Hi Andrew,

I am a bit curious about the size of the Hexaplex. Is its size in between
the maximum size of of H. stainforthi (approximately 65 mm) and the maximum
size of H cichoreum (approximately 130 mm), suggesting it is some kind of
intergradation, or is it a clear (but big) H stainforthi?
In the latter case, my guess would be it is an Australian shell.

I have never seen a intergradation between H stainforthi and H cichoreum. To
be honest I find that H stainforthi does not show much variation at all,
except for the spines. They can be quite delicate, or sometimes more
"node-like" probably as a result of living in rough water (surf)

Cheers,

Pete

P. Hoefkens
The Netherlands

----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Grebneff" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 11:03 AM
Subject: Hexaplex cichoreus vs H. stainforthi


> My new philippines specimen of Hexaplex "cichoreum" . It appears to
> be a very large specimen of Hexaplex stainforthi, which supposedly
> only occurs in N Australia. If this is a genuine Philippines
> specimen, this is a range extension. Or it may be an Aussie specimen
> with falsified or mixed-up data. I am forced to wonder, comparing
> this shell with H. cichoreus, whether H. stainforthi is merely a
> morph of
> H. cichoreus.
>
> Does anyone have a lsrge series of the "two" species which show
intergradation?
> --
> Andrew Grebneff
> Dunedin
> New Zealand
> Fossil preparator
> <[log in to unmask]>
> Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut
>
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