Shell identification requested by Rafael Picardal

[david touitou]

Hello! your website is very very very good! And I told my friends about your site, who are also a collector here in Palawan, Philippines.
Is having or providing my own website needed for registration? because I don't have one. And I want to be registered. I have some shells that i want to be identified. I got this through snorkeling in some parts of Palawan.
thank you in advance..

<a href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/456192" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/456192">http://www.badongo.com/pic/456192</a><!-- m --></a>
<a href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/456204" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/456204">http://www.badongo.com/pic/456204</a><!-- m --></a>
<a href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/456207" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/456207">http://www.badongo.com/pic/456207</a><!-- m --></a>  <span class="petit">--Last edited by David Touitou  on 2007-02-13 21:13:29 --</span>

[rafael picardal]

To David,

 Thank you very much for helping me posting my shells. I'm so glad. I'm now registered in your site. I found out that it was the connection here that has a problem. That's why I was'nt able to be registered on that moment.. Thank you so much! <img src="images/icones/icon10.gif" alt="images/icones/icon10.gif" style="border:0" /> .. All these shells I have, will be donated to PALAWAN STATE UNIVERSITY museum..  <span class="petit">--Last edited by raffy on 2007-02-27 14:31:40 --</span>

[rafael picardal]

hi paul,

happy shelling!

i'm still looking forward for these shells to be identified.. except the urceus and mutabilis.. i have now the book of shells of the philippines.. but still can't find the name of the cones and miters.

PS. is fighting conch exist in the philippines? i have one found in palawan, astonishing! =)

thanks!
raffy

[paul monfils]

Plate 1 (Conus):

The yellow cone I am not sure of. I think it may be the yellow form of Conus kinoshitai, sometimes called Conus tamikoae. It also resembles the yellow form of Conus bruuni, but that species is not supposed to be found in the Philippines.

The dotted Conus appears to be Conus stercusmuscarum. The color of the dots is a bit odd.  Usually the dots are very dark, almost black. Is this perhaps a beach specimen, somewhat faded? The pattern of the dots and the shape of the shell are right for C. stercusmuscarum though.

The third cone appears to me to be one of the innumerable color forms of Conus magus.

Plate 2 (Strombus):

In the left image with the 6 shells, I believe the smallest one (top center) is Strombus mutabilis. The glossy-looking one on the right I am not sure about in this view. A ventral view would be better. The other 4 are color forms of Strombus urceus.

The next picture, the orange-mouth shell with the very tall spire is not a typical specimen of any species I know. I believe it is an aberrant or "freak" specimen of Strombus urceus.

The next one, the dark shell with the tall spire, is also a form of Strombus urceus. I have several similar specimens.

The last one on the right appears to be a faded specimen of Strombus pugilis from the Caribbean. Someone must have dropped it where you found it.

Plate 3 (Vexillum):

All these "miters" are species of Vexillum, which places them in the family Costellariidae rather than Mitridae. I believe they are (L to R):

Vexillum vulpeculum
Vexillum coccineum
Vexillum subdivisum
Vexillum curviliratum

Regards, Paul

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[rafael picardal]

hi paul,

thank you so much! I have a view of what it is right now.. and the strombus pugilis, yeah maybe someone must have dropped it here... and about the conus kinoshitai/tamikoae, i'm sure that it is from here, i found this alive along with some strombus urceus at depth 1m..... i hope you and david can visit palawan, if you have'nt been here.. this place is really nice... if you can visit here, tell me, i'll give you some of my specimens.. but most of it are common... thank you. thank you. thank you so much..

Happy shelling! Have a nice day! =), raffy  <span class="petit">--Last edited by raffy on 2007-06-13 16:57:51 --</span>