Panama Harp Shell, Harpa crenatra

Panama Harp Shell, Harpa crenata. Shell provided by the commercial fishermen of the greater Los Cabos area, June 2012. Size: 7.8 cm (3.1 inches) x 4.6 cm (1.8 inches).

The Panama Harp, Harpa crenata (Swainson, 1822), is a gastropod mollusk that is a member of the Harpidae Family of Harps. They have a short, but pointed spire, with flattened axial ribs that often extend as short spines at the shoulder, and onto to spire. The exterior of the shells are mottled beige, gray or tan with lavender or dark brown chevrons and blotches. The Panama Harp Shells reach a maximum of 10.0 cm (3.9 inches) in length and 5.8 cm (2.3 inches) in height.

Panama Harps live on and within sand substrate at depths between 10 m (35 feet) and 61 m (200 feet). They are found from Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur along the southern west coast of Baja, from Loreto to Cabo San Lucas along the east coast of Baja in the Sea of Cortez, and south to Peru.

A synonym is Harpa rivoliana.