The golden volute, Provocator mirabilis, is a species of rare, large, deepwater sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
Distribution This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is found off the east coast.
Habitat This volute lives at depths of between 180 and 700 m, although empty shells are sometimes found in shallower water, presumably carried there by hermit crabs.
Shell description This rare shell is highly prized by collectors.
The shell height is up to 140 mm, and the width up to 48 mm.
References
Further reading Powell A W B, New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 Glen Pownall, New Zealand Shells and Shellfish, Seven Seas Publishing Pty Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand 1979