John,

some specialists consider this to be a true subspecies....and there are
some collectors who do not.

c. isabella controversa have nearly black terminal ends, from the specimens
I have seen and sold in the past.

Some folks also name this species as c. controversa, and there is another
"subspecies" called c. isabella controversa atriceps, I've also seen it
referred to as c. controversa atriceps.

Puzzling, without a doubt. The ones I used to get I just called c. isabella
"form", and I did not name the form I just described it. For instance...>
C. isabella "form", very slender shell with black terminal ends and dark
pattern, F++27mm,  Taken from So and So reef, under rock at 15 feet, So and
So Island, Hawaii 2001.  I call them "forms" because they only partly
resemble a typical isabella.

If people want to name forms as subspecies then we need more scientific
evidence to support it, I've always had a problem with this since I was old
enough to realize it, it leads to species complexes.....much like in
cypraea and in conus, the two most prevalent.

Lyle


> [Original Message]
> From: John Jacobs <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 4/23/2006 5:28:17 PM
> Subject: Cypraea isabella "controversa"
>
> Here's something for you Cypraea specialists.  Cypraea (Luria) isabella
> controversa Gray, 1824 has come to my attention as mostly coming from
> Hawai'i, but also known from French Polynesia and, perhaps, Easter Island.
> Is this name considered as a true subspecies or just a form.  C. isabella
is
> highly variable in size and form, so I'm just a bit concerned about this
> name being touted as a subspecies.
>
> John
> John & Cheryl Jacobs
> Seffner, Florida
> [log in to unmask]
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> [log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs
> To leave this list, click on the following web link:
> http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1
> Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and
> click leave the list.
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
[log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs
To leave this list, click on the following web link:
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1
Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and
click leave the list.
----------------------------------------------------------------------