicheni Shikama, 1973 <br /> BABYLONIIDAE<br /> -10~25 m, Trawled by fishing boat, Off Nha Trang, Vietnam, 2018, 53.6 mm <br /> <br /> Characterised by a semi-oval shaped shell with inflated, convex whorls the "Fei-Chen's Babylonia" is a medium-sized babyloniid known only from Vietnam. Originally described from only the holotype shell which was supposedly collected during a trip to Taiwan, for over two decades this remained the only known specimen of the species. In late 1990s it was rediscovered in the form of a population from Vietnam with virtually identical shell characteristics, casting doubt to the origin of the holotype. Investigation revealed that the holotype was already lost by then, leading to a neotype being designated from this newly discovered population. Until today this species has not been found from anywhere else, and its limited distribution means it is still rather uncommon in collections. As such, despite the locality of the holotype was stated as "East and South China Seas" it appears to be absent from the East China Sea; the holotype was probably a specimen originating from Vietnam that appeared in the fish market of Taiwan, possibly as a result of Taiwanese fishing vessels operating in the South China Sea. <br /> <br /> The shell form is unique among babyloniids and there is often a series of knobs of variable strength on the umbilicus, making it difficult to be confused with other species. As with most other babyloniids, the shell colouration is very variable and can range from pure white to more typical specimens with reddish brown pattern over a yellowish shell. Typical shell length around 40 mm, very large specimens may reach 55 mm. <br /> <br /> The specific epithet "feicheni" was dedicated to Fei-Chen Cheng, wife of the Taiwanese collector Su-Shan Chiang. Unfortunately at the time of description the suffix "-i" (indicating the name is that of a man) was used instead of the appropriate "-ae" (indicating the name is that of a woman). This was later discussed as an issue in the literature but since no information on the etymology was presented in the description paper indicating that this was an inadvertent error (and there was no Corrigendum by the authors), it cannot be emended and the suffix must be retained.
Calliostoma springeri Clench & Turner, 1960<br /> CALLIOSTOMATIDAE<br /> -300 m, Dredged, Off Key West, Florida, U.S.A., 24.2 mm <br /> <br /> The "Springer's Top" is an attractively beaded and showy calliostomatid native to the Carribean region ranging from Florida, U.S.A. to the Gulf of Mexico and is a moderately rare species whose shell is much sought-after by collectors. It inhabits relatively deep water around -200~500m and is presumably a carnivorous grazer feeding on sponges or octocorals like most other deep-water calliostomatids. Somewhat variable in form especially according to age, small specimens usually have much stronger keels on their body whorl. The base typically carry golden brown spiral lines, but they are absent in some specimens. The shell surface is shiny and carries a golden iridescence. Typical shell diameter around 25 mm, very large specimens may exceed 30 mm. <br /> <br /> Though often treated as a subspecies or form of Calliostoma benedicti Dall, 1889, the holotype of C. benedicti is in fact quite different in having a much narrower umbilicus encircled by a strong spiral cord with large beads. The holotype of C. benedicti is smaller (17.5 mm shell diameter) than the average C. springeri. Most specimens traded on the market as C. benedicti are actually C. springeri; the true C. benedicti appears to be a very elusive species. It is within possiblity that the holotype of C. benedicti is an unusual specimen and actually belong the same species as C. springeri, but further investigation is needed to decide the true relationship between these two names.
Conus crocatus Lamarck, 1810<br /> CONIDAE<br /> -50 m, On drop-off, West side of Olango Island, Central Visayas, Philippines, 63.7 mm <br /> <br /> Aptly named for its eye-catching shell colouration, the "Saffron Cone" is a widely distributed conid in the Indo-West Pacific region, ranging from Japan to New Caledonia to Mozambique. A carnivorous and predatory snail feeding on other molluscs, it inhabits sand to rubble bottoms of shallow to moderate depths between low intertidal zone down to about -100 m deep. It used to be very rare until the late 20th Century, so much that it was selected by S. Peter Dance as one of his fifty "Rare Shells" (1969). After large populations were discovered in locations like the Philippines, it quickly became easy to obtain and is moderately common today. Nevertheless, vast majority of specimens have significant growth scars on the shell and large, perfect specimens are still scarce and much sought-after. <br /> <br /> Although easily recognisable, it is a relatively variable species in shell form with the spire being variable in height and the white tent-like pattern differing greatly among individuals. Typical shell length around 60 mm, extremely large specimens may reach 110 mm. Such giant specimens are best known from New Caledonia, where they were once given the subspecies name C. c. magister Doiteau, 1981, considered to be a junior synonym today. In other localities it rarely exceeds 80 mm in shell length; the recently described C. c. pseudomagister (Allary & T. Cossignani, 2016) refers to a large form from the Philippines -- although currently still treated as a subspecies it is likely merely a form. It is currently placed in the subgenus Darioconus, which many consider to be a full genus. Conus thailandis da Motta, 1978 was once considered a subspecies of C. crocatus, but is today treated as a separate species on its own right. The main differences from C. crocatus are the generally wider shells with larger, less frequent white triangular patterning, and a darker colouration.
Erronea fernandoi Cate, 1969<br /> CYPRAEIDAE<br /> -5~10 m, By local diver, Eastern Samar Island, Eastern Visayas, Philippines, 1998/viii, 24.0 mm <br /> <br /> The "Fernando's Cowrie" is a small and enigmatic cypraeid native to the western Pacific, with a distribution range from the Philippines to the Maluku Islands, Indonesia to Solomon Islands. Presumably an omnivorous grazer feeding on overgrowth of rocky substrates on which it lives, it inhabits shallow to moderate depths around -10~50 m, preferring areas with strong current and has been frequently found together with sponges and giant barnacles. <br /> <br /> Since its discovery it has always been a rare species, most specimens were collected in the 1990s when a considerable amount was collected by local divers around Samar Island, Philippines as by-catch of giant barnacles; this supply has then ceased and now fresh specimens have become extremely rare. Vast majority of specimens have been taken from the Philippines, records from other localities are mostly based on scattered finds of single specimens. Some variation is seen across individuals in terms of dorsal pattern and the development of callous on the sides. Typical shell length around 20 mm, very large specimens are known to approach 35 mm. The specific epithet honours Fernando G. Dayrit, a shell dealer based in Manila, the Philippines. Another cowrie named after Dayrit is Eclogavena dayritiana (Cate, 1963). <br /> <br /> It is often confused with congeners such as Erronea xanthodon (Gray in Sowerby I, 1832) (actually endemic to Australia), E. ovum (Gmelin, 1791) (southwestern Pacific extending into Indian Ocean), E. pallida (Gray, 1824) (distribution mostly in Indian Ocean but extending to Indonesia), but can be distinguished by a series of shell characters such as paler base, narrower aperture and more slender shell, as well as having a ribbed columella. There is ongoing debate regarding whether or not the name E. stohleri Cate & Schilder, 1968 is a senior synonym of E. fernandoi Cate, 1969 and should therefore have priority. Currently E. stohleri is thought to be a synonym of Purpuradusta gracilis (Gaskoin, 1849), but the holotype is a freakish shell which may in fact be a dwarf specimen conspecific with E. fernandoi.
Semicassis umbilicata (Pease, 1861)<br /> CASSIDAE<br /> -30 m, Dived, Haleiwa, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A., 70.3 mm <br /> <br /> Characterised by numerous deep spiral grooves across the shell surface, the "Hawaiian Bonnet" is a cassid endemic to Hawaiian Islands (including Midway Atoll). An uncommon species, it inhabits sand and rubble bottoms in moderate depths between -20~200 m, and is a carnivorous and predatory gastropod feeding on echinoderms. One of many renowned endemic and representative molluscs of Hawaii, it is a much sought-after collector's item. Specimens are typically collected in the shallower part of its bathymetric range by SCUBA diving and lobster traps in deeper waters, but most specimens collected are crabbed empty shells and live individuals (and therefore specimen shells with original operculum) are rarely seen. Colouration of the shell surface ranges between very light pink to dark pinkish grey, and is overlaid by variable amounts of diffused reddish brown blotches. The shell form is little-varied among individuals; the shell sculpture is distinctive among living cassids and makes it an instantly recognisable species. The number of varices, indicative of paucity in shell growth, is variable; many specimens do not develop any intermediate varices before the final adult lip while some exhibit several such varices. Typical shell length around 60 mm, very large specimens may approach 85 mm.
Chicomurex ritae Houart, 2013<br /> MURICIDAE<br /> -80~150 m, Trawled, On rubble close to reef, Off Surigao, Philippines, 36.5 mm <br /> <br /> With a restricted distribution range in the southern Phillpines roughly around Leyte, Mindanao, and Siargao Islands, Chicomurex ritae is a medium-sized member of the genus and until recently confused with the superficially similar Chicomurex laciniatus (Sowerby II, 1841). As C. laciniatus is widely distributed from South Africa to Fiji to Queensland, Australia, their ranges overlap in the southern Philippines. The two species have very different protoconchs, with C. ritae having a rounded pausispiral protoconch around 1.5-2 whorls while C. laciniatus has a conical multispiral protoconch of 2.5-3.0 whorls. As the protoconch of C. laciniatus ends with a sinusigera ridge and has a sharp abapical spiral keel all around (which are lacking in C. ritae), it is possible to identify the two species as long as a part of the protoconch is present. Generally speaking, the teleoconch whorls of C. ritae are stockier and combines a higher spire with a shorter anterior siphonal canal, but due to the extreme variability in C. laciniatus it is difficult to distinguish the two species with absolute certainty without looking at the protoconch. <br /> <br /> Though the feeding ecology of C. ritae is not known for sure, it is presumably a carnivorous and predatory gastropod feeding on other invertebrate animals like other Chicomurex species. It inhabits moderate depths around -80~150 m, and is an uncommon species; it is quite difficult to obtain a specimen with the protoconch remaining and therefore separable from C. laciniatus with certainty. The shell colouration vary from orange to light brown, the varices on the adult body whorl are typicall overlaid with dark brown blotches. Typical shell length around 35 mm, very large specimens may reach 45 mm. <br /> <br /> The species name is dedicated to Rita, wife of the species' author Roland Houart -- an expert on Muricidae and a highly prolific writer who has contributed greatly to our understanding of muricid systematics and taxonomy.
Naquetia annandalei (Preston, 1910)<br /> MURICIDAE<br /> -110~150 m (-60~80 fms), By tangle net, Off Loac, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines, 76.1 mm <br /> <br /> Shell with delicate, webbed, wing-like varices and intricately latticed fine sculpture makes the "Annandale's Murex" an attractive species much sought-after by shell collectors. Initially discovered off Gobalpur in the Bay of Bengal, India by Thomas Nelson Annandale (1876-1924), a British zoologist focusing mainly on sponges who worked primarily in the Indian Museum in Calcutta and Zoological Survey of India; the shells were sent to and studied by the British malacologist Hugh Preston (1871-1945), who named it after Annandale. Morphologically identical specimens quickly emerged from other, more eastern localities such as Japan and the Philippines, and today we know its range extends to Marquesas Islands and even Queensland, Australia. <br /> <br /> There has been great debate and confusion regarding whether it is the same species (and therefore a junior synonym) of the similar Naquetia barclayi (Reeve, 1858) from the Western Indian Ocean, originally described from Mauritius and ranges southwards to South Africa. Most literature of the past couple of decades has treated N. annandalei as a junior synonym of N. barclayi, though some have cast doubts on the decision. Recently, by carefully examining shell sculpture of specimens including juveniles, a number of reliable morphological differences could be found, leading it to be finally brought out from synonym and rehabilitated as a full species. The protoconch of N. annandalei is smaller than that of N. barclayi (1.1-1.5 mm vs 2.1-3.0 mm), and the two species also exhibit fine but consistent differences in spiral sculpture. Furthermore, the shells of N. annandalei have narrower, longer anterior siphonal canals than N. barclayi. Although generally speaking the shells of N. annadalei are narrower and less shouldered than N. barclayi, which is generally cited as their primary difference, this feature is actually variable among both species and correct identification requires examination of finer details in shell sculpture. <br /> <br /> A carnivorous and predatory gastropod, N. annandalei inhabits hard bottoms of moderately deep water around -50~200m and feeds on other invertebrate animals. The colouration is extremely variable (likewise in N. barclayi), ranging from dark brown to bright yellow. Typical shell length around 85 mm, extremely large specimens have been found to exceed even 130 mm.
Zemiropsis pulchrelineata (Kilburn, 1973)<br /> BABYLONIIDAE <br /> -300 m, Trawled, Off Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 2003, 24.5 mm <br /> <br /> A slender shell with a lovely pattern consisting of equally spaced, yellowish to reddish brown spiral lines characterises Zemiropsis pulchrelineata, a small babyloniid ranging from South Africa (type locality: East of Durban) to Mozambique. Most specimens have been dredged or trawled in rather deep waters around -300~500 m, although it has also been taken ex pisce off Mozambique as shallow as -150~200 m. A rare species especially in fresh condition, with only a single live-taken specimen and a few fresh dead specimens formally reported in the literature, most known shells have been collected long after death with dull, grey shell surface. The lack of live specimens in dredges or trawls has been suggested as evidence that it lives among rocky or hard substrates, making collection with such tools difficult. Although the feeding ecology of this enigmatic species is unknown, it is probably a carnivorous scavenger like other babyloniids. A little-varied species in shell morphology, although the spacing between the spiral lines (and therefore the frequency) can vary among individuals. Typical shell length around 25 mm, extremely large specimens approach 35 mm. Its sister species Zemiropsis demertziae Fraussen & Rosado, 2013 was originally considered to be a form, but later deemed to be a separate species due to the two co-occurring side-by-side in the same habitat in both South Africa and Mozambique. The two species share the same distribution range but do differ in shell form, with Z. pulchrelineata having more slender shell with narrower sutural canal and narrower umbilicus. The colour pattern on the shell is similar between the two, although generally speaking Z. demertziae exhibit finer lines.
Vullietoliva foxi (Stingley, 1984)<br /> OLIVIDAE<br /> -15~18 m (-50~60 ft.), SCUBA dived on sand, Cocos Island, Costa Rica, 1992, 23.1 mm <br /> <br /> Characterised by splendid tent-like pattern most intensely concentrated on two broad spiral bands, the "Fox's Olive" is a medium-sized olivid best known from the remote Cocos Island about 550 km southwest off Costa Rica. Although long considered an endemic of Cocos Island, it has also been recorded on one occasion from Isla Montuosa, Gulf of Chiriquí just off mainland Panama. This record indicates a much wider distribution range for the species, although the identity of these Gulf of Chiriquí specimens does deserve further study. The fact that there has been no further records of it from mainland Panama since, despite being much more accessible than Cocos Island, indicates its occurrence there is extremely rare. A very scarcely seen species primarily due to the difficulty in accessing Cocos Island, which together with its attractive markings has made its shell a highly sought-after collector's item. Inhabiting sand and rubble bottoms of relatively shallow waters around -10~30 m, most specimens have been taken by divers. No study of feeding ecology is available for this rarely seen species, but it is presumably a predatory and carrion-feeding gastropod like other closely related olivids. Although the general shell form is consistent among individuals, the amount and intensity of the tent-like patterns are very variable. Extremely dark specimens have almost the entire shell surface covered by brown markings, although the distribution pattern of the markings concentrating on two spiral bands is usually still visible to some degree. Typical shell length around 25 mm, very large specimens are known to exceed 40 mm. Originally described in genus Oliva, it was named for Alfred C. Fox of La Belle, Florida, U.S.A. who first discovered it during dredging and diving in Cocos Island with his wife Eva Fox. It was later moved to the genus Vullietoliva when it was erected in 2017 by Edward J. Petuch and David P. Berschauer.
Offadesma angasi (Crosse & Fischer, 1864)<br /> PERIPLOMATIDAE<br /> -50 m, Trawled, Off New Zealand, 62.5 mm <br /> <br /> The "Angas' Lantern Shell" is a large anomalodesmatan bivalve in the family Periplomatidae, ranging from southern Australia to New Zealand. An infaunal filter-feeding species, it lives buried in soft or sandy mud to about 10 cm deep (adults) and is found in sheltered environments from the lowest intertidal down to subtidal waters around 20 m deep. When buried its normal posture is with the (less inflated) left valve down, and two siphons extending up to the surface at about 2.5 cm apart from each other (in adults). As reported for other periplomatids, it is a poor burrower and adults are apparently unable to reburrow when dug out from the mud. Although relatively wide-ranging, it is an uncommon species that appear to have an intrinsically low population density, as has also been suggested for many other anomalodesmatan bivalves. The shell is aragonistic and very brittle, the overall shape is little-varied but the proportion and length of the posterior beak do differ somewhat among individuals. A transverse crack is present near the umbo, a feature typical of Periplomatidae (and also Laternulidae); the ligament is attached to large, spoon-like chondrophores. Typical shell length around 80 mm, very large specimens are known to exceed 100 mm. It is named in honour of the British naturalist and painter George French Angas (1822-1886) who made notable contributions to malacology in Australia. <br /> <br /> Among living bivalves it can only be confused with one species, its only extant congener Offadesma nakamigawai Kuroda & Horikoshi, 1952 described from Japan. Although the original description of O. nakamigawai quotes larger size and a more inflated shell as key features separating it from O. angasi, the holotype of O. nakamigawai is only 74 mm in shell length which is smaller than the typical size of O. angasi. The inflation of valves is also similar among the two species when examining a larger series of O. angasi. Although the holotype of O. nakamigawai has a more clearly constricted posterior beak than typical for O. angasi, other specimens from Japan attributed to O. nakamigawai often lack this feature. The distinctiveness between these two species are therefore not entirely clear, and it is possible that they represent the same species with a disjunct (known) distribution. Unfortunately O. nakamigawai is an extremely rare species known from only a few specimens, which makes in-depth evaluation of its validity difficult. For a long time no Offadesma specimens have been found in the vast area betwee Japan and Australia, but the recent finding of a single specimen in the Philippines (attributed to O. nakamigawai) indicate that they are present, and it is hoped more individuals may be found in the future to enable further comparisons with both O. nakamigawai and O. angasi.
Sultana labeo (Broderip, 1828)<br /> ORTHALICIDAE<br /> At high altitude, Taken on tree, Chachapoyas, Amazonas, Peru, 72.7 mm <br /> <br /> The aptly-named "Blubber-lipped Bulimulus" is, as its name suggests, characterised by a strongly thickened and often pitted lip that is almost black in colour when fresh and gradually fading to reddish. Endemic to a small area around Chachapoyas, northern Peru, it is restricted to isolated and inaccessible forests in tall mountain ranges over 2300 m above sea level. The first specimen known in the West was collected by Henry Lister Maw, a British naval lieutenant who travelled across northern Peru from 1827-1828 in an expedition down the Amazon River. Maw collected multiple specimens in Taulia, a town east of Chachapoyas, and had seen many more, but in the end only a single shell reached Europe. This specimen was studied by Broderip who described it, and then deposited in the Zoological Society of London. By late 1950s it has, however, mysteriously dissapeared from the collections and is now considered lost. Although it was highly sought-after among conchologists, very few specimens surfaced after that due to the difficulty in accessing its isolated habitat, both physically and politically. As such, it was considered to be one of the rarest landsnails for decades, despite being clear from early reports that it is common in its local habitat and even used as food by locals. Fortunately, supply of landsnails from northern Peru has surged in the recent few years, and at last this species has become available in some quantity along with other Peruvian orthalicids. Large specimens with well-formed lips are still rather difficult to secure, however. A herbivorous orthalicid landsnail living on and under trees, it feeds on lichens, algae, and various plant matter. Specimens vary little in the overall shell form, but do vary in the amount of spiral patterning and the development of the outer lip (thickness and amount of pitting), apparently different local populations tend to have varying levels of lip development. Typical shell length around 70 mm, very large specimens can exceed 90 mm. It was originally placed in genus Bulinus, today it is often offered under the genus Porphyrobaphe. Within the currently accepted placement in genus Sultana, it is placed in subgenus Metorthalicus.
Favartia hidalgoi (Crosse, 1869)<br /> MURICIDAE<br /> -250 m, Off Saint-François, Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, 2018, 32.9 mm <br /> <br /> The profusedly frondose shell sculpture makes the "Hidalgo's Murex" an iconic species among Caribbean muricids. Ranging between North Carolina, U.S.A. and Brazil with the type locality being in Guadeloupe, it lives in moderate depths around -100~500 m and is rather rare. A highly sought-after collector's item, the most significant supply perhaps came from the famed Riley Black's dredgings in the Gulf of Mexico in the 1960s, which brought up numerous specimens off Florida. Typically the fragile shells come up with missing varices and often carry black staining, making complete specimens very difficult to obtain. Generally a little-varied species in terms of shell form, although the colouration may vary from pale to dark purplish brown. In most specimens the highly webbed varices and the scabrous sculpture across the entire shell surface are worn, giving a slightly different impression. Typical shell length around 30 mm, very large specimens are known to exceed 40 mm. It was named after Joaquín González-Hidalgo Rodríguez (1839-1923), a Spanish malacologist at the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences in Madrid. It is the type species of genus Murexiella Clench & Pérez Farfante, 1945, which is now considered to be a junior synonym of Favartia Jousseaume, 1880 -- although many still use Murexiella as a subgenus.
Maurea delli (McLean & Andrade, 1982) <br /> CALLIOSTOMATIDAE<br /> -400 m, Trawled by lobster fisherman, Off Quintero, Valparaiso, Chile, 1995, 27.2 mm <br /> <br /> With a pearly, iridescent shell strikingly sculptured by smooth spiral keels, the "Dell's Top" is a medium-sized calliostomatid endemic to Chile. A carnivorous grazer feeding on octocorals and sponges like many other deep water calliostomatids, it inhabits rather deep waters around -200~400 m deep. A moderately rare species, it is generally little-varied in terms of shell morphology. The spiral keels are completely smooth on the adult body whorl, but start off as a series of beads on the early whorls. Typical shell length around 25 mm, extremely large specimens may approach 35 mm. Originally described in genus Calliostoma and subgenus Otukaia typified by the Japanese species Otukaia kiheiziebisu (Otuka, 1939) which shares with it the feature of strong keels on a pearly-white shell, it was tentatively moved to genus Maurea as a part of Bruce Marshall's recent revision of deep-water calliostomatids in 2016. The argument was that it and other similar southern species such as the South American M. chilena (Rehder, 1971) as well as the western subantarctic M. eltanini Dell, 1990 possessed radula with fewer lateral teeth than O. kiheiziebisu (4–7 pairs versus 9 pairs), a characteristic shared with other Maurea species. Marshall interpreted that the similarity in shell morphology is more likely to be convergent than radular characteristics, and therefore moved these three species to Maurea. Nevertheless, these species are rather different in shell morphology from other Maurea species and future research will likely lead to further updates in their genus assignment. Maurea delli is most similar to M. eltanini in shell morphology, but in M. eltanini the first spiral keel is positioned further away from the suture, the keels on body whorl have prominent beading still visible, and that the base is covered by regular, crisp, spiral lines (which becomes obsolete in most parts in M. delli). Maurea delli was named in honour of the eminent New Zealand malacologist Richard Kenneth Dell (1920-2002).
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