Hello Nancy ,
I think this black colour is due to the fact , that is after it died , was
lying too long on the sand , I saw the same colouring of sp. that lay too
long in the sea when died .
These sp. can ly for several years on the bottom and then the shell colour
becomes almost like a subfossil .
I hopes that answers your question ?
These fotoos you show of the Struthiolaria are very nice indeed !
Thanks , question woman !
Jan Neefs


----- Oorspronkelijk bericht -----
Van: "Nancy Smith" <[log in to unmask]>
Aan: <[log in to unmask]>
Verzonden: donderdag 7 september 2000 18:49
Onderwerp: Struthiolaria colors


> If we have a "Question Man" then we must have a "Question Woman" and I
> appoint myself as I have so many of them.  :)
>
> I now have several lovely specimens of Struthiolaria papulosa which is
> found in New Zealand.   Most of these specimens are the "normal" tan color
> with slightly darker striping.   However two, one in particular, are a
dark
> blue-grey with evidence of brownish striping "somewhere under there" but
> are predominantly this dark, odd color.    These two darker specimens were
> taken on a white sand beach (Waihi Beach) and not one of the black sand
> beaches which I understand is from high iron content in the sand...  that
> was my first guess at the reasoning for the color but that isn't the case.
>
> What causes this coloration in the Struthiolaria, anyone know?   NZ and
her
> waters are, to the best of my knowledge, a very ecologically "green" area
> so I really question pollution, chemicals or oil as the cause but I
suppose
> anything's possible.   I am ready to stand corrected by anyone with more
> information!  :)
>
> http://personal.mia.bellsouth.net/mia/n/a/nansaidh/
>
> The link will take you to pictures of the shells in question.   The images
> are good sized, so please be patient for them to load.
>
> Thank you in advance,
> Nancy Smith
>