"World record" sizes for mollusc shells get a lot attention and can sell
for piles of loot.  It is partly a game of course, since there are a
number of variables that decide just which shell gets the "official" nod
for recognition: sometimes a huge but battered and worn specimen may get
discarded in favor of one smaller but in F++ condition, for example, and
often the person who owns the largest collected version of a given
species, will not be interested in getting it registered by whoever is
taking care of the record biz at any given time.  But, there are still
valid reasons for continuing the practice and it will no doubt be a part
of conchology indefinitely.

My questions is: is there any way to calculate what is the "probable"
maximum attainable size for a given species, within normal, natural
parameters of genetic and environmental factors (obviously you could in
theory do selective breeding in a protected situation, and enhance
growth by manipulating environmental variables, but that would be a
different matter entirely!)?  Have any studies been done along these
lines?

 From an almost-warm and almost-sunny New Scotland,
Ross Mayhew.
http://www.schnr-specimen-shells.com/

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