About Spondylus varius G.B.Sowerby I, 1827
Spondylus varius G.B.Sowerby I, 1827 is the largest species of spiny oyster, reaching a maximum size of approximately 20 centimeters. Apart from its distinctive large size, this species can be easily identified by the color pattern of its shell: the adult portion of the shell is white, while a brightly colored prodissoconch is clearly visible at the apical end. The prodissoconch is most often crimson, but it may also be yellow. This species occurs in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, and can also be found in waters off Australia, China, the Philippines, Japan, and Taiwan. It lives at a depth of 30 meters. Like most bivalves, Spondylus varius is a filter-feeder that feeds on plankton.
