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Species / Lambis Lambis

Stromboidea

Original Description of Strombus Lambis by Linnaeus, 1758, p. 743:

  • "S. testae labro heptadactylo: digitis rectiusculis, fauce laevi."

Locus typicus: "Habitat in O. Asiae."

Linnaeus cited:

  • Barrel. rar. 1326. f. 7.
  • Bonan. recr. 3, t. 315.
  • Rumph. mus. t. 35. f. E. F.
  • Gualt. test. t. 35. f. C. t. 36. f. A.
  • Argenv. conch. t. 17. f. E.
  • Kratzenst. Regenf. 16. t. 4. f. 45.

History and Synonymy

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758: 743) (Strombus)

  • Syn.: Lambis adamii Bozzetti & Cossignani, 2003: 3
  • Syn.: Strombus camelus “Chemn.”. Gray in King, 1826: appendix: 490
  • Syn.: Lambis cerea Röding, 1798: 66
  • Syn.: Lambis hermaphrodita Röding, 1798: 68
  • Syn.: Lambis laciniata Röding, 1798: 68 [non Strombus laciniatus Dillwyn, 1817 (=Sinustrombus sinuatus ([Lightfoot], 1786)]
  • Syn.: Lambis lamboides Röding, 1798: 66
  • Syn.: Lambis lobata Röding, 1798: 68 [non Lambis lobata Röding, 1798: 65 (= Sinustrombus sinuatus ([Lightfoot], 1786) nec. Strombus lobatus Swainson, 1823 (= Lobatus raninus (Gmelin, 1791)]
  • Syn.: Lambis maculata Röding, 1798: 67
  • Syn.: Heptadactylos marmorata Abel, 1787: 116 [non binom.; refers to Martini 3, fig. 858.

1705

in Rumphius, 1705, pl. 35, fig. E, F

1742

in Argenville, 1742, pl. 17, fig. E

1758

Alata ala divisa. Aporrhais. in Regenfuss, 1758, pl. IV, fig. 45

1766

Cornuta in Rumphius, 1766, pl. XXXV, fig. E, F

Cornuta in Rumphius, 1766, pl. XXXVI, fig. G

1769

Lambis lambis by Chemnitz, 1769, pl. 158 fig. 1478

1787

Abel, 1787 mentions Heptadactylos marmorata.

Abel, 1787, p. 117

1842

Pteroceras lambis in Sowerby, 1842, pl. 11, fig. 5, 6, 7

Pteroceras lambis in Gray, 1842, pl. 1, fig. 1

  • female

Pteroceras lambis in Gray, 1842, pl. 1, fig. 2

  • male

Pteroceras lambis in Gray, 1842, pl. 1, fig. 3

  • p. 5:"A sketch of the animal, shewing the parts as they lay in the shell, from a design of M. De Blainville."

1843

Pterocera lambis in Kiener, 1843, pl. ?

Pterocera lambis juvenile in Kiener, 1843, pl. ?, fig. 2

Pterocera lambis juvenile in Kiener, 1843, pl. ?

1851

Pterocera lambis in Reeve, 1851, Pterocera, pl. 5, fig. 8

1915

Pterocera lambis in Hirase, 1915, pl. VII, fig. 30

1966

Kohn & Waters, 1966 reported, that Lambis lambis shows escape responses in the presence of Conus textile, a predatory gastropod. It increases the rate of locomotion and directs the locomotion away from the predator. The speed of locomotion is 11,9 mm/s during escape. The fast locomotion is not maintained for a long time, but increases instantly the distance to the predator.

1972

Ladd, 1972, p. 63:

  • "A single large and well preserved example of this widely distributed Indo-Pacific species was collected by H.T. Stearns, of the U.S. Geological Survey, from a limestone pit (USGS loc. 21028) on Espiritu Santo Island in the New Hebrides at an altitude of 240 feet. The large heavy shell with its thickened outer lip is an adult, and the long high knob on the shoulder of the body whorl and the upturned bases of the anterior spines indicate that it is the shell of a female (Abbott, 1961, p. 148). Measurements of the specimen, USNM 648477: length 155 mm, diameter 103 mm. The limestone at USGS loc. 21028 is probably not older than Pleistocene. The species has also been reported from Quaternary beds in Kenya, Tanganyika, Sudan, and Indonesia (Abbott, 1961, p. 154)."

Lambis (Lambis) lambis in Ladd, 1972, pl. 19, fig. 10

  • image courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey

Lambis (Lambis) lambis in Ladd, 1972, pl. 20, fig. 4

  • image courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey

1994

Wells, 1994, p. 3: "The spider shell Lambis lambis occurs in large numbers in shallow water in the southern part of the lagoon at Cocos. It is easily collected and is regarded as a delicacy by the Cocos Malays."

2003

Bozzetti & Cossignani, 2003 described Lambis adamii

  • may be an ecological dwarf form of Lambis lambis

Reports

Jeanette and Scott Johnson on Lambis lambis from Kwajalein Atoll:

  • "Lambis lambis (along with L. truncata) is by far the most abundant of the finger shells found in the Marshalls. This species is found most often along lagoon reefs all the way up into the intertidal. Most older specimens have heavily encrusted shells and broken or worn-away fingers. The specimen in the first two photos below is almost certainly a female; they tend to have longer upward curved fingers, while those of males tend to be short and straight. This species is widely distributed from the western Indian Ocean through the Marshalls."
  • top left: "An eye peeks out from under a notch near the anterior end of the shell."
  • top right / bottom: "This species deposits orange eggs in long tangled spaghetti-like masses under rocks and in algae."

All Photos of Kwajalein Atoll-specimens courtesy Scott & Jeanette Johnson, Kwajalein Atoll

Raveendhiran Ravinesh reporting from Tuticorin

Lambis lambis laying eggs, Gulf of Mannar, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India

Bob Abela about Lambis lambis on Guam:

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); all the growth covering the shell helps it hide, even when while fully exposed on the reef; ~5 ft. Agat Bay, Guam; 17 Nov 2007; photo Bob Abela

Report by Ronald Bienfet on a fake Lambis lambis Freak

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); freak specimen; Cebu Island, Central Visayas Region, Philippines; 2001; Coll. Ronald Bienfet
Comment Ronald Bienfet:

  • "Superfreak ... bij twijfel en na zandsstralen verdwenen de mooie tekeningen en kleuren, samenvoegingsbreuk werd sichtbar, alsook het perfecte renovatiewerk met hars of ander materiaal. Volgens mijn besluit een creatie van een gewone Lambis lambis naar een superfreak."

Specimens from institutional collections

Pteroceras lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Blitong (Belitung Island), Indonesia; Coll Naturalis; Copyright Naturalis

Specimens from private collections

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Queensland State, north east Australia; by diver at 10 m depth; 250 mm (measured parallel to shell axis); 2002; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Queensland State, north east Australia; Coll. Iain Rasmussen

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Stanage Bay; Queensland State, north east Australia; amongst rubble at low tide; 220 mm, 235 mm; Coll. Christian Börnke

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Stanage Bay; Queensland State, north east Australia; 230 mm; Coll. Goran Vertriest, UW photo Iain Rasmussen

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Kangean Archipelago, Madura, Indonesia; in coral reef on gravel bottom, coll. by local divers; 123 mm; 5/2005; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Gerontique, female; Katong, Phuket, Thailand; in sand and weed at low tide; 169 mm; 4/1972; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Sattihip, Chonburi Province, Thailand; 10-15 ft in silt & rubble on sand; 193 mm; 1975; Coll. Paul Merrill

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); female; Samar Island, Eastern Visayas, Philippines; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Piti Lagoon, Guam Island, Mariana Islands, Micronesia, USA, North Pacific Ocean; 5-15 ft in silt & rubble on sand; 191 mm; 1984; Coll. Paul Merrill

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Piti Lagoon, Guam Island, Mariana Islands, Micronesia, USA, North Pacific Ocean; 5-15 ft in silt & rubble on sand; 190 mm; 1984; Coll. Paul Merrill

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Piti Lagoon, Guam Island, Mariana Islands, Micronesia, USA, North Pacific Ocean; 5-15 ft in silt & rubble on sand; 189 mm; 1986; Coll. Paul Merrill

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Piti Lagoon, Guam Island, Mariana Islands, Micronesia, USA, North Pacific Ocean; 5-15 ft in silt & rubble on sand; 120 mm; 1986; Coll. Paul Merrill

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Shell Beach, South Tipalao, Guam Island, Mariana Islands, Micronesia, USA, North Pacific Ocean; 2/1973; on reef front, at minus tide, reef walking; 174,0 mm; Coll. Richard Salisbury

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Piti Bomb Craters, Piti Bay, Guam Island, Mariana Islands, Micronesia, USA, North Pacific Ocean; 2/1974; on top of huge coral colony, at night, 30 feet, Scuba; 137,9 mm; Coll. Richard Salisbury

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Gab Gab Beach, Apra Harbor, Guam Island, Mariana Islands, Micronesia, USA, North Pacific Ocean; 10/1973; on reef in tide pools, 1 ft, reef walking; 124,5 mm; Coll. Richard Salisbury

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); dwarf; Truk Lagoon, Moen Island, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, North Pacific Ocean; 3/1976; in sand near coral heads, 5 feet, Scuba; 87,0; Coll. Richard Salisbury

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Eneko Island, Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, North Pacific Ocean; 2-3 m depth; between corals on sand, together with Conomurex luhuanus and Lambis scorpius; 144 mm; Coll. Francesco Giovanoli

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); t: Pohnpei, Micronesien; Summer 2025, 10 m dive, in Seagras; 125 mm_Coll. Francesco Giovanoli; b: Eneko Island, Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands, April 2016; 3 – 5 m dive, in seagras, together with L. scorpius: 144 mm; Coll. Francesco Giovanoli

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); female; Probably southern India; 270 mm (measured parallel to shell axis); Coll. Virgilio Liverani

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Ras Hafun, Bari Region, Puntland State, Somalia, Indian Ocean; 145 mm; 1988; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Hurghada(?), Egypt(?), Red Sea; 12/1980; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

  • top: female, 155 mm
  • bottom: male, 150 mm

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka Island (formerly Ceylon); in sand and weed at 2m; 127 mm; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Philippines Islands; Coll. Guido Poppe

  • left column: Masbate Island, Masbate Province, Bicol Region; from fishermen; 181 mm; 2005; no. 245718
  • middle column: Bohol Island, Bohol Province, Central Visayas Region; 15-25 m; 90,5 mm; 2008; no. 493161
  • right column: Oslob, south of Cebu Island, Cebu Province, Central Visayas Region; collected by local fishermen; 154,2 mm; 2008; no. 587631

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Philippines Islands; Coll. Guido Poppe

  • left column: Coron Island, Palawan Province, Mimaropa Region; 8 m; 127,9 mm; 2004; no. 151380
  • middle column: Olango Island, Cebu Province, Central Visayas Region; 10-25 m; 170 mm; 2012; no. 710801
  • right column: Olango Island, Cebu Province, Central Visayas Region; found at about 10-15 m; Collected by local fishermen; 112,7 mm; 2009; no. 535802

Lambis cf. lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Probably female due to the size; Nha Trang, Khánh Hňa Province, Vietnam; 205 mm ; Coll. Virgilio Liverani

  • Comment Virgilio Liverani: the specimen is a bit strange because it comes from an area where all the female L. lambis are of the form with the upturned digits and have strong dorsal knobs. At first glance I thought of a possible hybrid with L. sowerbyi.

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Male specimen(?); Anse Royale, Mahé Island, Seychelles Archipelago, Indian Ocean; in sand and weed at low tide; 202 mm; 4/1972; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

  • Comment Ulrich Wieneke: large male

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Toamasina (Tamatave), Atsinanana Region, east Madagascar; on coral reef, by diver from 3 m; 137 mm; 7/1992; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758) with Spondylus sp.; Surigao, Surigao del Norte Province, Caraga Region, Philippines Islands; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758), subadult, albino; Philippines, Bohol Island; 92,7 mm; Coll. Jean-Pierre Barbier

Lambis lambis forma adamii Bozzetti & Cossignani, 2003; Sarangani Island, Davao Occidental Province, Davao Region, Philippines; 25 m deep; 50,9 mm; 2003; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

  • Comment Ulrich Wieneke (12/2012): This seems to be a Lambis lambis, which has grown normally until a certain time (marked by the white arrows) and afterwards a rapid process of becoming adult has started with building a varix-like structure. I speculate, that this has been triggered by environmental factors.

Lambis lambis forma adamii Bozzetti & Cossignani, 2003; Balut Island, Sarangani Islands group, Davao Occidental Province, Davao Region, Philippines; 38,5 mm; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

Lambis lambis forma adamii Bozzetti & Cossignani, 2003; Sarangani Island, Davao Occidental Province, Davao Region, Philippines; 25 m deep; 42,2 mm; 2003; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

Lambis lambis forma adamii Bozzetti & Cossignani, 2003; Balut Island, Sarangani Islands group, Davao Occidental Province, Davao Region, Philippines; 1-2 m deep; on reef; 68 mm; 2003; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

Lambis lambis forma adamii Bozzetti & Cossignani, 2003; Bohol Island, Bohol Province, Central Visayas Region, Philippines; 20 m deep; 61 mm; 11/2004; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

Lambis lambis forma adamii Bozzetti & Cossignani, 2003; Philippines Islands; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

  • Comment Wieneke (12/2012): The body whorl shoulder splits into one (left), two (middle) or three (right) digits. There seems to be a tendency that the smaller the specimen the less digits it have.

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); freak form; Caubian Island, Bohol Province, Central Visayas Region, Philippines; compressor diver, 8-10 m; 104 mm; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); freak form; San Isidro, Leyte Island, Leyte Province, Eastern Visayas Region, Philippines; 94 mm; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); freak form; Balicasag Island, Philippines; 144,5 mm; Coll. Goran Vertriest

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); freak form; Vietnam; Coll. Dieu Cu

Lambis lambisLambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Cuaming Island, Bohol, Philippines, Coll. Alfer Ngujo

Living specimens

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Aur Island (Pulau Aur), Mersing District, Johor State, West Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia); Photo Anders Poulsen

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Aur Island (Pulau Aur), Mersing District, Johor State, West Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia); Photo Anders Poulsen

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Aur Island (Pulau Aur), Mersing District, Johor State, West Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia); Photo Anders Poulsen

Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758); Nosy Vé Island, Toliara (formerly Tuléar), Atsimo-Andrefana Region, southern Madagascar; Photo Éric Monnier

References

  • Bellchambers, L.M., Meeuwig, J.J., Evans, S.N., Legendre, P. 2011. Modelling habitat associations of the common spider conch in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 432, pp. 83-90.
  • Boneka, F. B., Ompi, M., & Andaki, J. A. P. (1993). Occurrence of the common spider shell, Lambis lambis (L.)(Gastropoda: Strombidae) in the intertidal zone of Karatung, Sangihe Island, Indonesia. Phuket Marine Biological Center Special Publication, 13, 159-161.
  • Bozzetti & Cossignani, 2003
  • Hamel, J.F., Mercier, A. 2006. Note on the spawning and development of the common spider conch Lambis lambis, SPC Trochus Information Bulletin, 12, pp. 19-21.
  • Hirase, 1914
  • Jagadis, I., Shanmugasundaram, K., Padmanathan, J. 2012. Observations on broodstock maintenance, breeding and early larval development of the common spider conch Lambis lambis (Linnaeus, 1758) in captivity, Indian Journal of Fisheries, 59 (2), pp. 165-169.
  • Jaikumar, M., Ramkumar, R., Gunalan, Kanagu, L. 2011. Length-weight relationship of lambis lambis (Mollusc: Gastropoda) from tuticorin coastal waters, Gulf of Mannar, Southeast coast of India, World Applied Sciences Journal, 14 (2), pp. 207-209, URL: http://www.idosi.org/wasj/wasj14(2)11/4.pdf.
  • Alan J. Kohn, Virginia Waters, 1966. Escape responses of three herbivorous gastropods to the predatory gastropod Conus textile, Animal Behaviour, 14(2–3), p. 340-345.
  • Ladd, 1972
  • MORI, S., KAJIWARA, K., MIYAHIRA, K., & UENO, S. (2000). The Embryonic, Larval and Juvenile Development of the Spider Shell, Lambis lambis (Strombidae). Bulletin of Institute of Oceanic Research and Development, Tokai University, (21), 97-103.
  • Prince, J.H. 1955. The molluscan eyestalk: using as an example, Pterocera lambis. Texas reports on biology and medicine, 13 (2), pp. 323-339.
  • Siraimeetan, P., Ameer Hamsa, K.M.S., Satyanarayanarao, K. 1988. On the habitat, habits and food of Lambis lambis and Hemifusus cochlidium, Proceedings of the National Seminar on shellfish resources and farming. Bull. Cent. Mar. Fish. Res. Inst., 42 (1), pp. 111-116.
  • Ueno, S. (1997). Sexual dimorphism in shell shape of the spider shell, Lambis lambis in Amitori Bay, Iriomote Island. Bulletin of Institute of Oceanic Research and Development Tokay University, 18, 11-15.
  • Wells, F. E., 1994. Marine Molluscs of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin; no. 410, URL
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