Andrew,

Not following this one!  The embedded prismatic cells in the shell are
created by the mantle of the animal.  Yes, I realize they are structurally
different than the soft parts pigments, but if the animal cannot secrete
melanin say, than this should be lacking in both shell and soft parts.
Different process but same origin, what am I missing?

Tom Eichhorst (writing this before my first cup of coffee - dedicated...)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Conchologists of America List [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Andrew Grebneff
> Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2004 4:05 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Albino shells... more thoughts
>
>
> It just occurred to me that albino snails cannot be deduced from
> white shells. AND... there is absolutely no reason why a truly albino
> animal cannot produce a normally-patterned shell. After all, the
> pigments in the shell have nothing to do with the biological pigments
> in the animal's tissues.
>
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