In the October, 1974 issue of Hawaiina Shell News  (p.5)  there is a
Latirus picture sent by Mr. Arun Chaiseri for identification. He had
obtained it in Phuket, Thailand. A friend has recently obtained a similar
specimen from deep water off Talikud, Davao Gulf, southern Philippines, and
has asked for help.

Its closest relative is Latirus recurvirostrum (Schubert & Wagner, l829), a
picture of which appears in Shells of the Philippines Plate 47 #11. Fully
grown, this mystery shell, as well as L. recurvirostrum, develop a very
large false umbilicus, forming an even wider fan-shape in my friend's shell
. Although the general shape of both species is very similar, the
unidentified specimen is pale yellow with burned-orange,well-defined,
narrow axial ribs, narrower than the interstices. Besides, the many spiral
cords that cover the shell are more numerous and more sharply defined than
in L. recurvirostrum.

Any help will be appreciated. Please, answer privately.

Thanks

Emilio

Emilio F. Garcia
115 Oak Crest Dr.
Lafayette, LA 70503
USA