Immature specimens have unfilled digitation, lacks yellow spots on the outer lip, and has much weaker lirae in the aperture. Development of digitation and length of siphonal canal highly variable. Although it is probably not really a rare species in its locality, it is a rare species on the market even today due to limited access to its constrained habitat and the fact that shell collection is restricted by law in Mauritius. Vast majority of specimens have been collected from Mauritius (especially Saint Brandon), and it appears to be endemic to the Mascarene Basin. It is generally considered the most desirable strombid of the Indian Ocean, and was one of the fifty species chosen by S. Renowned for the deep violet hue inside the aperture, which distinguishes it from all other spider conchs. Comment Chong Chen: "The "Violet Spider Conch" is one of the most famous classic rarities of the conchology world, and perhaps the most beautiful of the spider conchs.
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