Harpago chiragra is the second largest of the Strombidae in the
Marshalls, second only to Lambis truncata. It is common on both
lagoon and seaward reefs, including the large flat-topped lagoon
pinnacles. They are typically on sand or rubble, or sometimes on
hard substrate. Adults are nearly always seen paired, with a
large female accompanied by one, or rarely, a couple of smaller
males. Like the large Lambis truncata, this species is protected
(at least where divers from Kwajalein are concerned), although
the initial protection recommendations from Fish & Wildlife and
the Kwajalein Army regulations on the issue both misidentified
it as Lambis scorpius, a very different and much smaller
species. More comments about this under L. truncata. The
individual in the first two photos below had unusually long and
recurved "fingers." The eyeballs peek out over the opeculum in
this aperture view. Juveniles have thin outer lips on the shell
and lack the fingers. Here the green proboscis bearing the mouth
can be seen betw