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,” Harpago chiragra is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular shells of the genus Lambis and a staple in malacological collections. The shell is distinguished by its characteristic digitiform projections, resembling claws or legs, which have given it the common name of the “spider shell.” These extended processes, robust and arched, make each specimen a true natural sculpture. The exterior surface, with a creamy white base, is covered by dense spots and brown-reddish hatchings that create a broken and irregular pattern, while the aperture, wide and well-proportioned, shows a lively orange-pink interior with margins finely dentellated by thin radial striations. A tropical Indo-Pacific species, it is found along the coasts of East 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 debris. With dimensions that can exceed 200 mm, 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 strength of its projections. An exemplar that unites nature and art, and that represents an essential reference point for every collector.