I inserted both images into a Word file where I measured
them. I found that the widths of the images were nearly identical (dorsal:
62mm and ventral: 61mm) but the lengths were very different (dorsal: 87mm and
ventral: 105mm).
If I had a cowrie shell handy, I'd photograph it close up
with a digital camera held in some kind of frame. If you see the same kind
of distortion, you might be looking at the same shell. On the other hand,
if the reference to polishing in an earlier response implies alteration, then
you are still at "square one".
Ebay. (Check willis225 rating) 95 positive responses
and one negative.
Polishing? I don't know what that might mean.
Underpriced. Ebay is an auction where one might
expect that an item might command a higher price than the opening
bid.
I looked at other images of cowries and it seemed that the
opening was usually on the right side, not in the middle of the shell as this
one appears. It might be that the shell is not exactly on the same plane
as the dorsal view. I'm guessing that its widest dimension is parallel to
the base and narrowest is 90 degrees from that when the shell is rotated on the
long axis. In other words, viewed from the side, are you seeing its
thinnest dimension? If the shell has been rotated slightly in the ventral
view, it might appear to be a little thinner.
This whole thread displays the insecurity many people have
with buying on-line because you don't have access to the real item.
Bob, are you located in the UK? If so, maybe you
can visit willis225 and see the shell "in person"
Bob,
Maybe the photos were taken with a wide-angle lens from
close up. In that case things in the foreground would appear larger (wider) than
things in the background (thus the base would look more pronounced in the
apertural view and the dorsum would look larger in the dorsal view). Just a
guess.
Peter
At 05:44 PM 13/04/2005, you wrote:
A question for any with 'hands-on'
experience with Golden cowries.
I came across an auction on eBay
featuring a Golden Cowry. It seems to have a
beautiful dorsum but the view
of the base simply cannot be that of the shell
which appears in the dorsal
image, IMHO.
Since I have only held two Golden Cowries (once each), are
there any CONCH-L
experts who might explain how the two images at
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6524823825
can
be of the same cowry?
The seller has assured me that they are the same
shell, yet I remain
unconvinced. The shell in the dorsal image is quite
inflated, without produced
extremities. The shell in the basal image has
extended anterior and posterior
extremities.
Have I missed something
very obvious or are these images of two separate
shells?
Aloha,
Bob
Dayle
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