It seems to be a Erosaria marginalis melocellata Lorenz & Wiese, 1990.
I have some specimen from Zanzibar Isl. (little bit different from somalian
specimen) that looks like the figured shell.
I don't know if the distribution of Erosaria marginalis melocellata reach so
far north.
I will be pleased to have some information from Mr. Mienis.

Pasquale Fazzini

----- Original Message -----
From: "mienis" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 6:47 PM
Subject: Re: Mystery cypraea


> I do not confirm Marco's identification at the moment, however, I like to
> pay attention to the fact that single specimens of Erosaria spurca has
been
> found 3-4 times at various localities in the Red Sea. Probably they fall
> within the category of hitchhikers not in that of Anti-Lessepsian
migrants.
> Henk K. Mienis
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Marco Oliverio" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 7:27 PM
> Subject: Re: Mystery cypraea
>
>
> > Aaaggghhh!
> >
> > It looks an Erosaria spurca! Yes, I mean the Mediterranean commonest
> cowry.
> > Coming from Eilat (Red Sea) it would be one of the so-called
> > anti-lessepsian migrant. Since I tend to be very reluctant in accepting
> > antilessepsians, I would consider the possibility of fortuitous record.
I
> > must anyway admit that accidental import of a shell of cowry from the
> > Mediterranean to the Red Sea would be strange ..... ?
> > =========================================================
> > Marco Oliverio - Evolutionary Biology PhD
> > Research Scientist
> >
> > Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e dell'Uomo
> > Viale dell'Universita' 32
> > I-00185 Roma   ITALY
> >
> > phone  +39.06.49914307
> > FAX    +39.06.4958259
> > e-mail: [log in to unmask]
> >
> >