Nora,  Many first time visitors to the Florida Keys find young Strombus
raninus and think they have found a Conus regius because the coloration
is very similar.  I've seen this several times.  And like Thomas has
said when strombus are juvenile they have no notch, but as soon as they
start to flare into adulthood the notch starts to form.
 
Bob Lipe
 
Thomas E. Eichhorst wrote:
>
> Nora,
>
> Young strombus do not in fact have an eye notch.  They are called
> rollers and don't have any flare to their lip at all.  Some can be
> confused to first time you see them for cone shells.  Young S. alatus do
> exhibit strong spiral cording and most the typical knobs on the apex
> whorls.
>
> Tom Eichhorst in New Mexico, USA
 
--
www.theshellstore.com
The Shell Store
348 Corey Ave
(727) 360-0586 Fax (727)360-3668