Forums SEASHELL-COLLECTOR

Wondering if someone could please help me ID this shell. I would call it a spiral but I'm sure that's not what its called. Thank you.

<img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b51/nakamura1336/DSCF2509.jpg" alt="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b51/nakamura1336/DSCF2509.jpg" style="border:0" />

<img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b51/nakamura1336/DSCF2510.jpg" alt="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b51/nakamura1336/DSCF2510.jpg" style="border:0" />  <span class="petit">--Last edited by nakamura1336 on 2009-04-08 20:50:30 --</span>

This is Terebra guttata. The common name of Terebra shells is "augers", and "guttata" means "spotted".  So, Terebra guttata = Spotted Auger.  <span class="petit">--Last edited by Paul Monfils on 2009-04-08 22:13:20 --</span>

In fact, Terebra guttata is often called "eyed auger", though that name is usually applied to a different species, Terebra argus ...

<a href="http://www.jaxshells.org/0709aa.htm" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.jaxshells.org/0709aa.htm">http://www.jaxshells.org/0709aa.htm</a><!-- m --></a>

This is one more example of the confusion that can result from common names, which I addressed in another post.  If someone agreed to send you an "eyed auger", it might end up being either of these species.  But if someone agreed to send you a Terebra guttata or a Terebra argus, you would know exactly what to expect.  How many species do you have in your collection?  What is your favorite family or group of shells?  <span class="petit">--Last edited by Paul Monfils on 2009-04-10 19:20:38 --</span>