Originally detected in central Mediterranean, from Corsica to Crete and Croatia (Molunat, Zadar), it is now recognized in other places of western Mediterranean, near or under stones covered with red coralline algae, on which it feeds, in the close vicinity of Posidonia meadows. The morphology of this variant shows some subtle characteristics: the corded sculpture is less pronounced, slightly wavy, and thinner; the radial lamellae are absent, the folds are much less common, and weaker; the anterior end is often more angled, the ventral margin straight and not curved. Of course, intergrades do exist, such as these two examples collected at 2-8m deep, in crevices, Elafonisi, Kissamos, W. Crete. 25-25mm.

Unlike in the usual tuberculata, the epipodial projections of the mantle are very ramified. Above: specimen found betweeen Kukljica and Kali, northeastern coast of Ugljan island, in front of Zadar, Croatia. Size: 41mm. Original pictures provided by A. Petani (HR) – (CC BY-NC-SA).

Above: a “mykonosensis” of about 37mm collected at 7m deep near Posidonia meadow, Vouliagmeni area, Attikí, SE. Greece, compared to a folded “lamellosa” of 33mm from 6m deep, Kythnos Island, western Cyclades, S. Aegean.

Two specimens close to “mykonosensis” collected at 7-8m deep, at the foot of a little submarine cliff, near a large Posidonia field, Portlligat, north of Cadaqués, Alt Empordà, Girona, Catalunya, NE. Spain. 35,8-36,2mm.

A “true” tuberculata (potato-shaped, rough sculpture, rounded ventral margin and anterior extremity), also from the Alt Empordà area: among rocks at 2m deep (no Posidonia in the vicinity), near the greek breakwater of the ancient city of Emporion, Empúries area, south part of Rosas Bay. 45mm.