I was recently left a shell collection but am clueless about these shells.  Alot of the shells have slips of paper from a seashell museum showing a name and source.  When I search for the names on the internet to find out about them, part of the name comes up but I can never find the full name.  Below are 3 examples.  What I need to know is if the name on the paper is the "Real" name or should I go by the one name that comes up when I search.  I was going to send pictures but I don't see anything that tells me how to insert a picture here.
1.  Lambis Arthriatica  Source: Red Sea
2.  Strombus Pinuatus? (Not sure if spelling is correct) Source:  Cibu (These are written in handwriting Not sure on spelling)
3.  Lambis Scorpio  Source:  Albay Gulf
Thank you for any help you can give.

Hi there. I think the problem is in the spelling, for example the three names you give are spelt wrong.
The first should be Lambis arthritica ( the second name should always start with a lower case letter, the first name with a capital). This is in fact Lambis chiragra arthritica
#2 would be Strombus sinuatus and the source (locality) would be Cebu, an Island in the Philippines.
#3 Is Lambis scorpio the locality of Albay Gulf I do not know.
Try searching these names.
Another problem is names do get changed so sometimes you get an old name which will be different but a lot of good shell books give these 'old' names as well. If in doubt ask us here
I hope this is some help.
Dave.

This page gives some information about posting images:

http://www.seashell-collector.com/Html/acebordHELP.htm

Regarding your third shell, you probably will get some hits if you search for Lambis scorpio, as the name is often spelled that way; but I believe the correct name is actually Lambis scorpius.  Albay Gulf is in Luzon, Philippines.  

--Last edited by Paul Monfils on 2008-04-04 05:30:21 --

You are right Paul, my bad. I meant to say L. scorpius.
Dave