Thanks Paul, that helped.

-----Original Message-----
From: Conchologists of America List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Paul Monfils
Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2003 9:58 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Cymatium mundum


C. gemmatum tends to be fairly light in weight, rather delicate looking
for a Cymatium, with finer sculpture. C. mundum is "chunky" and
noticeably more solid, with wider, more rounded varices and generally
coarser sculpture. C. gemmatum has a greater length-width ratio, due to
a taller spire and a longer siphonal canal. C. mundum is usually white
or off-white, while C. gemmatum is usually colored - brown, orange,
reddish, etc. frequently with darker transverse bands.  These two are
one of those "species pairs" which are fairly easy to tell apart
visually once you have seen several of each, but which are difficult to
write descriptions which will enable someone else to identify a
particular specimen - like Cypraea tigris and Cypraea pantherina.