cypraea checklist

[brandaris]

Hi, I would like to obtain a full identification checklist of all available/known cypraea species. Where can I find a full checklist with names (photos and biggest sizes registered if possible), any known websites/links? Thanks in advance!

[dave r]

Hi there, try Felix Lorenz's site at <a href="http://www.cowries.net" target="_blank"><!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.cowries.net">www.cowries.net</a><!-- w --></a>
Dave

[pilsbryi]

Besides Felix Lorenz you can try <a href="http://www.cypraeidae.com" target="_blank"><!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.cypraeidae.com">www.cypraeidae.com</a><!-- w --></a> ( belongs to Philippe Quiquandon ) but just dont take the prices seriously :-) .
<a href="http://www.deepnreef.com" target="_blank"><!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.deepnreef.com">www.deepnreef.com</a><!-- w --></a> ( Portuguese dealer )
<a href="http://www.atollseashells.com" target="_blank"><!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.atollseashells.com">www.atollseashells.com</a><!-- w --></a> ( Portuguese dealer )

About the maximum size you can buy World Record Sizes magazine 2008.

Personally i think that the biggest doesnt mean the best quality. If you have both then you`ll have a special one but these are one in a million shells, and for their own they do not make your collection more interesting.  

Be carefull with strange patterns ( abinos or orange c.f. ) mainly those that come from Asia. Some maybe fakes.

pilsbryi

[dave r]

Yes, you can get Orange specimens by baking them in the oven and these are often advertised as rare colour forms.

[pilsbryi]

I forgot to tell about the sinistral fakes. With 3 shells the artist builds up 1 sinistral with fake periostracum. Some time ago a dealer was cheated in this way and paid a fortune for the shell. In the Philippines they do this job for over than 30 years now. The local gonverment knows the deal, so there`s no way to get the money back.