RANELLIDAE Ranella olearia olearia
Senegal. Dakar. Offshore in deep water. 2015.
Size: 120.5 mm.
"NATURES CURIOSITY: OLEARIA WITH AN EXTRA APERTURE
What happened to this shell is a mystery, the shell is fully grown with a second aperture developing on the last whorl on the dorsal side. As seen from here the animal has made a second aperture just next to the original aperture. Likely a fish or a crab damaged the shell on the dorsum and in some obscure way the Ranella survived the attack long enough to make the second aperture on top and abandon the former - old - aperture.
Defense mechanism of an animal can sometimes lead to a great and fabulous
conchological piece.
Estimation: Museum quality, a once in a lifetime affair. Award winning and good for competition in shell shows. Definitely a must for Ranella experts. We auctioned not so long ago a Bursidae with a double aperture for 125 euro, which I consider a “gift”. A fake Murex brunneus with a fake double aperture went for 161 euro. This is NOT a fake, but a genuine once in a lifetime piece. Taken alive." - Poppe
Documented by Conchology Inc.
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