Hello Don,
    Haven't been in touch for quite a while - the last time was when you
were planning to go to Vava'u - but the Erato sounds familiar.  Just off the
top of my head, it sounds like Proterato sulcifera, of which we collected a
few when we were in the South Pacific a couple of years ago.  The only thing
I haven't checked out is the purple tips; the dorsal groove is the source of
the species name.  See if this helps.
    Betty R.
-----Original Message-----
From: Don Barclay <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sunday, April 19, 1998 9:41 PM
Subject: Erato ID Please
 
 
>Hi Distinguished Conch-L'ers,
>
>I just got in from snorkeling, and found a small shell that I have
>never found before.  At first glance I thought it was a tiny cypraea
>microdon, but on closer inspection I realized it was some species
>of erato, even though it looks a lot like microdon.  It is 3.9mm long,
>cream colored, with magenta tips at the anterior end (more distinct
>on the aperture side).  It also has "bumps" on the dorsum, similar
>to cypraea staphylaea except relatively closer together, and a dor-
>sal groove like cypraea nucleus or granulata.  The whole shell is
>quite glossy.
>
>I suppose this may be one of the most common eratos, but as
>none of my books devote very much space to them, I can't even
>come close to identifying it.  Any help would be appreciated.  It
>was found stuck to the bottom of a coral slab on the beach side
>of the fringing reef, in 5 feet of water, dead.  Location was near the
>mouth of Pago Pago harbor, Faga'alu, American Samoa.
>
>Thanks,
>
>
>Don
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>