To folks who own Australian Marine Shells by Barry Wilson, and who are
knowledgeable in Muricidae: Please take a look at Volume 2, Pages
234-235. The shell illustrated in the upper right corner (figure 3A and
3B) is listed as Chicoreus damicornis. Now skip down to figure 5. This
is also listed as Chicoreus damicornis. I think it is quite apparent
they are not the same species. The shell in figure 3 looks to me like
Chicoreus axicornis. However, I wasn't aware that C. axicornis occurred
in Australia. Wilson's description of C. damicornis (page 28) states
(correctly, I believe) that in C. damicornis the major spines are
"branched at their ends and open ventrally". Neither characteristic is
evident in the figure 3 specimen. SO . . .
Is the shell in figure 3 Chicoreus axicornis?
Is the shell in figure 5 Chicoreus damicornis?
Does Chicoreus axicornis occur in Australia?
Thanks.
Paul M.