difference between melon and cantaloupe
European Cantaloupe has a smooth skin which is much harder than American muskmelon. Cantaloupe also has a more subtle flavor and it is not commercially grown in the United States, mainly due to the fact that the muskmelon is easier to grow and has a stronger taste.
The true cantaloupe is much smaller than a musk melon. The size of 7-12cm given early in the article is correct - for cantalupensis. It's got a smooth, grey-green rind with green stripes - looks something like a very small, greyish watermelon. Its flesh is colored similarly to the musk melon and it's much sweeter.