Harry, I think you are right on tract.  When I was in South Bimini many
years ago, I collected martinianum, pileare and nicobaricum.  I had set
up my aquarium just like I have for all of my trips.  I placed all three
species up on their protoconchs in the gravel and as the animals emerged
I took slides of them.  The color of the animals were very different.
The martinianum animal is red with darker red spots.  Pileare is brown
with darker brown spots.   I have seen many of martinianum and pileare
shells from the Pacific and the Caribbean and both species can always be
separated.  When I was in the Smithsonian years ago they had them all
together under one name.

Bob Lipe


Harry G. Lee wrote:
>
> Since we have this species, as well as C. aquatile, in Jacksonville waters,
> we have taken an interest in its taxonomy and nomenclature.
>
 "This species, quite distinct
> from Cymatium pileare [Linnaeus] by its reddish aperture and not marked
> with alternating black and white blotches..."  Which is to say, C. pileare
> has a red aperture and lacks the black blotches between the white parietal
> teeth seen in the orange-mouthed C. maritinianum. Furthermore, C. m. is
> stockier (less elongate aperture, shorter siphonal canal, relatively
> broader outline).  In my experience, W. Atlantic shells are identical to
> those collected in the E. Atlantic, but all Atlantic shells can easily be
> distinguished from Indo-Pacific specimens.  I think d'Orbigny had it right;
> two separate species.
>

> Harry
>