For you guys that have actually SEEN most of the shells on this planet and
understand the minutiae of their differences, yes this would be a daunting task
to get into the nitty gritty, but what about beginner or intermediate
collectors who have 'seen' most shells on this planet only by description or
tiny little photos?  We could really benefit from some information that might
seem too easy for you experts.  For example, when I was just starting out, I
had a hard time telling strombids from other similar shaped shells until I
realized the strombids have a stromboid notch.  Too stupid to mention?   That's
a very basic one but there are others a little tougher,  but still simple for
experts. I still have a hard time telling some turbans from trochids.  Maybe
the distinction lies in the habits or in the soft part of the animal, so having
just the shell isn't helpful, but I don't know. Also, telling juveniles from
mature specimens can be really tough, especially because there are so few
pictures in general guides.
How do others feel - would a beginner to intermediate guide be helpful?  With a
foundation like that, a more detailed expert level could then be layered on
top.

Nora
Calgary, Alberta
CANADA

Paul Callomon wrote:

> > Art's question on just how we tell very similar taxa from each other is
> > a valid one: so, what we need is a book or arcticle-series which
> > summarizes the conchological differerences between taxa - OR, a "Key to
> > the Recent Genera of Molluscs" - now i know Ruth Turner has done a nice
> > conchological key for NE North America, but has anyone done one for a
> > larger, more diverse area??
> Well, with just 242 years of literature and 100,000 described species that
> shouldn't take long, should it? Seriously, if the Gastropod section of the
> Treatise on Invertebrate Palaeontology has taken this long - with no sign
> of completion as yet - the sort of project you propose here would be like
> building the pyramids with a teaspoon.
> It could be taken on as a collaborative, web-based project - a massive list
> of taxa would be put on a website, and interested parties would upload text
> to go with them, bit by bit. I expect each Cypraeid genus would have about
> 200 pages of contentious, ill-mannered screed attached to it, while the
> poor old Rissoids would remain devoid of explanation till Kingdom Come.
> No substitute for a decent library yet, comrades.