Cypraea guttata

[gary fredrickson]

Can anyone explain the differences between guttata guttata, guttata azumai and guttata surinensis.

[tigris]

guttata surinensis, the rarest, is characterised by very dark-brown base, and brown striping halfway-up the dorsum, and usually smaller than guttata and guttata f. azumai, guttata guttata has very clear spots, and when you look at the shell from the side, you can see a ridge, azumai doesn't have that.

overall, you can separate them, when you look at the collecting-area where it was found.

but yes, it can be very difficult
regards, Jeroen