Melongena shell ?

[fifbrindacier]

Hi, i have that shell since more than 20 years now. It was a gift and i have a remote souvenir it might come from Florida.

It is about 30 cm long and i think it might be a Melongena. Do you, guys, tell me if i'm right and if you have a more precise identification to propose ?

Thanks in advance for your attention.

Regards,

Sophie

[fifbrindacier]

I had a look on http://www.fossilshells.nl and on http://www.floridaseashellsandfossils.com but i didn't find a complete match.

[digit]

As soon as @MikeR sees this, he'll be able to weigh in and give an authoritative comment on this one. I can't say I've ever seen one like this from Florida as most of my fossils shells are much smaller than 30 cm. Interesting that you mention the genus Melongena as I just saw your recent posting of the Dutch International Fossil Shell Museum website (looks like a great resource for those who don't have ID guides and try to identify their finds through websites). Here's that website with a link to the genus in question:

 

http://www.fossilshells.nl/taxon_melongeninae.html

 

I'm not an expert in fossil shells though I pulled up a fossilized (left-handed) whelk shell and a Melongena coronata or subcoronata (still not clear on the difference) while pulling weeds in the backyard last weekend. I'll have to take photos of my backyard finds and post them sometime soon.

 

The one thing that makes me think that this is not a fossilized shell is the very suspicious hole near the apex. This instantly made me think of the holes that conch fishers make in the shell in order to insert a blade and detach the conch from its shell so they can cook it up or dice it up into ceviche (cold conch salad). You'll see from the image below that I found with a quick internet search that the hole in your shell looks very much like it was made by Homo sapiens. I'm guessing this limits the time range of your souvenir shell to a more recent time frame. Possibly this is even a slightly broken conch as shown below?

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken

 

[Plantguy]

Hi Sophie, Man that is a monster! Very Nice.

 

I'm thinking it probably is one of the Lobatus/Strombus types.  Mike will set us straight. 

 

Regards, Chris 

[caterpillar]

https://dico-cuisine.fr/news/lambi

[fifbrindacier]

14 hours ago, digit said:

As soon as @MikeR sees this, he'll be able to weigh in and give an authoritative comment on this one. I can't say I've ever seen one like this from Florida as most of my fossils shells are much smaller than 30 cm. Interesting that you mention the genus Melongena as I just saw your recent posting of the Dutch International Fossil Shell Museum website (looks like a great resource for those who don't have ID guides and try to identify their finds through websites). Here's that website with a link to the genus in question:

 

http://www.fossilshells.nl/taxon_melongeninae.html

 

I'm not an expert in fossil shells though I pulled up a fossilized (left-handed) whelk shell and a Melongena coronata or subcoronata (still not clear on the difference) while pulling weeds in the backyard last weekend. I'll have to take photos of my backyard finds and post them sometime soon.

 

The one thing that makes me think that this is not a fossilized shell is the very suspicious hole near the apex. This instantly made me think of the holes that conch fishers make in the shell in order to insert a blade and detach the conch from its shell so they can cook it up or dice it up into ceviche (cold conch salad). You'll see from the image below that I found with a quick internet search that the hole in your shell looks very much like it was made by Homo sapiens. I'm guessing this limits the time range of your souvenir shell to a more recent time frame. Possibly this is even a slightly broken conch as shown below?

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken

 

You must be right for that hole, it has to be man made to cook it, that's why i now think it comes from the isles Sandwich.

[fifbrindacier]

16 hours ago, Plantguy said:

Hi Sophie, Man that is a monster! Very Nice.

 

I'm thinking it probably is one of the Lobatus/Strombus types.  Mike will set us straight. 

 

Regards, Chris 

Yes, that's one of the taxons i've tought about. The opening on the ones i see on the net seem different, that's why i mentioned Melongena rather than strombus. And You're right, it's a monster.

[fifbrindacier]

14 hours ago, caterpillar said:

https://dico-cuisine.fr/news/lambi

A Strombus costatus, well, i followed your link and it seems to be a very good idea. It would fit with the cut to detach the conch and it can become very big.

[Plantguy]

5 hours ago, fifbrindacier said:

Yes, that's one of the taxons i've tought about. The opening on the ones i see on the net seem different, that's why i mentioned Melongena rather than strombus. And You're right, it's a monster.

I borrowed the wife's recent shell from the bathroom for a photo op...dont anyone say anything....LOL...

Here's the largest Melongena I have (still in matrix) compared to the wife's Conch to show you relative shapes...I think her's is the queen conch Lobatus gigas. I think your specimen has had the flared rim (outer lip) broken off and is desceptive in shape but you can still see a longer narrower shaped aperature, but I dont know if yours is the same genus/species. I should stop now...out of my comfort zone with gastropoda.

 

One more thing. I also agree with Ken that damage to the spire suggests maybe a recent shell and human involvement although I've seen beautiful pristine color and design in fossils types and some insanely crazy shell damage. Might have been good eating! 

Thanks for showing us. Hoping Mike has time to settle this for sure. 

 

Regards, Chris 

[MikeR]

Queen conch Lobatus gigas (Linne, 1758).  The hole is made to remove the animal after which the foot is pounded, breaded and deep fried for conch fritters.  It is protected in US waters however still heavily fished in the Caribbean. LINK

 

Mike

[fifbrindacier]

Great, thanks @MikeR