Hi Barbara,
 
Here's a topic for discussion.  Color variation within a species has always
interested me; both aesthetically and scientifically.  Marine species like
Pecten and Spondylus are prime examples.  What are the accepted theories
for particular marine species varying widely in color?  Is it adaptive
coloring?  Genetic?  Spondylus and Pectens are quite often encrusted or
coated with marine growths which obscure the external coloring.   So
adaptive coloring seems a less likely theory.  A number of Murex, Chitons
and other groups have species that also exhibit a wide range of colors.
Color variation in land shells is often an adaptive characteristic.  What
about marine shells?   Anyone takers?
 
Rich
 
 
 
At 10:45 PM 1/27/98 -0500, you wrote:
>Is there anyone interested in pectens and spondylus?  Ed wants to know.
>
>So far intresting subjects
>
>B. Haviland
>
>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Richard L. Goldberg
Worldwide Specimen Shells
email:  [log in to unmask]
homepage:  http://www.erols.com/worldwide
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