-20~25m, From net of local fisherman, Tangalla, Sri Lanka, 89.4mm., 2014/vi.
The « Clover's Lyria » is a pleasing and well sought-after volute endemic to Sri Lanka. A carnivorous and predatory gastropod, it inhabits sandy to muddy bottoms of moderate depths around -20~80m. Although once ago a rare species, it is only somewhat uncomm.on today thanks to many being bought up as by-catch of local fisheries. The shell is rather variable in stoutness but general pattern and the characteristically bulbous protoconch are distinctive features. Typical shell length around 75mm., giant specimens are known to surpass 95mm. It was named after the renowned American conchologist and shell dealer Phillip W. Clover, who is still very much active today.

Type locality: Tangalla, Sri Lanka.
Range: From Tangalla up to Nilaveli, north of Trincomalee. Southern and eastern coast of Sri Lanka. Habitat: Rocky bottom, bordered by sand flats, at 10-40 m deep.

Description: Shell is heavy, solid of fairly large size, measuring between 70 and 100 mm, elongate fusiform. Protoconch smooth, very bulbous, dark orange-red coloured, of 2.5 raised whorls often tilted from the axis of the shell. Spire high. Teleoconch is of five slighty convex whorls. Suture is impressed. Sculpture is of 19-20 very pronounced axial ribs on the penultimate whorl, 16-17 on the body whorl, forming low nodules and not attaining the first anterior third of the shell. Aperture is elliptical measuring 0.65 of the total length. Outer lip thickened forming a strong varix externally. Columella bearing three strong plaits followed posteriorly by 18-20 more or less noticeable striations. Background colour dark brick-red marked by around 18 spiral lines which are joined by short perpendicular lines. A dark, discontinuous central band is associated with large, superimposed red dorsal markings.
Animal: Not available for study.

Comparison: Its large protoconch and the unique close red bricklike pattern make this shell unmistakable.A broadly similar red pattern is found in some specimens of the sympatric Harpulina arausiaca but the shape of both protoconch and body whorl is quite different.
Remarks: L. cloveriana is a slightly polymorphic species with some variations in shape and colour. The best updated knowledge of this species cannot confirm stable variations according to locality as was previously noted. Among the variations, some specimens with a very brownish colouration deserve to be distinguished from the type. They usually are fished between Yala and Arugam Bay on the muddy bottom of brackish waters.
This volute was extremely rare until the late ninteen-eighties, but it has become fairly common during the past ten years. Its ecological niche is now accessible to scuba divers and local fishermen.

TYPE LOCALITY: Tangalla, southern Ceylon. RANGE: Known only from within a 20 mile radius of the type locality. HABITAT: Since all four known specimens were crab- occupied or empty shells, the true habitat is unknown. These shells were found in from 2 to 8 fathoms in rock crevices surrounded by sand off a wave-swept coast line. DIMENSIONS: Holotype length, 90.0 mm; maximum diam- eter, 35.4 mm; aperture length, 55.4 mm.
SHELL DESCRIPTION: Shell is large for the genus. It is solid, fusiform, and high spired. Protoconch is large, smooth, and regularly coiled, of two and three-quarter whorls; a short calcarella protrudes from the apex. Teleoconch has four and a half whorls, slightly shouldered where strong longitudinal ribs form low knobs. The penultimate whorl has 21 ribs; body whorl has 14 ribs on a shell 90 mm in length. Suture is slightly indented. Aperture is rather large; outer lip flares somewhat anteriorly and is thickened along the leading edge. Siphonal notch is narrow and deep; fasciole weak. Columella curves inward with three strong anterior plaits; the second plait is the strongest, followed by about 16 weaker plaits covering the posterior parietal area. Base color is flesh-pink, overlaid with fine, orange-red revolving lines about 2 mm apart and extending as short, brown lines just inside the outer lip. Orange-red blotches form two encircling bands on the adult body whorl-one at the periphery, another near the anterior canal. Small orange-colored blotches occur where longitudinal ribs meet the suture. The presence of an operculum is unknown. ANIMAL AND RADULA: Unknown. REMARKS: This species appears to be closely related to Lyria lyraeformis (Swainson, 1821). Both have a large proto- conch with a short calcarella at the apex. This morphological characteristic sets them apart from all other living species in the genus. Unfortunately, nothing is known of the soft parts or radula of either species. We are therefore provisionally leaving them in the genus Lyria pending further information. The four known specimens of Lyria cloveriana were col- lected without the animal. The shell was named for Mr. Philip Clover, who donated the holotype to the Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu.