The “Beau’s Murex” is a highly attractive muricid characterised by numerous beaded axial ribs and alternating brown and white bands, rather widely distributed in the western Atlantic Ocean ranging from southern Florida, USA to the Caribbean Sea to Uruguay. One of many molluscan species first discovered by Commandant Beau in the Caribbean Sea during the early 1800s, this species was named in honour of him. It remained extremely rare and one of the most desirable muricids for more than a Century since its discovery, leading to its inclusion as one of S. Peter Dance’s 50 “Rare Shells” (1969). Its apparent rarity was largely due to its deep habitat, being a carnivorous and predatory gastropod with a bathymetric range around 150~500m deep. It is extremely variable in varix development, ranging from having virtually no shoulder spines and fronds to exhibiting long spines and spectacularly webbed wing-like fronds (shown). This seems to be related to depth, as specimens from shallower part of its depth range tend to have poorly developed fronds and those from deep water exceeding 350m usually have wing-like varices. Specimens from deeper waters also tends to be larger in size. Local environment is apparently another factor, with the form branchi Clench, 1953 being a spineless variety known only from the Gulf of Campeche, Mexico. Although considered to be a rather common species nowadays, only the poorly frilled form is readily obtainable. Deep water specimens with extensive frills, especially those with all three fronds of the body whorl preserved in fine condition, is still very scarce and is a real challenge to obtain even today. Typical shell length around 90mm, extremely large specimens are known to exceed even 150mm. – adapted from Chong Chen’s post