Hello, Bob,
I believe that the pictures are of the same specimen. The images appear to be produced by scanning with a flatbed scanner, which tends to distort the features of the shell. The basal image is more indicative of the true outline, since the dorsum has more depth, and the more depth the scanner needs to take in, the more it warping it causes. I can send some other examples you can look at if interested.
I hope this helps.
Aloha,
Dave Lum
Pearl City, HI
>From: Bob Dayle <
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>Reply-To: Conchologists List <
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>To:
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>Subject: Top & bottom view of Golden Cowry...
>Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 10:44:04 +1000
>
>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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