Type locality: None mentioned. Subsequently designated by Reeve as the Moluccas.
Range: Crabbed specimens are sometimes taken by fishermen operating at Saint Brandon Reef, north of Mauritius. Several specimens are reputed to be dredged at a depth of about 180 m between 15 and 35 miles northeast of the island (Poppe & Goto, 1992). A live specimen has been trawled by a Russian boat in 1980 at 150 m depth on the Saya de Malha Bank. By inference, its actual range might be the slope of the Mascarene Plateau at moderate depth. Habitat: Unknown.

Description: Shell is of medium size, 50 to 60 mm, solid, heavy, stocky, characterized by the right-angled drop of the shoulder at the suture, forming a subsutural ramp and giving an acute spiny shape to the posterior edge of the axial ribs. Protoconch is of one and a half whorls, large, smooth, rounded, of 3.5 mm in diameter. Spire is short. Teleoconch of four and a half convex whorls sculptured with 13-15 strong axial ribs, separated by large intercostal spaces; the adapical end of the ribs forming raised spines. Aperture is large slightly expanded anteriorly, forming 0.65 of the total length. Outer lip is very thickened forming a strong protruding varix externally. Columella is arched bearing three strong columellar plaits, followed posteriorly by 12-15 striations. Siphonal notch narrow and shallow. In live-taken specimen, the background colour is peachy-white with a pattern of 6-7 dark red-orange spiral lines on the summit of the ribs, associated with sparse quadrangular markings of the same colour distinguishable on the mid and anterior part of the body whorl. Animal: Not available for study.

Comparison: Protoconch, shape and colouration make this species unmistakable. Remarks: Because of its large flat subsutural ramp, Dall created in 1907 the subgenus Harpeola in order to place it. However, this character is variable and sometimes reduced to a simple convexity which would not warrant a special name, but the features of this species are unique and can not be compared with any other members of the genus, giving this species a special place. The subsutural crown
of erect spines is not a specific feature, shared with Lyria (I.) cloveriana gabryae and at a lesser degree with the new Lyria (L) bondarevi from the Nazareth Bank.
Despite the discovery of its actual location, this species remains rare in collections. Most specimens are taken crabbed, formerly a by-product of lobster fishing in Saint Brandon Cays area, which is now a National Park where only line fishing is allowed.

TYPE LOCALITY: Subsequently designated by Reeve (1849) as the Moluccas. RANGE: Known only from the type locality. HABITAT: Information not available. DIMENSIONS: Adult specimens are 50 to 62 mm in length. SHELL DESCRIPTION: Shell is of moderate size. It is oblong- ovate, but not heavy. Spire is short, turreted, and blunt at the apex. Protoconch is turbinate, of two and a half smooth whorls. Teleoconch has about six axially ribbed whorls. There are 14 such ribs on a shell 62 mm in length. Whorl shoulders are flat and coronated where wide axial ribs extend above the suture. Suture is channeled. Several spiral lirae appear on the ventral side above the siphonal notch. Aperture is wide and semiovate. Outer lip is thickened; interior is white. Siphonal notch is wide and shallow; fasciole distinct. Columella curves inward, with three anterior plaits followed by about 12 lirae. There is a single toothlike projection be- low the suture. Base color is yellowish-white, overlaid with fine, revolving yellow-orange lines, between which appear scattered squarelike spots of bright orange. ANIMAL AND RADULA: Unknown. REMARKS: All the specimens of this rare species that we have seen were beach-worn shells from old collections. The labels bore only the vague locality "Moluccas," which could mean any of the many Mollucca islands covering many miles of water in the Mollucca Sea.