Thanks for all your help Has anybody heard of ALCITHOE pseudolutae? Greg In a message dated 9/24/2008 12:18:44 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: Alcithoe ostenfeldi belongs to the Alcithoe Larochei Complex, of which it can be considered a subspecies restricted to the northwestern coast of South Island. It differs from the typical species by its much larger size, attenuated axial ribs on the three first post-nuclear whorls only, a protoconch slightly more rounded. Many big larochei larochei are sold as ostenfeldi and the difference are really subtle sometimes. Alcithoe arabica has three variants only: swainsoni for the poorly sculptured form, (mostly for the South Island specimens), motutaraensis for the almost unpatterned shells, and depressa for the northernmost specimens of North Island. All these three forms are individual variation, even if these variants are more frequent in some areas. Alcithoe calva is not a valid species; It is just a smooth form of Alcithoe jaculoides. Patrice Bail 2 square La Fontaine 75016 Paris Tel:+33(1)45253330 Fax:+33(1)40501390 Le 23 sept. 08 à 00:36, Greg Curry Sr a écrit : Hello Is ALCITHOE ostenfeldi (Iredale,1937) a valid name or is it a form of A.arabica (Gmelin,1791)? Thanks Greg ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [log in to unmask] (mailto:[log in to unmask]) - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs To leave this list, click on the following web link: _http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1_ (http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1) Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and click leave the list. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Orange vous informe que cet e-mail a ete controle par l'anti-virus mail. Aucun virus connu a ce jour par nos services n'a ete detecte. = **************New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out! (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000001)