please help confirm identities of these shells

[dave r]

Hi there, I think the shells are as follows:
#1 Chicoreus (Triplex) palmarosae, the Rose-branch Murex
#2 Semicassis (Semicassis) bisulcata the Two-grooved Bonnet
#3 Casmaria ponderosa ponderosa f.quadrata the Heavy Bonnet
#4 and 5 Hexaplex chicoreum the Endive Murex, a very variable shell
#6 Glycymeris pectunculus the Comb Bittersweet
#7 Perotrochus hirasei Hirase's Slit Shell
Hope this is of help.
Dave

[shellhunk]

Guys please kindly identify these shells for me. I have an idea what they are but just not sure. 7 shells only.

Thank you again especially to Paul Monfils and David Touitou who have been very very helpful and accommodating as always.

shell 1 Brunneus?
<a href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/4015974" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/4015974">http://www.badongo.com/pic/4015974</a><!-- m --></a>
shell 2 Casmaria ponderosa?/semicassis bisulcata?
<a href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/4015945" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/4015945">http://www.badongo.com/pic/4015945</a><!-- m --></a>
shell 3 semicassis glabrata?
<a href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/4015953" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/4015953">http://www.badongo.com/pic/4015953</a><!-- m --></a>
shell 4 Murex 1
<a href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/4015998" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/4015998">http://www.badongo.com/pic/4015998</a><!-- m --></a>
shell 5 Murex 2
<a href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/4016003" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/4016003">http://www.badongo.com/pic/4016003</a><!-- m --></a>
shell 6 small clam
<a href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/4016007" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/4016007">http://www.badongo.com/pic/4016007</a><!-- m --></a>
shell 7 perotrochus hirasei?
<a href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/4016011" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/4016011">http://www.badongo.com/pic/4016011</a><!-- m --></a>

[shellhunk]

I got 3 right.  <img src="images/smiley/clap.gif" alt="" border="0" />   <img src="images/smiley/biggrin.gif" alt="" border="0" />

Thank you very much Dave! Absolutely a big help!  <img src="images/smiley/clap.gif" alt="" border="0" />

Cheers!

Chris

[paul monfils]

I agree with Dave on all but one. I think #1 is Chicoreus microphyllus (Lamarck, 1816).

Semicassis bisulcata is a variable species with several named forms. This smooth glossy form with the distinct spotting is somethimes called Semicassis pila (or Semicassis bisulcatum pila).  <span class="petit">--Last edited by Paul Monfils on 2008-07-19 07:24:49 --</span>

[dave r]

Sorry Paul but I still think palmarosae. It looks too large for microphyllus which also does not have the brown markings around the aperture. Do you equate microphyllus with torrefactus? I suppose it does resemble torrefactus a bit but the spination is wrong. I did think possibly rubiginosus but I compared it with the shells in my collection ( one of my specialities is Murex) and it matches palmarosae better than any of the others.
Dave

[paul monfils]

Hi Dave,

After comparing a number of additional specimens of palmarosae, microphyllus and torrefactus, I believe you are right.  Sometimes I forget that palmarosae from the eastern end of the range are less ornate than those from the western regions, which makes them superficially similar in appearance to microphyllus/torrefactus.  Incidentally, do you consider torrefactus a good species?

Paul

[dave r]

Hi paul, the palmarosae from S. India to Thailand are probably the prettiest. They are the ones with the pink fronds everyone wants. As you say, ones from the Philippines etc. can be very plain. I do consider torrefactus to be a good species, mainly by reason of shell morphology. I generally consider microphyllus to be a much smaller and slightly shorter spined shell, the colouring also seems to be more constant; very fine dark brown lines on a white background. I am looking into distribution at the moment to see if there is any reason to separate the species geographically too.
Cheers,
Dave

[shellhunk]

Wow guys I really envy your knowledge about shells. <img src="smile/eek.gif" alt="smile/eek.gif" style="border:0" /> This shell was sold as brunneus in the shell market (Philippines). I bought it as brunneus (They all look the same) but while checking the shells I just noticed the spines look different from the rest. I had an idea it's palmarosae (I researched a bit). Just had second thoughts coz I'm not an expert. And it is only 1 in the bunch of brunneus.

At least now I know.  <img src="images/smiley/smile.gif" alt="" border="0" /> I'm going to check for palmarosae whenever I see brunneus in a basket.   <img src="images/smiley/biggrin.gif" alt="" border="0" />

Thank you guys.  <img src="images/smiley/clap.gif" alt="" border="0" />