"Monfils, Paul" wrote:

In many species the bulla is also different in color and/or pattern
> from the adult.  For example, Cypraea cervus and C. cervinetta, which are
> white-spotted as adults, are transversely banded in the bulla stage, with no
> sign of the adult pattern. C. tigris however, as you observed, develops its
> adult pattern quite early, in the late bulla stage.

Paul,

Isn't transverse dorsal banding the commonest pattern for juvenile
cowries?

And speaking of juvenile cowries, has anyone ever seen a larval cowry
shell?  It is such a lovely little thing, and so very different from the
adults that I think I remember hearing was described as a separate
species. They have a cancellate sculpture! Does anyone have a picture of
one?

Lynn Scheu
Louisville KY
[log in to unmask]