Hi Ross

I recently got  2 large live taken Cypraea petitiana from W.Africa with
barnacles in dorsum which is not common among Cypraeidae.The specimens were
from shrimp trawlers but still with the animal preserved in alcool inside
the shell.

regards


Bernardino


----- Original Message -----
From: Ross Mayhew <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, June 17, 2002 6:29 AM
Subject: Do calcareous deposits occur on live cowrie shells?


> Given the multitudinous creative ways folks have found to make
> dead-collected Cypraea appear live, i have been finding myself stumped
> on several occasions recently.  One thing i'd like to know is: can
> calcareous deposits such as are often seen on the tips of dead cowries,
> ever occur on live ones?  And, do little worms sometimes live underneath
> the mantle of live Cypraea, and burrow into the shell?
>
> Thanks, from the still-chilly (getting up to 16 tomorrow however!) North,
> Ross.