Crassicantharus noumeensis is moderately uncommon but rarely seen. They can most easily be found on the seaward reef at depths of around 10 to 15m underneath thin layers of sand spread over hard reef. They can also occasionally be found under rocks or in rubble, and at depths up to at least 25m. This is certainly one of the more attractive fasciolariids at Kwaj. Unlike many of the other spindles whose animals are colored with some variation of red or maroon, the animals of this species pretty well match the shells. Some references place this in the genus Dolicholatirus or Teralatirus.
Shells are often seen heavily encrusted or with damaged spires as the one below.
Created 10 December 2011
Updated 6 March 2020