I need to find out how to get a professional verification of this shell.  There are a set of 9 photos.  The first 7 were taken by a friend who is able to get better close ups than our camera does.  However, with his flash the true color of the shell doesn't show.  We took the last 2 pictures with our camera and these 2 pictures have the actual color of the shell.  There are spots on the pictures taken by our friend that are from his lens.  These spots are not actually on the shell.  You can see the spots also in the rest of the background.  His camera also produced shiny flash spots on the shell from the flash.  

http://s141.photobucket.com/albums/r49/rippinrock/

Thank you,
Robert

This appears to be a light colored specimen of Cypraea succincta (Linne, 1758). The shape, size and banding are typical of the species. The color is quite light, but the coloration in this species is variable, ranging from light specimens like this one to specimens so dark you can barely see the lighter bands. This was once considered a subspecies of Cypraea onyx, so in older books you may find it listed as Cypraea onyx succincta.

Hi Paul

I found this shell on Diego Garcia and have recently sold it it a collector. This shell is a cypraea nymphae that I found in 1974. It has an interesting history and there just doesn't seem to be any pictures of a gem quality nymphae any where to be found. So I would like to share my pictures with you and the members and here is a link I think you will find very informing.
Have a nice day and thanks for your help. This is a really good site you have.  Here is the link for the Nymphae  Robert

http://www.cowrys.org/archive/NSN175CY.HTM

Thanks for posting this. Most interesting!

Robert,

I was stationed in Diego Garcia in 1973-74, and I was the person who wrote the article you linked to (http://www.cowrys.org/archive/NSN175CY.HTM - page down to "The Home of Cypraea onyx nymphae", by Dan Ellenburg).  I collected 22 Cypraea Nymphae during my year on the island.  I have since sold all to other collectors.

After leaving Diego Garcia I was stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and I was fortunate to meet Dr. C.M. Burgess, referenced in the article, and the author of "The Living Cowries", also referenced.

Dan Ellenburg