Zoila ketyana ketyana - Big Bank Shell !!! , (L. Raybaudi, 1978)
Size
48.2 mm
Locality
West of Southern Zuytdorp Cliffs
Note
On top of Big Bank in the area west of the Southern Zuytdorp Cliffs the ketyana are quiet variable. Some we would classify as ketyana ketyana, others ketyana lutea whilst others are very much like bataviensis.
This specimen was collected from a geodia sponge in 55 metres of water on top of big bank during April 2023. It is obviously a classic ketyana ketyana as described by Raybaudi and identical to specimens we find in the type area west of Dorre Island off Shark Bay.
It has sparse fine pepper spot over a white dorsum and the typical orange and black burnt orange base.
The shell is grade Fine+++ as it has a well healed tooth indentation on it's anterior dorsum. The animal has coated this with a generous coating of additional nacre making it a natural defect. This is indicated by a green arrow in the photos. A very minor nacre stress line can be seen under magnification of the labial flange, nacre stress lines are a feature of majority of ketyana. It is heavy flared and has perfect siphons.
Big Bank Ketyana !!!
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