Martin:
 
I've been shelling in the Keys area twice in the past year.  Both visits were a
big disappointment.  Are there any special places you could direct me to?  My
husband and I try to go to FL every year to celebrate our anniversary.  Maybe if I
knew of local areas of interest I'd do better collecting the ocean treasure.
 
Thank you,
 
Rosi Neuffer
 
Martin E. Tremor, Jr. wrote:
 
> Have just returned from a trip to the keys. Found many Cyphoma gibbosum on the
> sea fans. Took 2 nice large ones and left the rest for posterity. One shell
> was of particular interest, and caught my eye immediately. It was a Cyphoma,
> also on a sea fan, however the color of the animal was completly different.
> The mantel was a cream with purplish tint, the spots were dark purple with a
> darker purple to black ring around them. This shell was taken and measures
> 20mm in length, it is somewhat more elongated then the Cyphoma gibbosum. The
> color of the shell is white to cream with purple, the inside of the shell is
> purple. the lip cream white.
>
> Can anyone please help with identification of this unusual Cyphoma species?
>
> Thanks
>
> Martin E. Tremor
> St. Petersburg, Florida