Favoritos de dbarclay

Shallow water on reef flat, mostly under slabs. Shells were generally encrusted, but when encrustations were removed the iridescent periostracum was visible when wet. Iridescence still returns when shell is wet. Common reef species.

Subtidal, mostly 10 to 15 meters deep. Shells were generally encrusted, but when encrustations were removed the iridescent periostracum was visible when wet. Iridescence ranged from greenish silver to gold depending on lighting. This species was practically lost to science, since the locality was only "Pacific Islands," although it is not rare at scuba depth under coral slabs around Christmas Island, Kiribati. It is likely a Line Island endemic. Thanks to Bill Lyons for tracking down the original publications and ID. No thanks to the authors, on both the internet and in print, who took these photos and removed the copyright notes and incorrectly claim they represent specimens collected in the Andaman Islands, which they certainly do not.