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2018.08.21
Exhibit of the rare beautiful large deep-sea Rumphius’ slit shell!! August 16th, 2018
A rare deep-sea slit shell that was successfully collected by the aquarium’s ROV (remotely operated vehicle) is now on display in the Deep Sea section of the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.
Left: Rumphius’ slit shell
Right: An example of a typical slit shell
≪Rumphius’ slit shell≫
Scientific name：Entemnotrochus rumphii
English name：Rumphius’s slit shell
A species of deep-sea sea snail that inhabits waters from 100 to 400 meters. It is distributed from Tori-shima in the Izu Islands to Indonesia. This sea snail, the largest species of slit shells, has a distinctive long slit halfway across its shell. Because of its beauty and size, similar shells have been sold for around ten thousand dollars.
Place of exhibit
Small Life in the Deep Sea in the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Size of exhibit
1 individual (shell width 21 cm)
Exhibit duration
Until the end of September (estimate)
※Exhibition can end earlier depending on the condition of the animal
- his individual exhibited was found and collected with an ROV (remotely operated vehicle) off the coast of Motobu Town (Kunigami, Okinawa), at a depth of 150 meters during surveys of deep-sea creatures. There are not many of this species inhabiting Okinawan waters. This was the first time this species was found using Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium’s ROV. Please take this rare opportunity to see such a large slit shell.
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium will continue to reveal the ecology of rare deep-sea creatures by researching and rearing species from the waters surrounding Okinawa. 
Inquiries
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
905-0206
424 Ishikawa, Motobu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture
TEL:+81-980-48-3748
FAX:+81-980-48-4444
