>Hi all,
>
>Last week I collected several Nucella lamellosa that were purple.
>One in particular was as bright purple as a Janthina janthina!
>Has anyone else seen shells like these? I had no idea that this
>species occurred in such a wonderful color.
>
>Peter

I believe Nucella produces the muricid purple dye; if specimens were
irritated and covered themselves with this, in bright sunlight the
dye may turn purple and stain the shell. It is quite permanent.
Epitoniids do this too, and I have Opalia borealis from Sombrio Beach
which are still purple-stained 30 years later.

BUT it's always possible these were abnormally-pigmented shells, in
which case you're so lucky.
--
Andrew Grebneff
165 Evans St, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand
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Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut