Dear Conch-Lers,

I always believed there are two different species of Giant Tuns and both
are always labeled Tonna galea.  I have both of them on my self.  I
can't find names to separate them.  There is one that comes from the
state of Florida and Honduras.  The other one is pictured in the
Compendium of Seashells and I don't think it is found in the Caribbean.
The spiral sculpture is what separates the two.  The one in the
Compendium has narrow sculpture inbetween the main sculpture.  The
Caribbean one does not have this.  The Caribbean ones are also lighter
in color and they get large off Honduras.

[log in to unmask] wrote:
>
> Someone wrote and said that they too would like to collect Tonna shells and
> could I recommend any dealers. The answer is no I can not.Dealers all over the
> world have tonnas one day and are without the next. It has taken me six years
> to put my collection together.You will find many synonyms and just plane bad
> names out there,so after you get threw this you will wait for dealers to come
> up with the shell you want. My guide to them should be out this next year.It
> will have color pictures of each one and some will show different markings on
> the same shell.The bad names will not be in the book and it will show the
> synonyms. It should be a great help to dealers and collectors.If you start
> collecting now you could have the easy ones done by the time the book comes
> out and the book will be a great help for the hard ones.Thanks for your
> interest. Glenn Houston Texas USA