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Provocator cf. mirabilis ULTRA-RARE WHITE FORM

136 mm New Zealand 7,00 €

Item

# 0004271592

Family

Volutidae

Name

Provocator cf. mirabilis - ULTRA-RARE WHITE FORM , Finlay, 1926

Size

136 mm

Locality

New Zealand

Note

An exceedingly large specimen of an ULTRA-RARE extreme deep-water, endemic New Zealandic species. Although usually considered a rare WHITE FORM of Provocator mirabilis, apart from the obvious difference to typical examples of a complete absence of pigment, I discern several distinct, apparently consistent morphological differences which may warrant a reappraisal of the taxonomic placement of this species: 1) larger overall size; 2) greater narrowness to length ratio; 3) more elongate, slender form / less ovate whorls; 4) protoconch dome-shaped, as opposed to distinctly pointed in P. mirabilis. The few known specimens should be brought together, and comparative research undertaken to determine the definitive taxonomic placement of this species. The form appears to be geographically restricted to the Auckland Islands – an isolated, uninhabited locality, lying 465 km South of New Zealand’s South Island, off which extremely little deep-water collecting has ever been undertaken. The locality has been afforded UNESCO World Heritage listing, and is now protected as the Motu Maha Marine Reserve, and no fresh specimens will be available in future. The few known specimens are all dead-collected. Data: Deep Bight, off Auckland Island, Auckland Islands, New Zealand Subantarctic Islands, New Zealand; upon sand/mud substrate; 400-600 m; trawled; 1981. Size: 136 mm. Grading: Fine. Provenance: JES Collection; London / Melbourne.

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