Identification help

[taz]

Hello

I'm slowly sorting through some shells, most of which I have been able to identify. However, there are some which I'm not sure of.

I've posted photos on my web site here:

<a href="http://www.tasmoths.net/shells/" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.tasmoths.net/shells/">http://www.tasmoths.net/shells/</a><!-- m --></a>

There are too many to expect anyone to identify them all but I'm hoping that someone may help me out with some  of the easier/obvious ones.

Shells 1 to 8 seem to be mostly  <i>Cypraea arabica</i> but a few of them look a little different.

I think #17 is <i>Cypraea errones</i>, #23 is some sort of Melongena sp and #25 is <i>Ryssota otaheitana</i> .

Any help is much appreciated.

[paul monfils]

1-8 - All are Cypraea of the "arabica complex".  I don't have time to sort them out right now but some appear to be Cypraea eglantina, some probably Cypraea arabica, some possibly Cypraea grayana.

9 - Cypraea maculifera

10,11,15 - Cypraea lynx

12,13 - Immature Cypraea, species uncertain (#13 perhaps C. arabica)

14 - immature Cypraea tigris

16 - Cypraea caurica

17 - Cypraea errones

18 - Cypraea dayritiana

19 - Cypraea erosa

20 - Cypraea carneola

21 - Cypraea felina

22 - Cypraea, species uncertain

23 - Probably Melongena patula - otherwise Melongena melongena

24 - Phalium (Semicassis) labiata

25 - Your ID is correct

26 - Strombus marginatus

27 - Chicoreus sp., perhaps C. microphyllus

28 - probably Oliva tremulina

29 - Oliva reticulata

31 - Olivancillaria gibbosa

32 - Oliva reticulata, form zigzag

33-35 forms of Oliva oliva

36 - Drupa morum  <span class="petit">--Last edited by Paul Monfils on 2009-03-10 18:10:18 --</span>

[dave r]

Taz, your shell#30 looks to be a worn Oliva vidua. Regarding the arabica complex, it is easier if you have prtecise locality data. I would suggest Felix Lorenz's website as a good place to start.
Dave

[taz]

Paul - Thank you very much. I truly appreciate the time you've spent on your reply. You really know your shells!

Does anyone think #30 could be a for of Oliva reticulata or perhaps  Oliva vidua?

As for the various forms of  C. arabica complex - I just spent ages looking through them and now have a headache :-) I think I'll need a good reference that actually describes the differences.

[taz]

Thanks very much Dave! I have been looking at Felix Lorenz's website. It's excellent.

[dave r]

Alan, I see your website address is tazmoths, are you into bugs too?
Dave

[taz]

Yes - although I'm not a collector, I just photograph them as well as rear them.