Cypraea

[nat76]

This shell has me a bit stumped. The bit of paper stuffed inside it has faded writing which I can't make out.  After looking at the books I would guess at C.cervinetta, C.cervis, C.zebra but without a location or any data I'm wondering if I can ID it successfully at all. Thanks for any help in advance, Nat.

http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/ac317...c28ecb.jpg

http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/ac317...31f726.jpg

[david touitou]

Hello,

It looks like the one I found in Martinique : Cypraea zebra.
Shell seems subadult and it's probably the reason why it's "inflated" and make it looks like the big Cypraea cervus. I guess it's not C. cervinetta considering it's size.

bye
DAVID

[nat76]

Thanks David, it sort of looks like Gulf of Mexico on the paper.  What features make the shell look subadult? I also read on another post you have a Facebook page with pictures. Is this for anyone to access? thanks, Nat.

[paul monfils]

This is Cypraea cervus. Neither C. cervinetta nor C. zebra is ever this inflated. Also, Cypraea zebra has ocellated spots along the lower sides (spots with dark centers, so they appear as rings).

[david touitou]

Hello Paul,

It is right that Cypraea zebra have oscellated spot on lower sides. Great ID ^^

Happy Shelling
DAVID

[nat76]

Tricky. Looking in my book "cowries" by Dr John Taylor and Jerry Walls, Zebra has lateral ocellated spots but Cervus has a wide anterior aperture. Maybe the inflation seals the deal as C. cervus. Unfortunately this is the only shell I've found so far which isn't listed in the collections species register, so I have no data anyway. I was actually hoping it wasn't one of those three so maybe I had a hope of having a record in the catalogue!  Thanks both for your time.

[paul monfils]

As David said, this specimen is subadult, which is why the pattern and the aperture are not fully developed.

[nat76]

Oh, I understand now, thanks again