Macrocypraea zebra / Hexaplex fulvescens

[pilsbryi]

What do these two species have in common? At first sight nothing, besides the fact they co-exist in the same habitat. Unfortunenately they are becoming scarce, and thats something they share about.

It is just to seek for a macrocypraea zebra above 90 mm, and the conclusion i take is that it is a hard one to get . Happens the same with the Hexaplex fulvescens, above certain dimension ( 130 mm+ ).

Macrocypraea zebra it is harder to evaluate its actual rarity status, since its geographical range its much wider than fulvescens . In 2001 i had the chance to collect about 6 M. zebra in Brazil , all dead specimens, and i looked into every crevices i could.    

These two are a good baromether for whats going on with certain ceribbean species, that are getting rare. This phenomena it is quite unperceptible, since other values such as sizes and the search for gem specimens overcomes.

In the last 20 years many new collector appeared, and many new species and subspecies as well. The market changed a lot, what was supposed to be rare it is now common, and what was common  turned into rare in many cases.

These last are my priority when i make a choice, since they are still avaiable at nice prices. This will change in the years to come, so in a logic of an investement they are the right choice to make.