Help please with Large shell collection

[kebrere]

Hello all,  I am new to this forum,and I thank you for being here. I have aquired a large shell lot, and I know nothing, and I do mean nothing about shells.  I am posting a few pictures in the hope someone can help me.  Thank you in advance, you can click on single pictures to get larger views.    Kim  
<a href="http://rubyarose.eaph.com/viewalbum.cgi?shels" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://rubyarose.eaph.com/viewalbum.cgi?shels">http://rubyarose.eaph.com/viewalbum.cgi?shels</a><!-- m --></a>

[paul monfils]

Hi Kim. Welcome to the forum! OK, let's see what we can do with these. For reference purposes I am numbering the pictures 1 through 23, starting with the first horizontal row, left to right, then 2nd row left to right, etc. Scientific name, followed by English name ...

1 and 3 - Cypraea arabica, Arabian Cowrie, common on shallow reefs throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region.

2 - This is a badly beachworn Cypraea (Cowrie) shell, too eroded to be certain of the species, probably an immature Cypraea arabica. This is what happens to shells when they get repeatedly rolled about by the waves and eroded by friction with the sand.

4, 5 and 17 - Harpa major, Major Harp Shell, common Indo-Pacific species from water of moderate depths.

6 and 9 - Conus textile, Textile Cone, common Indo-Pacific species. When alive this has a venomous sting, which it uses to kill fish. But it will also use its sting in self-defense, and this species has been known to kill people.

7 and 20 - Terebralia palustris, Mud Creeper, common Indo-Pacific species, lives in intertidal zone, on muddy bottoms, often in mangrove swamps.

8 and 15 - Oliva incrassata, Angled Olive Shell, lives on sand bottoms in shallow to moderately deep water, in West Central America.

10 and 13 - Cypraea argus, Eyed Cowrie, moderately common species from Indo-Pacific reefs.

11 and 21 - Conus leopardus, Leopard Cone, one of the largest species of Cone Shells, shallow to moderately deep water, indo-Pacific region. Like all Cone Shells, this has a venomous sting to kill its prey, but most Cone species, including this one, are not dangerous to humans. The Lettered Cone, Conus litteratus, is very similar, but based on the pictures provided I believe this is Conus leopardus.

12 - This appears to be a ventral view of Cypraea zebra, Zebra Cowrie, which is found from Florida to eastern Central America. A dorsal view would be helpful to confirm the ID though.

14 and 16 - Nautilus pompilius, Chambered Nautilus. This species is very different from all the other pictured shells. All the others are gastropods, that is, snail-type animals which crawl about on the bottom. This one is a cephalopod, which means that the animal that lived in this shell was not a snail, but more closely related to octopus or squid. It didn't crawl on the bottom, but swam through the water and caught fish in its tentacles. It lives in rather deep water.

18 and 22 - Ovula ovum, Common Egg Shell, closely related to the cowrie shells, though in a separate family. Common shallow water Indo-Pacific species.

19 and 23 - Conus marmoreus, Marble Cone, another common shallow water Indo-Pacific Cone Shell.

I think that covers them all.

Regards,
Paul Monfils

[kebrere]

Hello,  Thank you Paul for your help, shells are very confusing, so many look the same yet are different.  I must have 1000 or more and I do want to sell them, but want to know what they are first.  I have taken some more pictures, after doing a little research. I am hoping you have the time to look at them.  I am wanting to know if I have a "special" shell, my plan is to sell them all together as a lot, I am assuming there will be some desirables and some not so desirables amongst all of them.   I have number the files as 1 then 1A, and 1B, then started with the number  2 for the next shell, there are 10 shells altogether in this group. You can click on the pictures to get a larger view.  Thanks again  Kim
 http://rubyarose.eaph.com/viewalbum.cgi?shells

[jiminycricket]

I am so sick of ebay sellers coming on these chat boards just for easy identifications.   Do some of the footwork yourself. They turn around and sell these on Ebay with no compensation to any of you who did all the footwork and typeing.  There is a seller with the same name as kebrere's photo album name. <img src="images/smiley/drink.gif" alt="" border="0" />  

[paul monfils]

Personally, if someone asks for an identification on a shell, then I don't see that providing such information should depend on what the person intends to do with the shell. Keeping it, trading it,  or selling it all sound to me like legitimate reasons to want the correct ID.

[david touitou]

Dear jiminycricket,

I understand your frustration but as Paul explained we do help people whatever they do with their shells. Thanks again to Paul who takes a lot of his free time helping collectors.

Happy Shelling
DAVID

[paul monfils]

They don't come on here to sell.  But if someone acquires a bunch of shells somewhere, and would like to offer them on Ebay, but doesn't know anything about shells, they would first want to know what the shells are, approximate value, etc.  So they may post a picture of the shells and request such information here,

[paul monfils]

A Conus patricius in perfect or near-perfect condition might sell for $4.00 to $10.00 depending on size and degree of perfection.  A significant chip in the lip might reduce the price by 50%, and many collectors won't buy a chipped shell of a common species at any price since perfect specimens are readily available at a low price.  As in any species, a really exceptional specimen, huge size, unusual coloration, etc. might bring a higher price.