Value of Rare Specimens

Rare specimens like these once held incredibly high value, with one selling for three times more than a Vermeer painting at an auction. By the 20th century, the obsession over shell collecting had waned, although these specimens remained valuable. In 1966, only 41 specimens were known, but in 1969, a habitat in New Guinea was discovered where they were plentiful. Today, with the discovery, there are now numerous specimens, potentially impacting the remaining population of hermit crabs.