Does Cymatium gemmatum occur in the Tuamotus, French Polynesia?  Hemming
& Hennen indicate a Western Pacific range; but Coquillages de Polynesie
includes a shell it calls gemmatum.  Are shells labeled as being
gemmatum from French Polynesia actually misidentified mundum?

It seems there has been much confusion and contradiction in the
literature regarding gemmatum and mundum, which some authors considered
synonyms.

Descriptions of gemmatum say it is tan or brown.  Some of the pictured
"gemmatum" on the web are pure white.  Are those actually mundum, or are
white gemmatum a common variation?
--
Cecil N. Bankston
Baton Rouge, LA
USA

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