>Also, in answer to your rarity question, Don BArclay, I have a friend
>whose mother collected on the flats at Marco for many years. My friend
>has her mother's collection now and I would estimate that she has about
>15 albino or albinistic Strombus alatus, all with Marco data. Most all
>have opercs, so were found live. There are pure white on white, pure
>white with lavender or purple apertures and one with an orangish
>aperture on a pure white shell, another with a pink aperture on a pure
>white shell. There must be some environmental factor or genetic strain
>that causes so many white-if-not-albino shells to occur there. I suspect
>the former because she has other non-conch species albinos from Marco as
>well, just not in such great numbers as the strombs.

I've noticed this, too. White strombs, busycons, and especially Rose
Cockles (Trachycardium egmontianum) are common there. The cockles haven't a
vestige of color and are particularly beautiful. The live animals I've seen
are normal color.
Peggy

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