>To make a really long story short, I'm trying to determine if there are
>similarities of size ratios of the three Macrocypraea species, zebra,
>cervus and cervinetta.    Unfortunately, although I do have several
>specimens, I need data from many more for an objective and more thorough
>examination.
>Nancy Smith

Nancy,

I doubt if you'll get very far with this. Last week in Key West we found a
C. cervus less than 2", fully mature, and an immature specimen nearly 4".
(I don't have the mature specimen and we left the immature one, of
course!). I have also seen specimens from the Gulf of Mexico and
Jacksonville nearly 7" in size - and immature!

The same is true, in my experience, with the other two species you mention.
Sizes are all over the map. I suspect the smaller ones in a population are
the males, since I have seen pairs with one on the eggs, the smaller
nearby.

Haven't had time to measure but will if you really want to pursue this. I
don't generally keep smaller specimens any more.

Peggy Williams

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