BC075 Zoila jeaniana f. mirabilia – GREAT RARITY

Patternful specimen, live collected by scuba diver on grey ridge sponge on low profile limestone reef at approximately 40 meters depth, west of Cape Cuvier. The shell is fully adult and very mature, with an outstanding banded pattern, orangish extremities, and colorful base. It cannot be considered a gem specimen because, when young, it was attacked by a predator and still shows self-repaired damage on the dorsum, including visible tooth marks and a healed crack beneath the gloss. Despite this, the cowrie remains very attractive and is still absent from most collections.