There is an on-line listing of the cowry species at
http://data.acnatsci.org/obis/search.php/8326

It is the "OBIS Indo-Pacific Molluscan Database" and the sub-title is "Data as
of: 2004-12-15". In its disclaimer, near the bottom of the page, the following
is found: "THE ACADEMY MAKES NO WARRANTY, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING
THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY OR CURRENCY OF THE INFORMATION IN THE DATABASES NOR
ITS SUITABILITY FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THESE MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED "AS
IS" FOR YOUR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY."

There are other lists of genera and species but it all depends on whom one
wishes to confer the title of "expert" as to how valid any one might be
considered.

However, I can offer a few pages which point out some of the difficulties of
"drawing" lines between groups of shells and declaring them as seperate
species. Try some of the following, if you like:

http://cowrys.org/archive/NSN169CY.HTM#I  talks about possible tigris/pantherina
crossbreeding

http://cowrys.org/archive/NSN369CY.HTM#B  shows a nucleus/granulata "crossbreed"
shell

http://cowrys.org/research/xbreeds.htm allows the viewer to choose from many
specimens crossbreed shells and their schilderorum/sulcidentata 'parents'

http://cowrys.org/research/gaskart.htm  reveals some variations in a cowry
between sites on the northern and western shores of Oahu, Hawaii

http://cowrys.org/capcowry/TAXONOM0.HTM has more about 'cross-breed' cowries
(plus a link to a 2nd page)

http://cowrys.org/capcowry/PARENTS0.HTM  this has a diagram of possible
'parents' to present hawaiian cowries

http://cowrys.org/research/kaytalk.htm "What is a species?" a transcript and
audio (.mp3 files) of a talk given at a meeting of the Hawaiian Malacological
Society

http://cowrys.org/research/tes_comp.htm   this item suggests how the Checker
Cowry got its "spots"

Hopefully some, or all, of these are of interest.

Aloha,

Bob Dayle
http://cowrys.org/research/
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Quoting Cecil Bankston <[log in to unmask]>:

> These are questions for the cowry specialists.
>
> If you were to arrange all the Cypraeidae systematically according to
> the most current knowledge of the relations between the genera in that
> family, in what order would you list all the currently accepted genera?
>
> Recent DNA evidence appears to have altered the placement of some genera
> in relation to the established subfamilies.  Is it still appropriate to
> use the 4 subfamilies?  If so, which genera would now be included in each?
>
> Various book and internet references differ in their assignments of
> genera to some species.  Is there any up-to-date checklist of cowry
> species that shows their most current generic assignments?
>
> I expect the answers would be of interest to others on Conch-L, but I
> also would welcome any direct e-mail reply.
> --
> Cecil N. Bankston
> Baton Rouge, LA
> USA
>
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