Thanks, Chris and Paolo, for your informative replies.

To get some intact adult M. ringens, I have another excuse to return to
Costa Rica.

One of the large subadults had a bright red hermit crab that finally dropped
out on the beach after much shaking and sun exposure. Hermit crabs are such
good collectors; we're sometimes just the final collectors.

David Kirsh

> From: Chris Vos <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: Conchologists of America List <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Sun, 20 Oct 2002 16:42:10 +0200
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: web site updated
>
> Hi David,
>
> Sorry for a late reply to this most interesting mail. Malea ringens is
> indeed one of those - as all Tonna's - where size and age are not equivalent
> to one another.
> A young ringens (juvenile) will not have the "grin", and basically looks
> like a young Tonna galea to the untrained eye. If you like, I can put some
> pictures on my website when we get back from our trip. For those who have
> the Emerson & Old (1960, or was it '65): there's a picture of an immature
> ringens in there as well.
>
> Tonna's in general, when attacked and damaged, tempt to re-built what whas
> there before. Some will make a varix (sulcosa) but others (most of them)
> will just repair the damage, even if that means the "grin". I guess that
> 60mm one had more luck than the 90mm one ... which might have passed through
> that "rocky zone" as well ... seems like an absolute "normal" beach find to
> me.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Chris