Thanks to those who helped me with my shell ID. No ideas on my mussels
though.  Can anyone tell me of a good book for worldwide mussels (Mytilidae)
and one on Abalones?
Nora Bryan
Calgary, Alberta
CANADA
 
NORA BRYAN wrote:
 
> I have a couple of shells in my collection that I just cannot ID.
> Perhaps some of you could point me in a possible direction (when I have
> finally obtained all the shell books I will need I won't be bugging you
> all with this basic stuff):
>
> 1.  This one is large (about 4" long) and looks like a member of the
> Melongenidae - it looks most like a picture of Volema tuba in the
> Eisenberg book.  The outer surface is fairly smooth and cream colour
> with some pale brownish colouration as well.  The interior is pink.  Is
> there any other shell this could be besides V. tuba?  I don't know it's
> provenance.
> 2. I have two others that look very similar to the above, only they are
> smaller, maybe 2", paler and they may have come from Florida (in a box
> of unidentified shells).
> 3.  A bivalve that looks like it belongs in Mytilidae - it is about 2"
> long and has a fairly typical shape (like M. edulis) but it has a pale
> golden periostracum over a white shell. There is very little
> irridescence on the inside It is fairly thin.  Again, I don't know where
> it is from.
> Maybe some more serious collectors wonder why I bother with shells of
> unknown provenanace, but my collection is still small, and I hate to
> discard nice-looking shells.  I'd rather face the challenge of trying to
> figure them out.  Maybe over time they can be replaced with others that
> have more complete labelling.
> Thanks in advance for any leads you might pass on.
> Nora Bryan
> Calgary, Alberta
> CANADA