>     I have a Conus literatus. It is about nine inches tall. So is
>its opening. It has a perk. The perk is about one inch. The question
>is: what the hecky darn good does such a small perk do?

Decoration, of course!

Seriously, I expect the operc is retained despite its apparent
obsolescence due to inertia. I wonder how large the opercs of Eocene
Conus were? Perhaps then they sealed the aperture?

Well, why do some Sinum still have a small operc?
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin, New Zealand
64 (3) 473-8863
<[log in to unmask]>
Fossil preparator
Seashell, Macintosh & VW/Toyota van nut
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I want your sinistral gastropods!
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Opinions in this e-mail are my own, not those of my institution
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A: Because it reverses the logical flow of conversation.
Q: Why is top posting frowned upon?