Lambis Shell Seashell - Height: 190 mm - Width: 135 mm- 270 g - (1)

The “Spider Conch” - Harpago Chiragra — Harpago chiragra (Linnaeus, 1758) Known universally as the “Spider Conch,” the Harpago chiragra is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular shells of the Lambis genus and a cornerstone in malacological collections. The shell is distinguished by the characteristic digitiform protrusions, resembling claws or legs, which have given it the common name of the “spider shell.” These extended processes, robust and curved, render each specimen a true natural sculpture. The outer surface, with a cream-white base, is covered by dense spots and brown-reddish hatchings that create a broken and irregular pattern, while the opening, wide and well-proportioned, reveals a vivid orange-pink interior with finely dentellated margins by thin radial striations. A species distributed in tropical Indo-Pacific, it is found along the coasts of eastern Africa, throughout the Indonesian and Philippine archipelagos, up to Micronesia and Polynesia. It lives at shallow depths, often on sandy or grassy bottoms adjacent to coral reefs, where it feeds on algae and organic detritus. With sizes that can exceed 200 mm, the Harpago chiragra is considered one of the most iconic and ornamental shells of the tropical world. Once used as a decorative and symbolic object in local cultures, today it remains a sought-after species for the elegance of its form and the aesthetic power of its protrusions. An specimen that unites nature and art, and that represents an indispensable reference point for every collector.