Hi
I have two maritime shells found in Mombasa that I have tentitively
identified as Lambis truncata. They are both thick, heavy shells with blunt
spires and blunt tubercles Colour is a light brown with a browner
periostracum. Inside is white. Both of my specimens are without the usual
straight projections on the lip. The smaller shell (19cm) has no lip. The
larger (22cm) has a lip that has six ridges that could have developed into
the straight projections plus a well developed siphonal canal. Both were
found live by myself while snorkelling at Diani beach in 1977.
My question is how do these shells develop? Are my specimens juvenile?
Unfortunately I do not have a mature specimen although I would like to
acquire on (hint, hint :)))))))))))). Do these Conch dissolve certain parts
of their shell to develop?
I have pondered a similar question with the many Phalium undulatum von
Born from Cyprus that I own. Many specimens that I possess have thick
shells with thick outer lips. Others posses a very thin shell with no outer
lip at all. I know it takes all kinds to make up a world but sometimes
these shells almost look like another type to me.
Many thanks
Ed
Selsey, England. Apres la deluge and waiting for the next one this weekend.
:(((((((((