About Harpago chiragra (Linnaeus, 1758)
This species, Harpago chiragra, has a shell whose length ranges from 85 mm to 320 mm, and most individuals reach a maximum length of 170 mm. Its shell is very thick, robust, and heavy, with a clear anterior notch. The most prominent feature of this shell is six long, curved marginal digitations that extend from its flaring, thick outer lip and canals. Both the columella and aperture of the shell are lirate. Harpago chiragra is widely distributed across the Indo-Pacific. Its range extends from Aldabra Atoll, Chagos, Mauritius, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, and the Gulf of Bengal to eastern Polynesia. To the north, its range reaches as far as Taiwan and southern Japan; to the south, it extends to New Caledonia and Australia. This species inhabits coral reef areas. It occurs in the littoral and sublittoral zones, and can be found in tidal pools, at low tide levels, and down to a depth of approximately 25 m. The flesh of Harpago chiragra is edible, and the species is collected locally as food. Its shell is used for shellcraft.
