I'm off to do my actual job....but the periostracum of many
helicostylids is quite interesting in the presence of hydrophanous lines
or zones.....these are structurally different than the other parts of
the periostracum.....if you wet the shells these zones (often white)
disappear.  And reappear as the shell dries.  Not sure of the adaptive
significance of this....if any....why would one "want" to be more
monochromatic in the wet season(s)......Or is the disappearance of the
lines just a byproduct of some other "benefit" of the lines to the
individual/species........  You are right.....if you take away the
periostracum of some species, it would be difficult to separate them
from others.....

You can rid some of the oil just by rubbing with a cotton cloth.....or
even dipping in a weak solution of dishwashing detergent.....The
cellulose in the paper towels are probably not a good idea to be rubbing
on the shells....like eyeglasses, this is not recommended.....

Personally, I have seen very few helicostylids coming out the PI of late
that have totally believable locality information.  However, some do......

The are numerous Cyclophorus species in the PI, many that look
superficially similar......Quite a few have not been figured....and I've
run across a few for which I have not found names.  Synonymies in the
literature are generally horrendous....

Kurt

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