I found these shells over the last year on the small island of tinian, near Guam. I have been able to identify a few online, but need help with most of them. Are any of these rare? i have also included of the one i am most interested in, i havent seen any like it before. thanks a lot, z.
http://www.badongo.com/pic/13192445
Hi, These are all common species. I can ID most of them for you. A few are uncertain because of the degree of wear and/or the angle of photography.
Top row: Cypraea mauritiana; Cypraea arabica; Cypraea lynx; Cypraea arabica; Cypraea arabica; Terebra maculata
Row 2 (4 small shells):Â Conus lividus or Conus flavidus, not sure which; Cypraea isabella; Cypraea carneola; Conus miles
Row 3 (5 small shells): First one is a member of the family Fasciolariidae, pretty worn but probably Latirus polygonus; Strombus mutabilis; Cypraea sp.; Cypraea moneta; Cypraea sp., probably Cypraea globulus or Cypraea bistrinotata.
Large shell to the right of rows 2 and 3:Â Trochus niloticus
Row 4: Probably Conus lividus; Conus litteratus; Conus pulicarius; Terebra sp., probably an immature Terebra maculata, a better picture would clarify.
Row 5: Conus ebraeus; Strombus mutabilis; Conus planorbis vitulinus
Two shells at bottom:Â Immature Cypraea that have not yet developed the adult pattern, either Cypraea eglantina or Cypraea arabica
May be able to ID the uncertain ones with better pictures - straight-on view, as closeup as possible, of both the top and the bottom sides of the shell.