shell identification help

[paul monfils]

Hi Edo,

After looking at the new pictures I'm sure about Vasum ceramicum (#12) and Angaria (#16 in the new pictures, #6 in the original set). The correct name of the Angaria is delphinus, not delphinula - my error. #27 is definitely an oyster (family Ostreidae), and I still think it may be Hyotissa hyotis, but I still am not 100% certain.  #10 is a puzzle. I still think it looks like an immature Vasum, and there are not very many species of Vasum, but I just can't place it.

"Iffy" is just a slang term meaning "indefinite" or "uncertain".

Most collectors start as generalists, collecting a variety of families. Some collect only gastropods, not bivalves. Few collectors begin as specialists in a specific family. General experience allows a person to compare various familes and to decide on a few favorites. Personally I have always remained a generalist.  There are just so many fascinating families that I find it difficult to narrow it down to just a few. Of course I do find some families more interesting than others.

For characteristics of families, have you looked at the family identification page on this website? It's the last item in the menu provided on the homepage, labeled "Identification Help". We don't have all the families posted yet.  I'll have to get back to that project some time soon and fill in the missing families.

Yes, a shell collection requires a lot more space than a stamp collection or a coin collection. As a collection grows, it becomes impractical to keep all the shells on continuous display. Most collectors use some sort of cabinets with sliding trays or shallow drawers to house the majority of the collection, sometimes keeping a selection of the larger, more attractive specimens on display.  I once knew a lady who had a large collection (several thousand species), whose only requirement was that every shell had to fit in a particular 1" x 1" plastic box that she bought by the thousand, and which she used to house the entire collection.  In a single 20" x 20" tray she could display 400 specimens!

Regarding size, the largest specimen is not always the best specimen. Specimen quality is more important than size. This means specimens that are free of visible flaws like growth mends, scars, chips, cracks, broken spines, fading, loss of gloss, etc. Also, in many species the colors are often brighter in smaller specimens, while the older, larger shells tend to be relatively dull.  I knew another lady who collected world record size shells, and who had at least a couple of hundred such specimens in her collection. But for most collectors size is secondary. A small, colorful specimen of Busycon sinistrum, the Florida Lightning Whelk, for example, is really much more attractive than a full grown, dull white specimen.