www.cowries.info

[conchophile]

Some awake people have certainly seen the Lyncina leucodon from the Maldive islands on Felix' last list. For me, this is certainly the top of the game. I would like to have more information on this beauty... Was it the only one found recently? What island? 80 m deep by diving ... probably (hopefully) a rebreather diver...

[cowryman3sai]

I poured through Felix's list too and that was my favorite too!Prices have gone down everywhere and a lot more of each species to choose from.Win win situation.What struck me was the size,shape and general look of the specimenLeucodon at all other localities do not look like this.My only lasting thought is I hope there are a few there still living.Is this a place where very little diving and other activities take place.P.s.Fultoni's are regaining popularity as well as 68+mm high quality guttata.Prices have gone way down on kuroharai.Though expensive plenty of Joycae.Every year is a new situation. Happy 2009!
_________________
Robert F.Grant lll in Salina,Kansas 67401 U.S.A. Check webshots.com and cypraea collectors are now on Facebook.com.It's extremely cool!!A must check.Been collecting for 45 years.

[felix]

I suppose there is plenty of them at the right depth in the Maldives. Though it is one of the top destinations for divers, few of them will go down deep enough to ever get to see a leucodon. The third leucodon ever was found in the Maldives back in the 70ies. The species ranges to Somalia. It is all a matter of depth and method in collecting if you get a shell or not. Three leucodon have so far been found by that diver at Male Atoll, all of them dead.

[RBS5]

A long time ago a man I met in Florida had a leucodon that was somewhat similar to the one pictured in the sales list and referred to it as tenuidon. I lost touch with him shortly after and can't remember if he gave any details about the location where it was found. I was rather young and he seemed much more excited about it than I was. Recently one was sold on ebay with some comments about it possibly being the tenuidon form, but again, not quite as extreme in characteristics as the one pictured on the list. So who is going to step up and give this shell a home?

And for that matter, was anyone else excited to see garciai on the list?

Rex

[benicypraea]

Are there leucodon in Somalia? Amazing!. I cannot believe it, but I am sure that you´re right, Felix.

Regards,
Beni
_________________
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.

[Guest]

This is an exciting specimen. It reminds me of a large milk chocolate
candy ball with large white sprinkles. I always buy these as a special
treat, when my pocketbook permits.