Stromboidea

• Strombidae
  • Lambis
    • Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758)

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Original Description of Strombus scorpius by Linnaeus, 1758, p. 743 (cited after Dodge, 1956):

• "S. testae labro heptadactylo, digitis nodosis: postico longissimo ... Faux violacea, striata."

Comment

• The last three words are from Linnaeus, 1767 (12th edtion).

Locus typicus: "in O. Asiatico" (Linnaeus 1758, 1767); "We restrict the type locality to Mactan Island, Cebu City, Cebu Island, Philippines." (Abbott, 1961, p. 165)

Types: "Linnaeus' type is in the Linnaean collection in the Linnean Society of London, according to Dodge, 1956, p. 249." (Abbott, 1961, p. 165), see Linnean Collection, Strombus scorpius

Linnaeus, 1758, p. 743 cited

• Rumph. mus. t. 36. f. K.
• Gualt. test. t. 36. f. C.
• Argenv. conch. t. 17. f. B.

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History and synonymy

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

• Syn.: Lambis chiragra Röding, 1798: 67 [non Strombus chiragra Linnaeus, 1758]
• Syn.: Pterocera nodosa Lamarck 1816: 4, pl. 410 fig. 2
• Syn.: Strombus scorpio L. Murray, 1771: 39 (caption of pl. 1), pl. 1 fig. 29
• Syn.: Harpagus scorpius Vernus, 1892: 651, fig. 3-5

1704/1705

left: Merian, 1704; right: Rumphius, 1705, pl. 36, fig. K

1742

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

1754

in Valentyn, 1754, fig. 28

1766

Cornuta nodosa in Rumphius, 1766, pl. XXXVI, fig. K

1816

Pterocera nodosa Lamarck 1816, pl. 410 fig. 2

1842

Pteroceras scorpio in Sowerby, 1842, pl. 11, fig. 1

1843

Pterocera scorpio in Kiener, 1843, pl. ?

1851

Pterocera scorpius in Reeve, 1851, Pterocera, pl. 3, fig. 3

• "Image courtesy Biodiversity Heritage Library. http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org"

1961

Original description of Lambis scorpius subspecies indomaris by Abbott, 1961:

• "The differences exibited in the shells of this Indian Ocean race are slight, but constant, and warrant, we believe, subspecific recognition. In scorpius indomaris, the lobe on the left side of the first digitation is either very much reduced or bent back around the apex of the shell. Digitations 4,5 and 6 are considerably more stunted, their basal portion being not as long as the curved, distal portions. The dorsal sides of the terminal halves of the digitations and the siphonal canal are usually, although not always, more darkly pigmented with purple-brown. There appears to be no or little difference in the apertural sculpture or coloring. Operculum with about 10 serrations and the radula indistinguishable from that of scorpius scorpius. This subspecies was named sinuatus Perry, 1811 (non Solander, 1786) which is a homonym. I propose the new name, indomaris."
• see Lambis indomaris

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Reports

Jeanette and Scott Johnson on Lambis scorpius from Kwajalein Atoll:

• "Lambis scorpius is common in the Marshalls, but not often seen because it blends in so well in its typical rubbly surroundings. They are most common on lagoon pinnacles and on the seaward reef, but can also occasionally be found on lagoon interisland reefs as well. It does not range up into the intertidal, however. We've seen hybrids between this and the much rarer Lambis crocata. The specific name is derived from the anterior finger (on the right side of the shell below), whose curve reminds one of a scorpion's tail."

"The brilliantly-colored aperture starkly contrasts with the usually drab and encrusted dorsum. However, young specimens that lack the dorsal growth can be quite colorful."

• top row: "The dorsal coloration can be seen beneath the developing encrustations on these two young shells."
• bottom: "Fingers are made last as the animal grows, starting out hollow and gradually filling in."

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

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Bob Abela about Lambis scorpius on Guam

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); ~60 ft. On rubble and sand bottom; Glass Breakwater, Apra Harbor, Guam; 28 January 2018; photo Bob Abela

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Specimens from private collections

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); Aliguay Island, Zamboanga del Norte Province, Zamboanga Peninsula Region, Philippines; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); off Luzon, Philippines; by local Hookah divers; Coll. Lawrence Moon

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); Samoa Islands, Polynesia; 1976; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); Dumaguete, Negros Island, Negros Oriental Province, Negros Island Region, Philippines; 120 mm; Coll. Roland Hoffmann

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); Agat Bay, Guam Island, Mariana Islands, Micronesia, USA, North Pacific Ocean; 70-90 ft in rubble on a reef; 157 mm; 1986; Coll. Paul Merrill

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); Agat Bay, Guam Island, Mariana Islands, Micronesia, USA, North Pacific Ocean; 70-90 ft in rubble on a reef; t: 135 mm, m: 150 mm, b: 125 mm; 1986; Coll. Paul Merrill

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); Harbor Shoals, Apra Harbor, Guam Island, Mariana Islands, Micronesia, USA, North Pacific Ocean; 11/1979; on reef, 8 feet, Scuba; 117,7 mm; Coll. Richard Salisbury

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); Harbor Shoals, Apra Harbor, Guam Island, Mariana Islands, Micronesia, USA, North Pacific Ocean; 11/1979; on reef, 8 feet, Scuba; 122,5 mm; Coll. Richard Salisbury

Lambis scorpius (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 lambis; 135 mm; Coll. Francesco Giovanoli

Lambis scorpius (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 lambis; 116 mm; Coll. Francesco Giovanoli

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); subadult; Siasi Island, Sulu Archipelago, Sulu Province, A.R.M.M. Region, Philippines; by hookah diver, 60-100 m; 59,8 mm; 10/2012; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); Sulu Sea, southwestern Philippines; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

• one spine missing

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); Siocon, Mindanao Island, Zamboanga del Norte Province, Zamboanga Peninsula Region, Philippines; by hookah diver; 40-80 m; 160 mm; 12/2012; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

• one additional spine

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); Leyte Island, Eastern Visayas Region, Philippines; taken from coral rubble and sandpatches in 25 m; 142,7 mm; 2012; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); East Mindoro Island, Oriental Mindoro Province, Philippines; 73 mm; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

Lambis scorpius scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); Indonesia, Arafura Sea; by tangle net in 40-60 meter; 5/2008; 99,5 mm; Ex-coll. Daniel Margareta, Jakarta; Coll. Aart Dekkers no. STR1472

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); freak form; Escalante, Negros Island, Negros Occidental Province, Negros Island Region, Philippines; from fisherman, between 20-25 m; 116,7 mm; 2005; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); freak form; Cebu Island, Cebu Province, Central Visayas Region, Philippines; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); freak form; Nha Trang, Khánh Hòa Province, Vietnam; 122mm; Coll. Dieu Cu

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Living specimens

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); Manado, North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia; 2000; Photo Steven Weinberg

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); Visayas Islands, Philippines; 2002; Photo Steven Weinberg

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); Jahir, Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi Province, Sulawesi Island (formerly Celebes), Indonesia; Photo Andrey Ryanskiy

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); in Aquarium; New Caledonia, Melanesia; Coll. Franck Leterrier

Lambis scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); Anilao, Panay island, Iloilo Province, Western Visayas, Philippines; Photo & Copyright Brian Mayes on flickr

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References

• Abbott, 1961
• Lamarck, J.B.P.A. de Monet de, 1816. Tableau encyclopédique et méthodique des trois règnes de la nature … Vingt troisième partie. Mollusques et polypes divers. Mme Veuve Agasse, Paris; Vol. 1: Liste des objets représentés dans les planches de cette livraison, 16 pp, pls. 1-95; Vol. 2: pls. 96-314; Vol. 3: pls. 391-488 (incl. 431bis and 431bis*).

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