GEM. A SCHOOL EXAMPLE OF THE “PROTOCONCH IMPORTANCE”. Occasionally, groups of species adapt their coloration to certain soil types for reasons that are unexplored and not understood. Here is one such example from a fisherman who brought back shells collected on the Zamboanga Peninsula: a vespertilio and an aulica, both almost the same size, of similar shape and with similar orange coloration. On the body whorl: the upper pale band has a tent pattern, the lower bands are “clean” on both shells. But what immediately distinguishes these shells as species are the protocones: larger and completely smooth in aulica, and ribbed with axes in vespertilio.
C. aulica = 95.1 mm, C. vespertillo = 85.1 mm.
Philippines. Mindanao. Zamboanga Peninsula. 25 m. 2014.
#875532
Login
Go to Iceman-xv's items
EURO