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.
:(((((((((