Species / Lambis Crocata X Scorpius
Stromboidea
History and Synonymy
1974
Wolfe, 1974, p. 5:
- "The unique Lambis shown in the accompanying photo gives rather convincing evidence of cross-breeding between Lambis scorpius scorpius (Linne, 1758) and L. crocata crocata (Link, 1807). The specimen shows a startling mixture of shell characters of the two species. On the dorsal view, it is almost indistinguishable from L. crocata, showing in particular the smooth digitations of that species. There is a slight swelling at the base of the first digitation, the location of the flat, ear-like lobe in L. scorpius. This swelling is barely visible in the dorsal view. The truly unique features of the shell are evident in the ventral view. The orange color of the aperture, the deep well at its upper part bounded by a spiral ridge on the columnella and the swollen enameled columnellar callus point to L. crocata. However, the inside of the outer lip bears crowded spiral lirae like L. scorpius, the lirae being orange instead of white and on a background of brownish orange instead of purple as in that species. There are similar lirae on the columnella and parietal wall which do not extend as far out of the aperture as in L. scorpius. There are other minor structural features of each of the two species. Although both are in the genus Lambis, the species crocata and scorpius are usually placed in different subgenera - Lambis and Millepes respectively. According to Dr. Abbott, there are fossil records of L. crocata from the late Miocene or early Pliocene, with L. scorpius arising somewhat later. Thus, both species have been stabilized for a great period of time. I have no information on the animal or operculum of the hybrid specimen. The shell was purchased from a Philippine dealer and the only available data was Panglao Island. This small island, just south of Bohol I., is a known locality for both L. crocata and L. scorpius."
Specimens from private collections
Lambis crocata x scorpius; hybrid form; Siquijar Island, Cebu Province, Central Visayas Region, Philippines; Coll. Kronenberg no. 5117
Lambis crocata x scorpius; hybrid form; Cebu Island, Central Visayas Region, Philippines; 168 mm, 142 mm; Coll. Christian Börnke
Lambis crocata x scorpius; hybrid form; Solomon Islands Archipelago; 145 mm; Coll. Virgilio Liverani
Lambis crocata x scorpius; hybrid form; Philippines Islands; 154 mm; Coll. Virgilio Liverani
Lambis crocata x scorpius; hybrid form; Nocnocan Island, Bohol Province, Central Visayas Region, Philippines; in 50 m, 4/2012; 138 mm; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke
References
