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| Item | # 0003713610 | | Family | Spondylidae | | Name | Spondylus senegalensis - GIANT, RARE ORANGE Morph |
| Size | 140.00 mm |
| Locality | Tenerife, Canary Islands |
| Note | (Estimated value 1450euro) available for 790€ in the OnlineShop “Coralliophila”. Photos & details: https://coralliophila.com/spondylus-senegalensis-schreibers-1793
- This listing presents an extraordinary chromatic outlier of Spondylus senegalensis (Schreibers, 1793), (d/c), retrieved at 16–18 metres depth during a certified industrial dive inspection along subtidal artificial structures off the coast of Tenerife, Canary Islands. With a maximum shell dimension of 140.0 mm, this individual ranks among the largest and most vividly pigmented specimens known from the eastern Atlantic range of the species.
The shell displays a uniformly saturated bright orange pigmentation—an extremely rare morphotype within the species, which is typically characterised by dark red to purple phenotypes. Such uniformly intense xanthic colouration may reflect a rare expression of carotenoid dominance, potentially influenced by localised trophic inputs, substrate reflectance, or genetic polymorphism. Its significance lies not only in its rarity but also in its potential utility for research on pigment expression pathways, regional morpho-chromatic variability, and adaptive phenotypic traits in Spondylus spp.
All peripheral spines are fully developed and completely intact, with no evidence of abrasion, boreholes, mechanical stress, or post-mortem damage. Lamellar and radial sculpture is sharply defined, supporting high-resolution morphometric and taxonomic study. The specimen remains entirely unmodified—free from restoration or repair—and retains its original anatomical integrity.
Full collection metadata accompanies this specimen, including detailed geophysical, environmental, and methodological context. This individual is highly suited for inclusion in institutional holdings, pigmentation research, reef-associated phenotypic analyses, and museum-grade taxonomic reference archives.
.Locality: Tenerife, Canary Islands
.Coordinates: GPS (hidden, only with the specimen)
.Depth: 16 - 18 metres
.Habitat: Subtidal zone, industrial infrastructure.
.Collection Method: Manual retrieval by certified industrial dive inspection operative
.Water Temperature: 20.4°C
.Salinity: ~36 ppt
.Visibility: ~7 metres
.Current: strong
.Substrate: benthic artificial surface
.Date Collected: 2025 January
.Collector ID: Dive inspection Tenerife (no. xxxxx)
.Condition: Museum-grade; 140 mm, flawless
.Colouration: Exceptionally rare bright orange morph — uniformly saturated
Remarks:
An unusually large and vividly coloured specimen. Among the rarest recorded phenotypic forms of S. senegalensis. Preserved in original state; no repairs, no restoration.
#*— Catalog No.: 1 —*#
Printed & written on archival alkaline-buffered museum paper (100% acid-free, lignin-free, buffered to pH 8.5 for long-term preservation) ISO 9706 / ANSI Z39.48
.Diver comment:
Discovered at significant depths beneath the ocean surface, concealed within a grotto-like geological formation.. According to the diver, access at was limited to a very narrow entrance, which then widened into a small cavern reminiscent of a cathedral. Sunlight penetrated through sporadic openings in the overhead rock, slightly illuminating the interior space. (+gifts & 1 surprise “Bractechlamys corallinoides”) |
| Seller | Mountainguide (9) - Register to view Feedback | | Seller Country | SPAIN |
| Shipment / PaymentShip. / Paym. | Available for registered users... |
| Curr. of this item |  EURO |
| Start Price | 210,00 € |
| Current Price | 330,00 € - offered by fflchamp1 - Auction closed -
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| | Bid IncrementsBid Incr. |
| Range | Bid Increment |
| under 100 € | 1 € |
| from 100 to 200 € | 2 € |
| from 200 to 500 € | 5 € |
| from 500 to 1000 € | 10 € |
| over 1000 € | 25 € |
| | End | 28-05-2025 > 20:45:00 | | shellauction.net timeServer time | 06-06-2025 > 02:01:55 | | Time left | ... | |
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