I'll have to agree with Pete Krull.  I have named one shell and I don't have
a degree and I am a dealer.  It was of course a Marginella.  I did let a
couple of experts read it over before I summited it and they found nothing
wrong.  I've never sold a specimen of the shell that I named, but I could if
I wanted to.  I was a collector, expecially a Marginella collector long
before I sold shells.  The trip to West Africa in the 70s was responsible
for me becoming a shell "proprietor".  I hate the word "Dealer".  Car
dealer, drug dealer, etc. are looked upon distastefully.  For some
collectors, Shell dealers are not your favorite people either. Just remember
most of us are shell lovers too.  If we go to a thankless and most of the
time unprofitable job of naming a shell after doing a lot of research we
shouldn't be shot down.  Thank you for listening.

Bob Lipe
Visit us at our website
http://www.theshellstore.com
or visit us at
348 Corey Ave
St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
Phone: 727-360-0586
Fax: 727-360-3668
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pete Krull" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2007 9:49 AM
Subject: Re: Paratypes & collection for sale here


> I think anyone who is qualified should be able to name species and
> subspecies as well as forms. To assume that only "scientists" should be
> allowed to do this is no longer practical. First because scientists are
just
> as likely to make mistakes as "enthusiasts". Look how many shells have
been
> named more than once by scientists over the years. And look how many color
> forms have been given specific and subspecific standing by scientists. A
> knowledgeable collector or dealer who may or may not have access to all
the
> scientific literature, may be more qualified to recognize a new species
than
> a scientist who has access to the literature but little practical
experience
> with the group of shells in question.
>
 Pete Krull
>

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