Hi all,
This subject was covered very well in the HNS when it was
still hard copy. They do dissolve what is in the way of the
next whorle. I have many growth series of Murex that show
the sequence. Sorry, I won't part with my 30 years plus of
HSN.
 
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> From: Stephen McMahan <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Chemicals to dissolve shells
> Date: Tuesday, October 06, 1998 11:36 PM
>
> Hi CONCH-L,
>
>                     I have a question I hope you all can
answer for me. We all
> know that the mantle secretes calcium to form the shell
but how does it
> dissolve the shell as it grows it's whorls. Take for
example Muricopsis
> oxytatus (Hexagon Muricop). These shell are covered
entirely with spines. As
> the shell grows it's new whorls it is constantly
encountering these spines.
> Does the animal dissolve the spines or does it simply
incorporate them into
> the new growth? If it does dissolve them how does it do
it and what chemical,
> if any, does it use?
>
>
> Thanks,
> Stephen McMahan