I like to exchange Cowries...

Dear shell collectors,
During my life of Cypraea collector I always improved the possibility to exchange specimens.
For this reason I ask all shell collectors, that can see my blog, if they are interested to make exchanges.

I will be happy to know new shells collector friends!

New Cypraea species from Indian Ocean?

Felix Lorenz informed in his website on 25.03.2007 about a new possible species of Cypraea dredged at 400 m off Burma.

It seems a strange intermediate between C. hungerfordi and C. barclayi. It is a nice specimen.

Up to now, to my knowledge, it is the sole specimen collected of this possible new species.

But could it be an hybrid?

I should be happy to receive some comments on it.

Tiny rarities from French Polynesia

Some species of the family of Cypraeidae are really small, about 10-14 mm. But even if they are so small there are no discussions on their beauty.
This is an example of tiny Cowries coming from French Polynesia. They are really uncommon, due to the difficulty to find them (so small) inside corals and for the depth to collect them. In the picture you can see (from left to right) Erosaria thomasi, Erosaria bernardi and Cryptocypraea dillwyni.

What a wonderful shell!

Hi!
It is my first post in this blog...
First of all: why this blog??
Because I need to show my love for Cowries, probably one of the best and well known families of shells.
During my life I have seen thousands Cowries in shell shows, in collections of my friends, in museums, in the books, on the web. But it is always a fantastic moment when I can see a new particular specimen, having something of different.
I remember well when I had the opportunity to see the first Cypraea specimen in the museum of my University, longtime ago... and the first conchological publication: La Conchiglia, that was for decades a strong support for many shell collector around the world.
Many years are gone, and many specimens are added to my collection. I have known many shell collectors; I did a lot of exchanges with them. What a revolution when internet become available: in the past it was necessary a period of weeks to define an exchange and now you can close an agreement with a friend that is poles apart in some hours! To buy shells in the past it was necessary to receive by snail mail the price list of a dealer, make e reply by post and wait weeks (or months) to receive the specimens. Now you can find a price list on the web (with high quality photos...), you can choose the exact specimen you wish and confirm your buy in few minutes.
Power of technology! But probably we are running too fast... Be quiet! It is an hobby!