Someone sent us three linguafelis wrapped turban-style in long twisted braids of Saran Wrap (clear kitchen film) and placed in Tupperware containers. Not a spine was broken. Take regular kitchen film and twist it into loose ropes. Wrap these around the shell, then quickly place it in a box slightly larger than the bundle. The kitchen film will gradually expand to fill the gap and stabilize the specimen.

PC.

Paul Callomon
Collections Manager
Malacology, Invertebrate Paleontology and General Invertebrates
Department of Malacology
Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Parkway, Philadelphia PA 19103-1195, USA
Tel 215-405-5096
Fax 215-299-1170
Secretary, American Malacological Society
On the web at www.malacological.org
>>> Andrew Grebneff <[log in to unmask]> 11/10/08 7:40 PM >>>
> I've some very spiny Spondylus linguafelis I've to pack (which I've to
> store for a longer time) besides the typical cotton woll and
> bubblewrapping does anyone have some other practical method of packing
> these fragile shells and which can guarantee me a minimum loss of/or
> broken spines....
> In general can I have on this forum some brainstorming about methods of
> packing/sending of shells (fragile or others)....



For packing such fragile shells I wouldn't use cottonwool... the
recipient won't thank you.

I'd use soft paper towels. Roll them around the specimen, crumpling
the towel as you go, until there's sufficient padding. If you don't
crumple the paper there will be no padding... crumpling is vital.

--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin, New Zealand
Fossil preparator
Mollusc, Toyota & VW van nut
Temporarily in Calgary, AB, Canada
<[log in to unmask]>

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