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+--- Thread: Identification help (/showthread.php?tid=712)
Identification help - taz - 02-02-2009
Hello
I'm slowly sorting through some shells, most of which I have been able to identify. However, there are some which I'm not sure of.
I've posted photos on my web site here:
<a href="http://www.tasmoths.net/shells/" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.tasmoths.net/shells/">http://www.tasmoths.net/shells/</a><!-- m --></a>
There are too many to expect anyone to identify them all but I'm hoping that someone may help me out with some  of the easier/obvious ones.
Shells 1 to 8 seem to be mostly  <i>Cypraea arabica</i> but a few of them look a little different.
I think #17 is <i>Cypraea errones</i>, #23 is some sort of Melongena sp and #25 is <i>Ryssota otaheitana</i> .
Any help is much appreciated.
Identification help - paul monfils - 02-02-2009
1-8 - All are Cypraea of the "arabica complex". Â I don't have time to sort them out right now but some appear to be Cypraea eglantina, some probably Cypraea arabica, some possibly Cypraea grayana.
9 - Cypraea maculifera
10,11,15 - Cypraea lynx
12,13 - Immature Cypraea, species uncertain (#13 perhaps C. arabica)
14 - immature Cypraea tigris
16 - Cypraea caurica
17 - Cypraea errones
18 - Cypraea dayritiana
19 - Cypraea erosa
20 - Cypraea carneola
21 - Cypraea felina
22 - Cypraea, species uncertain
23 - Probably Melongena patula - otherwise Melongena melongena
24 - Phalium (Semicassis) labiata
25 - Your ID is correct
26 - Strombus marginatus
27 - Chicoreus sp., perhaps C. microphyllus
28 - probably Oliva tremulina
29 - Oliva reticulata
31 - Olivancillaria gibbosa
32 - Oliva reticulata, form zigzag
33-35 forms of Oliva oliva
36 - Drupa morum  <span class="petit">--Last edited by Paul Monfils on 2009-03-10 18:10:18 --</span>
Identification help - dave r - 02-02-2009
Taz, your shell#30 looks to be a worn Oliva vidua. Regarding the arabica complex, it is easier if you have prtecise locality data. I would suggest Felix Lorenz's website as a good place to start.
Dave
Identification help - taz - 02-02-2009
Paul - Thank you very much. I truly appreciate the time you've spent on your reply. You really know your shells!
Does anyone think #30 could be a for of Oliva reticulata or perhaps  Oliva vidua?
As for the various forms of  C. arabica complex - I just spent ages looking through them and now have a headache :-) I think I'll need a good reference that actually describes the differences.
Identification help - taz - 02-03-2009
Thanks very much Dave! I have been looking at Felix Lorenz's website. It's excellent.
Identification help - dave r - 02-03-2009
Alan, I see your website address is tazmoths, are you into bugs too?
Dave
Identification help - taz - 02-04-2009
Yes - although I'm not a collector, I just photograph them as well as rear them.