A fun shell-related topic! I forget who first referred to an operc as a
"dead toenails" but it makes me laugh every time.
Considering cones, maybe it's from their baby toe?

Cheers,
Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: Conchologists of America List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Andrew Grebneff
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2004 8:10 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Perks


>     I have a Conus literatus. It is about nine inches tall. So is its
>opening. It has a perk. The perk is about one inch. The question
>is: what the hecky darn good does such a small perk do?

Decoration, of course!

Seriously, I expect the operc is retained despite its apparent
obsolescence due to inertia. I wonder how large the opercs of Eocene
Conus were? Perhaps then they sealed the aperture?

Well, why do some Sinum still have a small operc?
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin, New Zealand
64 (3) 473-8863
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Fossil preparator
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A: Because it reverses the logical flow of conversation.
Q: Why is top posting frowned upon?