Paolo,

Exciting photos, it was a lucky encounter for you.

I just returned from Costa Rica and found many fragments of Malea ringens
with the "grinning" aperture on the beach. However--and this is a little
puzzling-- I also found two specimens (about 90mm each) intact in rocky
zones but without the "grin". Referring to Keen's book on Tropical West
America, it looks like there's no other possibility for identity. The
grinning fragments were from smaller shells (about 60mm).

Is this another case where size at maturity varies a lot? Or does the lip
ornamentation get resorbed and re-built,  as in some species?

David Kirsh
Durham, NC

> From: "Paolo G. Albano" <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: Conchologists of America List <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2002 20:51:43 +0200
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: web site updated
>
> My homepage has been updated with some photos of live Tonna galea and its
> eggs. Follow "online contributions".
> Other minor updates have been added.  Have a look at:
>
> http://members.xoom.virgilio.it/pgalbano/index.htm
> Best regards,
> Paolo
>
> Paolo Giulio ALBANO
> Bologna, ITALY
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> Homepage: http://members.xoom.virgilio.it/pgalbano/index.htm