Over the past ten years I have had a desire to collect friendii on the continental shelf west of Geraldton to study the inter-grade between aurata and kostini. Until February 2023 we had only found one live specimen in 200 metres of water west of the Abrolhos Islands. The reason for the difficulty in doing this has been exceptionally strong currents in the area and our inability to find sponge beds that are the species food source.
In February 2023 we had some success finding a number of specimens west southwest of Dongara and to the southwest of Geraldton. The shells we found were different to both kostini and aurata. They were consistently larger than southern kostini, more colorful with coarse spotting not unlike aurata, and less rounded mostly china white base. They are quite vercoi like. Perhaps 70% kostini and 30% aurata is an apt description.
This specimen was found munching on a white funnel sponge in 205 metres of water WSW of Dongara during March 2024. It exhibits the features of this new population I have taken the liberty of referring to as leemanensis.
It is graded Fine++ as the shell has growth interruption on it's labial margin. The shell looks great in dorsal aspect. A bargain at this start price.
Very Different kostini !!!
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EURO
