Hello all,

Recently I have had a "discussion" (well, just two different points of view,
that's all...:=) with an exchange partner regarding the extra plates coming
with Pholas dactylus. In my opinion these plates are really part of the
shell structure (same material as the rest of the shell) and should be
collected with the two valves. My partner thinks the origin of these extra
pieces is cartilaginous, so the plates could be omitted as not being really
"shell". As I don't have any Pholas with plates right now I can't check this
on the subject itself.

Are there any specialists who can help us out here ?

Thanks a lot

J. Haspeslagh
bibliotheek Zwevegem

Oudstrijderslaan 17
B-8511 Kortrijk
Belgium
0032 56 422744