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As has been documented in previous listings, I have proposed a new form of armeniaca being Cypraea armeniaca "verawestralis". This name has no taxonomic standing but is the name I have elected to refer different shells we have been finding in very limited numbers on our south coast between Walpole through to the east of Esperance. These shells differ significantly in colour and shape from both andreyi and GAB armeniaca. In the area off the very southwest corner of Western Australia I believe these shells have merged with classic andreyi as sea levels have risen during the current inter-glacial period to produce a hybrid population.
Armeniaca collected off Augusta fall into two very distinct colour forms. While all shells are very heavy and fit as andreyi on mass ratio, they have either china white bases or rich pink orange bases. In addition shells are often dark in colour with dense tan burgundy spots. Both of these traits are not present in west coast andreyi but are features of the "verawestralis" form.
This specimen was ROV collected from 240 metres of water south south east of Augusta in August 2018. It was found crawling on silty sand among spare sessile growth on an seamount which rises from 280 metres. Very pretty shell with dark speckled dorsum with strong mantle line and apricot base.
The shell is grade Fine+++ due to a growth fold that coincides with it's mantle line and a shallow attempted octopus drill hole in it's columnar margin as indicated by the green arrow in the photos. Very heavy specimen. Fine+++.
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