Hi Paul,

I just sent the gentleman a direct e-mail that was almost an exact
quote of what you wrote.  Only exceptions were:

4b.  I called the shell Pyrene punctata, following Cernohorsky Vol. II,
       but the Kaicher card for P. punctata doesn't look much like the
       Saipan shell.  I think I'll have to concede this one.

4c.  I think this is Vexillum microzonias.  Right size and shape, and
       they fade to this color.  It looks like the lip actually turns in a bit,
       so I'd guess it is an adult shell.

You were right on the 1b shell.  It's the same form of Conus boeticus
found in American Samoa.

Have a great weekend,



Don

----------
> From: [log in to unmask]
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Help for ID
> Date: Saturday, July 29, 2000 5:10 PM
>
> Hi George,
> Most of the shells pictured are rather common Indo-Pacific species.  There
> are a few I'm not sure about.  Here's my best attempt:
> GROUP 1:
> 1a  Conus litoglyphus Hwass
> 1b  Not certain - perhaps a form of Conus boeticus Reeve
> 1c  Conus rattus Hwass
> 1d  Conus sponsalis Hwass
> GROUP 2:
> 2a  Chicoreus sp., juvenile.  Perhaps Chicoreus cichoreum Gmelin, which is
> extremely variable, but I am not certain.
> 2b  Peristernia nassatula (Lamarck) (Fasciolariidae)
> 2c  Chicoreus brunneus Link
> GROUP 3:
> 3a  Cymatium (Septa) rubecula (Linne)
> 3b  Strombus dentatus Linne
> 3c  Mitra fraga Quoy & Gaimard
> GROUP 4:
> 4a  This is either Casmaria ponderosa (Gmelin) or Casmaria erinacea (Linne).
> Both are quite variable, and can be difficult to tell apart from the dorsal
> view.  If the shell has a row of tubercles along the entire length of the
> lip, it is C. ponderosa.  If the lip is smooth except for a few small sharp
> denticles at the anterior end, it is C. erinacea.
> 4b  Pyrene testudinaria (Link)
> 4c  Vexillum sp.  Probably a small V. caffrum (Linne)
> 4d  Nassarius graniferus (Kiener)
>
> Regards,
> Paul