-250~300m, Abashiri, Hokkaido, Japan, 133.1mm., 1974/viii.
The « Rausu Whelk » is a large cold-water buccinid endemic to northeastern Hokkaido, Japan. It is unusual among genus Buccinum in having swollen, thin shell with strong radial ribs very much resembling genus Ancistrolepis or Clinopegma; large specimens are especially similar to Ciinopegma chikaoi Tiba, 1968. The telltale concentric operculum, however, easily distinguishesit from those two genera which has claw-like opercula. It was first discovered by Mr Goro Osagawa, a famous Japanese collector, in Rausu-cho, Hokkaido (well known for housing a high diversity of cold-water buccinids); hence the name. Although locally only uncommon, it is very rare in the shell market outside Japan. It is a carnivorous / scavenging species inhabiting sandy to muddy bottoms of rather deep water around -250~800m. Typical shell length around 100mm., very large specimens may exceed 130mm. It is edible and in Autumn it is sometimes found in Japanese fish markets mixed with Buccinum kinukatsugi Habe & Ito, 1968.