Reuben Clements wrote:
 
> Hello!!
>
> Could someone help with the authors of these shells? I would greatly
> appreciate it!:D
>
> Cypraea cribaria rottnestensis
> Cypraea lamarcki phuketensis
> Bedeva blosvillei
> Chicoreus dharmai
> Phalium angasi bulla
>
> Many thanks!!
> Reuben Clements, Singapore
 
 Hello!
 
Hi Reuben,
 
Can only help with the Cyp. cribraria rottnestensis, as follows, despite
what others have said;
 
Dr. Luigi Raybaudi Massilia did not describe
Cypraea cribraria rottnestensis as a subspecies of cribraria.
He simply listed "rottnestensis" as a form name (no taxonomic validity)!
 
He proposed many form names of various shells as an aid
to collectors (and dealers I suppose).
 
In a series of articles, ref: Cribraria, in "The
Connoisseur" Dr. Raybaudi indicated the great variability
of this Cypraea found in the NW, Western and SW
Australian coastline.
 
In issue No. 11, Sep-Oct 1986 he pointed out a series of
cribraria, he called type "C", Figure 34 on page 27, having
the locality as Rottnest Island. Never did he describe them
as subspecies "Rottnestensis"!
 
In issue No. 13, Feb 1987 he "described", Cribrarula cribraria
occidentalis Raybaudi 1987. This subspecies he "split" into
five form names; A-mutabilis, B-cylindrica, C-elongata, D-rottnestensis,
 
and E-profunda (page 42). He also published, on page 43, same issue,
one of his index cards listing "rottnestensis" and
"rottnestensis obscura" as forms of Cribrarula cribraria occidentalis
plus several other forms such as "stricta", "obscura", "nivea" and
"semicolorata".  These he listed as  form names NOT subspecies of
Cribraria.
 
In issue No 14, April 1987 he published an article on Cribrarula
cribraria
exmouthensis (Melville 1888) together with an index card of the same.
He never mentioned the "rottnestensis" but did figure and point out a
form "meridionalis"
as being from "secretive" location(s) in the SW of Australia.
 
Never has Dr. Raybaudi published a description of "rottnestensis" as a
subspecies
of cribraria (unless it was in The Conchiglia!).
 
The dealers list Cypraea exmouthensis "rottnestensis" or Cypraea
cribraria exmouthensis
form "rottnestensis". I have never seen it listed as Cypraea cribraria
rottnestensis, but again,
I do not read all of the dealers lists.
 
Lorenz, "A Guide to Worldwide Cowries 1993", lists occidentalis as a
synonym of
exmouthensis, and "rottnestensis" as an important variation or form of
exmouthensis,
as identified by Raybaudi in Issue 11 & 13 of "The Connoisseur".
 
 
Therefore in answer to your question the correct author/species is;
 
If you use Cypraea as a genus;
 
Cypraea cribraria exmouthensis Melville 1888
 
or if you use a genus split within Cypraeidae;
 
Cribrarula cribraria exmouthensis (Melville 1888)
 
in either case form "rottnestensis" is used to differentiate those
shells
similar to exmouthensis and found in the Southwest of Australia
around Rottnest Island.
 
Nota bene: The form name, "rottnestensis", has NO taxonomic validity.
 
Hope this helps.
 
--
 
Later,
 
Emilio Jorge Power
 
Please visit;
"The Liguus Home Page"
http://pw1.netcom.com/~ejpower/lighompage.html
West Melbourne, Florida  USA