Ross,

I suspect that your shell is a sub-fossil. I had a "golden" Checkered Cowry that
I took from slity sediment in a cave, at 90 feet down, off of Makau. It had a
perfect finish, apparently falling from the ceiling of the cave into the silty,
chemically-active 'poop' deck of fish leavings below. The cowry's tendency is
to slowly roll until it rests on its base. Then, if the labrum is heavily
callussed, the shell VERY slowly submerges into the silt, labrum first (and it
is slowly covered by a continuous "rain" from above).

The odd coloration on your shell may have been caused by decaying material,
either inside or outside of the shell.

I hope that's of some help.

Aloha,

Bob Dayle

Quoting "J. Ross Mayhew" <[log in to unmask]>:
>     I am wondering about a very pale Cypraea lamarki i have from
> Zanzibar.  It has virtually none of the pitting or scratches typical of
> subfossil specimens, yet it is "washed out" in color in a fashion
> similar to the way subfossils become.  The question is: is it possible
> to have a subfossil with no pitting or scratches?  Personally i can't
> see it, because they have to be dead first, then they are surrounded by
> sand for thousands of years - so one would think they would pick up at
> least a few "dings" in that process.
>     Here is the critter in question:
> http://www.schnr-specimen-shells.com/26454.JPG - it has a couple of
> small pit-like marks, but i have looked at it under 10x and it has no
> scratches.  One of my more knowledgeable customers says it is a
> sub-fossil, but i am decidedly unconvinced.  Opinions?
>
>  From still chilly New Scotland,
> Ross Mayhew.
>
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