Bob,

I checked out that auction....took a few measurements.....assuming, of
course, the camera is roughly the same distance away from the shell when
both photos were taken.....dorsum measures about 60mm wide ( margin to
margin)  in both photos......I would hazard a guess and say it is the same
shell.....the photo of the base shows ( albeit shadowed ) how the dorsum
becomes inflated, in the darker slivers of color......the terminals are
puffy on the top but may not be that way on the bottom in fact of all the
ones I have had in my hands which have been dozens and dozens......I see
this.....much like stercoraria....the dorsal tops of the terminals appear
very fat and inflated but when you turn the shell over they are slender on
the bottom ventral side.  Sounds strange I know and perhaps to the more
scientific specialists it was not explained  correctly.   However.....i
have to be honest.....looking at the dorsum.....I almost, want to say the
shell appears to have been polished. But I dont have that particular shell
in my hand so I cannot make that absolute determination.

Sincerely, lyle


> [Original Message]
> From: Bob Dayle <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 4/14/2005 4:44:04 PM
> Subject: Top & bottom view of Golden Cowry...
>
> A question for any with 'hands-on' experience with Golden cowries.
>
> I came across an auction on eBay featuring a Golden Cowry. It seems to
have a
> beautiful dorsum but the view of the base simply cannot be that of the
shell
> which appears in the dorsal image, IMHO.
>
> Since I have only held two Golden Cowries (once each), are there any
CONCH-L
> experts who might explain how the two images at
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6524823825
> can be of the same cowry?
>
> The seller has assured me that they are the same shell, yet I remain
> unconvinced. The shell in the dorsal image is quite inflated, without
produced
> extremities. The shell in the basal image has extended anterior and
posterior
> extremities.
>
> Have I missed something very obvious or are these images of two separate
shells?
>
> Aloha,
>
> Bob Dayle
>
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