Paratype no. 2 is with A . Moncur, it measures 155 x 85 mm and weighs 334 grammes. Like the holotype it is more sparsely marked on the dorsal side of the body whorl. There are many large breaks most of which have been filled with a waxy substance by the Filipino provider.

Paratype no. 3 is in the collection of R. M. Filmer, it measures 145 x 75 mm. and weighs 248 grammes. It hs more brown-black marks on the dorsal side than the holotypes or paratypes 1 & 2 have. It has one large repaired break on the dorsal side.

Paratype no. 4 is in The Zoological Museum University of Amsterdam ( ZMUA ), it measures 120 x 66 mm. and weighs 190 grammes. It is full of huge repaired breaks and the dorsal side is partly eroded. The dorsal side has fewer brown-black marks than the ventral side does.

Paratype no. 5 is with A . Moncur, it measures 110 x 59 mm. and weighs 144 grames. This is by far the most beautiful specimen of the type lot (another similarly beautiful specimen was disposed of before this description was prepared). There are numerous somewhat irregular brown-black squarish markings on both sides of the body whorl. There is one repaired break line near the aperture and there is a rich orange-yellow tinge to the body whorl. On the interior side of the spire whorls, the pinkish colour turns to purple. There is a cluster of small wormholes on part of the spire. Unlike the rest of the type material, this specimen has a third orange-yellow band below the shoulder.

There is clear consistency in the shape, sculpture and colouring of all the type material, all of which has been live collected. The species is very large and rather heavy. It is clear that the larger and presumably older specimens begin to lose their bright colours and brown-black markings especially on the dorsal side as they age.

The animal was not available for study, as the animals were removed before the shells become available for study. The periostracums were also removed from all the type material , except for a trace found on paratype no. 1. One operculum was provided with paratype no. 1. (but it may well have come from another shell) .

Habitat.

The true habitat is unknown. According to the provider, Alistair Moncur, the material does not come from tangle nets nor does it come from trawling or dredging. The species was probably obtained by deep diving, using compressors, at 30 to 50 meters. It seems this type of diving is relatively new in The Philippines. This is perhaps the reason these shells have not appeared before. It is apparent from the heavy scaring of nearly all specimens that they live amongst rocks or coral, most likely the former in areas with strong currents.