These Cymatium were collected in Tonga (not too far away). They were
identified as gemmatum (by me) and they are white.

If you like pictures, I can send them.

Note that I questioned the possibility of them being mundum also.

Data;

Cymatium (Monoplex) gemmatum   2/28/2000 Lifuka Island, Ha'apai, Tonga   At
2-3 ft under rubble   G 26, 27mm 2 Russ & Sue
mundum?          W/O
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cecil Bankston" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, September 25, 2005 7:20 PM
Subject: Cymatium gemmatum


> 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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