Please help me to identify odd little bumpy cowrie looking shell on the left, I believe it may have come from Tahiti, but I am not positive.Actually, I could an ID on both.
http://picasaweb.google.com/jessejames13/MysteryShell/photo#5115332162016651394
Thank you  

--Last edited by Jesse James on 2007-09-28 21:10:06 --

On the left is Cypraea granulata (Pease, 1862). It is usually from Hawaii but has also been collected in the Marquesas, which are part of French Polynesia. So, Tahiti, which is also in French Polynesia, would probably be a possible locality.

The shell on the right had me confused because the dark anterior and posterior ends are typical of Cypraea isabella, but I thought the shell had dark-spotted lateral margins, which are never seen in C. isabella. But I just realized the apparent dark spots are actually reflections of the black lines on the ruler. So, I believe it is Cypraea isabella (Linne, 1758).

I don't think they are reflections.

Hi Kent,

The original picture was rather dark. Here's a lighter version with a little more contrast:

http://members.cox.net/paulcyp/cowrie.jpg

Note that the apparent dark spots on the side of the shell line up exactly with the dark lines on the ruler, which is why I believe they are just reflections of the ruler markings in the glossy surface of the shell. In any case, Cypraea isabella is the only cowrie species with this combination of size, cylindrical shape and dark anterior and posterior tips. And C. isabella never has dark lateral spots. (Compare with Lorenz & Hubert, plate 29, figure 19) So, like the country song says, "that's my story and I'm stickin' to it". :-)

I was under the impression that granulatas were endemic to Hawaii, and that "grannies" from the Marquesas are actually considered "cassiaui" and were much more rare... Opinions...?

Hi there, it is definately reflections on the side of the isabella. With such dark tips it looks more like Luria controversa to me.
Cassiaui is a subspecies of Staphylaea granulata from the Marquesas Islands. Tahiti is an unlikely locality but Marquesan shells are commonly found on dealers tables in the markets of Tahiti. Looking at the picture could it possibly be a worn Staphylaea nucleus?
Dave.