Hello Don,
Haven't been in touch for quite a while - the last time was when you
were planning to go to Vava'u - but the Erato sounds familiar. Just off the
top of my head, it sounds like Proterato sulcifera, of which we collected a
few when we were in the South Pacific a couple of years ago. The only thing
I haven't checked out is the purple tips; the dorsal groove is the source of
the species name. See if this helps.
Betty R.
-----Original Message-----
From: Don Barclay <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sunday, April 19, 1998 9:41 PM
Subject: Erato ID Please
>Hi Distinguished Conch-L'ers,
>
>I just got in from snorkeling, and found a small shell that I have
>never found before. At first glance I thought it was a tiny cypraea
>microdon, but on closer inspection I realized it was some species
>of erato, even though it looks a lot like microdon. It is 3.9mm long,
>cream colored, with magenta tips at the anterior end (more distinct
>on the aperture side). It also has "bumps" on the dorsum, similar
>to cypraea staphylaea except relatively closer together, and a dor-
>sal groove like cypraea nucleus or granulata. The whole shell is
>quite glossy.
>
>I suppose this may be one of the most common eratos, but as
>none of my books devote very much space to them, I can't even
>come close to identifying it. Any help would be appreciated. It
>was found stuck to the bottom of a coral slab on the beach side
>of the fringing reef, in 5 feet of water, dead. Location was near the
>mouth of Pago Pago harbor, Faga'alu, American Samoa.
>
>Thanks,
>
>
>Don
>[log in to unmask]
>
|