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benicypraea · Posted: 09.04.2009, 09:43 Post subject: Turdus in the mediterranean

Hello all:

I have in the collection one specimen of turdus collected in Jherba Island, Tunisia, Mediterranean Sea. This cowry has been recently studied and later named as "micheloi" by Lorenz. I would like to know if there are some other places where this cowry have been found recently, besides Jherba I., I don´t know exactly, but I can imagine that perhaps in a few years this cowry can be found near Morocco or even in southeastern Spain. Occasional specimens of the beautiful Triton Charonia variegata can be found in a very small area in southeastern Spain, (protected) as well as Canary Islands, Açores, Madeira and middle-east mediterranean sea. Perhaps the range of turdus here in Mediterranean is larger than recorded, like the large Triton.
Concerning these cowries, some people told me that the Mediterranean population of turdus is increasing because has good conditions to survive. In fact, temperature of water in Jherba and surroundings are normally high in winter, they are feeding on algae (or perhaps sponges??) there and the quality of water in the area is good, ast least these waters are not too polluted like other spots in the mediterranean sea.
Any reply, opinion, thinking, feeling, record, note, etc will be greatly apreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Regards.
Beni Cool

_________________
I started to collect seashells since my childhood but I decided to focus on cowries in 1990. I like all kind of cowries, freaks, normal, nigers, dwarfs...
Also I collect conidae and Muricidae.

felix · Posted: 09.04.2009, 14:12 Post subject:

correction, please:

Erosaria turdus micheloi was named by M.Chiapponi

These shells are very common around Sfax in Thunesia, they live at 2-3 m on sand with algae. The conditions around Sfax seem ideal, I am quite sure the species will spread in the Mediterranean as Strombus decorus raybaudii has.

benicypraea · Posted: 09.04.2009, 15:07 Post subject:

Thanks a lot, Felix, for correction. Obviously, I was wrong concerning the author. I agree that the species has opportunity to survive in the area.
Sfax area is also the home of some other mediterranean cowries like lurida and pyrum, if I am not wrong again.
Regards,
Beni Cool

_________________
I started to collect seashells since my childhood but I decided to focus on cowries in 1990. I like all kind of cowries, freaks, normal, nigers, dwarfs...
Also I collect conidae and Muricidae.

benicypraea · Posted: 20.04.2009, 09:45 Post subject:

Also turdus new population have been found recently in Isola di Lampedusa, near Gulf of Gabes, Mediterranean Sea.
Regards,
Beni Cool

_________________
I started to collect seashells since my childhood but I decided to focus on cowries in 1990. I like all kind of cowries, freaks, normal, nigers, dwarfs...
Also I collect conidae and Muricidae.

Erosaria · Guest

Dear Felix, can you please tell me the reference for Erosaria turdus micheloi?
Another question is: where did you read about new populations of Erosaria turdus in Lampedusa Island?
Thank you

crushed tomato · Guest

dear Benicypraea,

as far as we know the e. turdus is from indian ocean and time to time some shells come through red sea (they have been called lessepsian as we know) in the mediterranean, if they wil settle down any area in the mediterranean; that has to be israel or turkish coasts.
however it could be very interesting to see the article if you kindly provide us.

thanks

benicypraea · Posted: 13.05.2009, 09:22 Post subject:

Dear Guest:

I found it in an italian website and forum. I will try to get the references and I will post you.
Regards,
Beni Cool

_________________
I started to collect seashells since my childhood but I decided to focus on cowries in 1990. I like all kind of cowries, freaks, normal, nigers, dwarfs...
Also I collect conidae and Muricidae.

benicypraea · Posted: 15.05.2009, 23:52 Post subject:

Info extracted from this site: www.naturamediterraneo.com
Regards,
Beni Cool

_________________
I started to collect seashells since my childhood but I decided to focus on cowries in 1990. I like all kind of cowries, freaks, normal, nigers, dwarfs...
Also I collect conidae and Muricidae.

crushed tomato · Guest

thank, i will check it out.

by the way, i would like to thank Dr. Lorenz for this excellent site, forum, pictures...

qm2builder · Gender: Joined: 20 Jun 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Tripoli

Good evening,

Im french expact in Libya and when diving I always found a lot of Turdus... By the way, is somebody knows how to keep them alive in an aquarium ?
Regards,

benicypraea · Posted: 20.06.2009, 23:30 Post subject:

what kind of habitat is good for turdus there in the mediterranean? We can think that this specimes becomes moderately common like lurida and pyrum there in Gulf of Gabes.
Regards,
Beni Cool

_________________
I started to collect seashells since my childhood but I decided to focus on cowries in 1990. I like all kind of cowries, freaks, normal, nigers, dwarfs...
Also I collect conidae and Muricidae.

benicypraea · Posted: 20.06.2009, 23:32 Post subject:

I want to say if they lives also under stones or rocks like some other cowries. Felix wrote some interesting notes concerning turdus previously.
Thanks for any other info in advance.
Regards,
Beni Cool

_________________
I started to collect seashells since my childhood but I decided to focus on cowries in 1990. I like all kind of cowries, freaks, normal, nigers, dwarfs...
Also I collect conidae and Muricidae.

Bart · Gender: Joined: 02 Feb 2010 Posts: 20 Location: Netherlands

Again, for Cowry-lovers like we are, it is nice when a "new species" is added to the Mediterranean waters...
Still I wonder....how a species like this can settle thousands of miles from its original habitat...
It must be common near Sfax, for a friend of mine collected them without difficulty...
Hopefully the same will happen as with Strombus decorus raybaudii which has spread throughout the entire Eastern Mediterranean in the past 20 years.
I wonder...when were the first records of Cypraea turdus in Tunesia???
_________________
I am always interested in buying or exchanging Cowries, especially when they are very variable.

benicypraea · Posted: 04.02.2010, 11:05 Post subject:

Hello Bart:

I have read an interesting "old" article concerning Erosaria turdus in the mediterranean, the first record of turdus in Tunesia happened in Djherba Island. I don´t know where I kept that article... If I find it, I will provide you further info.
Now Erosaria turdus is common in several spots there in northern Africa, perhaps will I get them in South Spain? Auf den Arm nehmen

Never we know...
Regards,
Beni Cool

_________________
I started to collect seashells since my childhood but I decided to focus on cowries in 1990. I like all kind of cowries, freaks, normal, nigers, dwarfs...
Also I collect conidae and Muricidae.

benicypraea · Posted: 04.02.2010, 11:12 Post subject:

Bart, you can also find aditional info in Acta Conchyliorum (Magazine of Club Conchylia) March 2009. Pg 95. Chiapponi M. "A lessepsian subspecies of Erosaria turdus (Lamarck 1810)", with the original description of micheloi.
Regards,
Beni Cool

_________________
I started to collect seashells since my childhood but I decided to focus on cowries in 1990. I like all kind of cowries, freaks, normal, nigers, dwarfs...
Also I collect conidae and Muricidae.

Turdus in the mediterranean