I don't have the references at my fingertips but Mel Carriker did
some work on spine dissolution and reformation in muricids.  Also,
acids are involved in dissolution of shell (via the accessory boring
organ) in various oysterdrills and moonsnails.  This secretion, I
believe, also incorporated enzymes (protein enzymes) and calcium
chelators.    Bob

Date sent:              Sun, 13 Jun 1999 14:57:32 -0400
Send reply to:          Conchologists of America List <[log in to unmask]>
From:                   John Wolff <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:                Re: Cowrie/Acid
To:                     [log in to unmask]

In the May 1989 issue of HSN (p.4), Teri Marche reported on a Murex
palmarosae growing in her aquarium. Part of that process included "the
mantle dissolving away at the base...five spines from an earlier varix"
I always assumed it had to be done with acid, what else would dissolve the
earlier spines?

At 05:09 PM 6/11/99 -1000, you wrote:
>James:
>When you posted the question, I asked Dr. E. Alison Kay, who specializes
>in Cypraea if she has heard of cowries using acid as a defense.  She
>hadn't heard of that, but said, "There have been reports in the
>literature that acids have been detected in mantle cells of cowries. The
>only example that comes to mind at the moment (without me going through
>my literature lists) is that of some evidence for acid secretion in
>Trivia. I can try to track the reports down, but not today! Alison
>--
>                     Aloha from Wesley M. Thorsson
>Editor of Internet Hawaiian Shell News, a monthly Internet Publication
>           122 Waialeale St, Honolulu, HI  96825-2020,  U.S.A
>       http://www.hits.net/~hsn                 [log in to unmask]


John Wolff
2640 Breezewood Dr.
Lancaster, PA 17601, U.S.A.