The « Rosy Harp » is a lovely harpid ranging from Senegal to Angola, and is the only recent Harpa species in the Atlantic Ocean. It is characterised by radial bands of rectangular, rosy red patches that makes it an especially beautiful harp shell. The extent of red patches vary greatly among individuals and the synonym H. rosea Lamarck, 1816 is often used as a form name by collectors and dealers for exceptionally reddish specimens. Two distinct forms are known, the nominal form from coastal mainland Africa (shown) has thin, lightly constructed and more slender shells; whereas the form from Ascension Island and Cape Verde Islands are much more robust and shorter. The island form was initially described as a separate species, H. robusta Roding, 1798, and although regarded as a synonym today many feel it is still worthy of a subspecific rank if not a full species. Like all Harpa species it is a carnivorous and predatory gastropod that mainly feeds on small crustaceans, and inhabit shallow sandy bottoms to -30m depth. Typical shell length for the nominal form around 60mm., very large specimens may exceed 80mm.; the island form is generally smaller and averages at around 40mm., though the largest specimens may exceed 70mm. It used to be a rarity before around 1980s when the Atlantic shells were less readily available, today it is regarded as a comm.on species and has become easily obtainable.