live voluta guntheri - internethawaiishellnews.Org

AN EDUCATIONAL
PUBLICATION
VOL. XXI NO.8
OF THE HAWAIIAN
MALACOLOGICAL
AUGUST. 1973
SOCIETY
NEW SERIES NO. 164
LIVE VOLUTA GUNTHERI
by ELMER G. LEEHMAN
Photos: Trevor Castle
Volut/l (PBr/lmori/l) guntheri Smith, 1886
long has been recognized as one of the rarest of
the volutes, a family that includes many scarce
and nmch-sought-after shells. A native of the
south and west coasts of Australia, f-: guntheri
has been known principally from a scant handful of dead specimens. In their definitive study
of the family, The Living Volutes, Weaver and
DuPont noted that the animal characteristics
were unknown.
The shell also is known as f-: /ldrocki Tate,
1888, now recognized as a synonym.
As a consequence of a sensational find of a
live specimen of V. guntheri in May 1973, information on the animal has become available
for the first time. A description and photos were
sent me by Miss Helen Kald and Trevor J.
Castle, who found the shell while scuba diving
off Port Lincoln, South Australia. They were
able to keep the animal alive in Castle's
aqllarium where they photographed it.
They report that the foot is comparatively
large and "blackish,." with cream areas on the
extremities. The siphon and tentacles are
banded with black and cream. No data on the
radll1a were sent.
The living shell was found in abollt thirty feet
of water, they reported, on a bottom of sandy
mud.
TJ.\ereexists some controversy over the several
types of v: guntheri. Living Volutes lumps
them into one species. However, Australian
Vol uta authority Frank Abbottsmith recognizes
at least three types: first, the guntheri form
(with no horizontal bands; by far the rarest);
second, the adcocki form with two well defined
horizontal bands; and third, the middleton
form, which has two horizontal bands of axial
dashes (in lieu of solid lines). All types have vertical zigzag brown lines on a cream base, and all
are in the very rare category.
The HMS Committee on Conservation and
Ecology last month presented to the Society's
Board the proposed text (above) of a Creed for
Shellers. The creed was the product of several
months of deliberation by the Committee. HMS
members had requested an authoritative expression of the Society's position on one of the most
baffling of the questions facing serious shellers
today - the relation of the collector to the total
ecology of the reef.
In presenting the creed to the membership,
the Committee on Conservation coupled it with
a set of guidelines for collectors. The four points
were:
1. LEAVE THE LIVE CORAL HEADS
ALONE. Few shells live there. Look in the rubble, under the slabs, in the sand, and among the
loose chunks.
2. PUT ROCK AND CORAL BACK IN
PLACE, the way you found them, even in deep
water. Something lives under them. Continued
exposure "may kill it.
3. BE ALERT
FOR EGGS,
AND
PROTECT THEM. They have a slim chance of
survival, at best. Don't take the shell that is
guarding them. Avoid disturbing breeding
groups.
4. COLLECT
ONLY
WHA T
YOU
REALLY NEED. Take time to examine your
finds. Imperfect and immature shells are of no
use to you. Leave them to grow and to reproduce.
"111e Ecology committee members felt
strongly that construction practices, sewage
disp<Jsalmethods, silting and chemicals are the
(Cont'd on Page 81
HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS
Page 2
REEFCOMSINGS
Several of the world's rarest shells are known
only from specimens found in the stomachs of
fresh-caught fish - usually deep-water species.
Cypraea fultoni, C. broderipii and C. guttata
are among the extremely rare cowries normally
labelled ex pisces ("from a fish").
One of the most productive of these shell
eaters is the South African "mussel cracker" or
"muscle cracker." Traditionally this fish has
been found in substantial numbers. Only a few,
of course, have valuable shells in their stomach,
but fishermen have learned to make a careful
search when they dress this fish for the market.
Cypraea fultoni is endemic to South Africa and
good specimens have been found so far only in
this manner.
Long-time HMS member Helene Boswell of
Transvaal writes that the "muscle cracker" has
disappeared from South African waters this
year. Not a single one has been caught. The result has been a drying up of the supply of C. fultoni, which are extremely scarce even in good
years.
HMS Technical Advisor, Dr. E. Alison Kay,
presented two papers at a malacological
symposium sponsored by the Australian
Museum at Stradbroke Island, Queensland, in
June. Her topics were: "Micromolluscan distribution patterns in the Hawaiian Islands" and
"Molluscan distribution patterns in Fanning Island lagoon."
" " " " "
Aloha again to Don Hemmes, a past HMS
Treasurer, and his family who have returned to
Hawaiian shores. Don will be teaching Botany
at Hilo College, on the Big Island. Hopefully,
we'll see them on Oahu - perhaps at an HMS
meeting.
HMS JULY MEETING
"Unstructured" was the word for the July
HMS meeting held a week late to avoid the
July 4 holiday. There was no program. Instead,
members devoted their time to gossip, displaying prized finds, swapping shells and drinking
fruit punch.
"Collectors will have been saddened to hear
of the death last August of Walter Krause, of
Avoca Beach, New South Wales," writes Phillip
H. Colman, Department of Malacology, Australian Museum in Sydney. "Mr. Krause had
worked away quietly on his collection of Oliva,
on which he had specialized, for many years
until his untimely death.
"Through the kindness of Mrs. Krause, the
generosity of several firms, and the Australian
Museum Trustees, the Australian Museum now
has been able to acquire this magnificent collection complete. It will be incorporated into our
olive collection, and the result will be a very
comprehensive collection of the Olividae upon
which further studies can be based.
"It is go~d to know that this collection has
thus remained intact, and not suffered the fate
of dispersal as have so many other recent collections."
August, 1973
HMS Board Votes
Increase in Dues
Following almost a year of considerati;;n, the
Directors of the Hawaiian Malacological Society voted at the July Board meeting to increase
the dues for 1974 by one dollar. Membership,
which includes a subscription to Hawaiian
Shell News, will cost eight dollars in the future.
111esurcharges for airmail, first class and overseas delivery of HSN will not change.
The decision was requested by Corresponding
Secretary Ibby Harrison, who is preparing renewal notices for mailing in September. The increase was moved by Stuart Lillico, vice president, and secondedby Bob Purtyman. Approval
was unanimous.
The treasurer's figures show that, with the
present circulation of about 1,400 copies per
month, Hawaiian Shell News costs more than
seven dollars per member per year to produce
and distribute. The difference has been made up
by the sale of advertising, from the proceeds of
shell auctions and shell shows, and by petty cash
contributions by members of the HSN staff.
The HMS membership year runs from January through December.
TIle Hawaiian Malacological Society congratulates the Australian Museum on this important acquisition.
~~~~~
HMS was among half a dozen organizations
participating in a forum on "Controls on the
Reef," sponsored in mid-July by the Conservation Council for Hawaii. The object was to explore methods to halt the deterioration of reef
life and, if possible, to agree on a program for
presentation to the State Legislature.
The panel included representatives of aquarium fish collectors, the Hawaii Council of Diving
Clubs, the State Fisheries Division, the office of
the State Marine Affairs Coordinator, and the
Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, as well as
the HMS. Well over 100 individuals and
spokesmen for other interested groups attended
the two-hour meeting.
There was only incidental reference to the ac.
tivities of shell collectors (one speaker from the
floor urged a ban on the sale of shells; others acknowledged the expertise of many HMS membersl and most of the criticism was directed at
commercial collectors of aquarium fish. The
concensus seemed to oppose legal controls on
reef exploitofttion at this time, but supported a
proposal to create additional "underwater
parks". These would seek to preserve portions
of the reef intact, both for recreational (and
educational) purposes, and as a haven for marine life that hopefully would continue to stock
the adjacent "open" waters.
HA WAllAN SHELL NEWS
Au/{ust, 1973
Page 3
Of Hawaiian Miters
Informl!tion on three more unusual representatives of the Murex
p.
by WALTER
CERNOHORSKY
Following publication of E. R. Cross's article
on Hawaiian Deep Water Miters (HSN, June
1973) the Curator of Molluscs at the Auckland
institute and Museum, Walter O. Cernohorsky,
wa.~good enough to send the following notes on
the specimens involved. Mr. Cernohorsky, a frequent contributor to Hawaiian Shell News in
the pa.~t,is the author of the two-volume Marine
Shells of the Pacific.
Mitra (Nebularia) {raga Quoy & Gaimard,
1833: After having examined large series of
broad and slender, spotted and unspotted examples of both M. {raga (spiral ribs spotted
with cream or white) and M. tornata (unspottedj, 1 came across numerous intergrades
which showed numerous spots, few spots or no
spots in specimensall collected in one locality. It
is therefore apparent that the speciesis as highly
variable as other mitrids and that M. tornata
should be considered to be only a color variant
of M. {raga. The species ranges from the Red
Sea to Polynesia. Specimens collected at Palmyra and Midway Islands are in the National
Museum, Washington. Examples from Kewalo,
Oahu, are in the Bernice P. Bishop Museum,
Honolulu.
Ve.\°illlim (Co.~tellaria)
collinsoni
fA.
Adams, 1864): Originally described from Japan, the species has been previously reported
and illustrated from Hawaii by J. Cate (1963,
Veliger, 6: 32, pl. 6, fig.. 21 I. Other verified records are from Fiji, New Hebrides, Philippines
and Indonesia. A sublittoral species, living
specimens are usually dredged at depths ranging
from ten to 26 fathoms. Melvill's record of
"Persian Gulf" is most likely an error.
VexiUum (Costellaria)
bellum
(Pease,
1860) : Originally described as Turricula bella
Pease, 1860, from the "Sandwich Islands," the
types in the British Museum were subsequently
illustrated by E. A. Kay (1965, Bull. Brit.
Mus, Nat. Hist., London, pl. 3, figs. 13, 14).
Specimens in the National Museum, Washington, collected by Thaanum, Spaulding, the R.
V. Pele, and the U.S. Fisheries Commission,
came from Keehi, Honolulu Harbor Channel,
near Laysan Island, off Maalaea Bay (Mauil,
and the south coast of Molokai. The benthic
range of the species is ten to 70 fathoms. II: (C.)
belh,m appears to be endemic to Hawaii. Shopland's record of ..Aden" is an error.
V exillum
(Costella ria) interstriatum
(Sowerby, 18701: This species, which has been
illustrated several times in HSN under its synonym, Vexillum thaanumi Pilsbry, 1921. has a
far greater distribution than originally presumed. New records, apart from those of Hawaii and Fiji, are from the New Hebrides, Ra-
family
-
a group that has
had considerable attention in recent issues of
HSN - has been received from HMS member
Abraham Singer of Jaffa, Israel. All three have
been identified by Dr. Emily Vokes, Murex expert at Tulane University, Louisiana.
One specimen (1) was recovered by Singer in
about 120 feet of water in the Gulf of Aqaba,
near Eilat. The color photo shows it to be bright
orange. The shell has been identified as Murex
tript(~ru.~ Born, 1778 usually plain white.
A second species (2 j also appears to have
been affected by nearby wreckage. It is regarded
as a color variation of Murex corrugatus.
Singer collected it in 90 feet of water near Eilat
while scuba diving. The color photo he submitted showed the shell to be bright orange.
An unusual specimen of M. annandalei Preston, 1910 (31 was found in the same region.
This specieshas been the subject of discussion in
several recent articles in HSN. Singer's specimen not only has an unusual color - orange
cream, to judge by the photos - but the shape is
Ph%s:
Singer
baul, New Britaiu, the Philippiue Islands (seven
specimens collected by L. Bibbeyl and Indonesia (collected by the Mariel King Moluccas
Expedition). A sublittoral species, it is generally
collected at depth ranging from five to 43
fathoms.
Mitra fulve.~cens Broderip, 1836: The
specimen illustrated in the June 1973 Supplement of HSN under the name "Mitra coffea
Schubert & Wagner" is not that species, but is
M. fulvescens Broderip (synonym: M. ostergaardi Pilsbry, 19211. The type of M. fulvescens has been illustrated by me.in HSN for December 1969 (a worn and faded specimen), and
"1 Marine Shells of the Pacific - vol. II, pl.
at variance with the usual M. annandalei. This
shell is longer, and it lacks the sharp projections
of the normal specimen.
The fascinating common characteristic' of
these three members of the Muricidae is their
color. Dr. Vokes is of the opinion that it is not
the result of pure chance, and has inquired
whether sunken ships or iron deposits are
known to lie on the ocean bottom nearby. Singer
does not say.
These shells do not show orange when found
in other areas. It seems reasonable to believe
that the color is transmitted either through food
or through direct contact.
Elmer Leehman
occurs at depthsrangingfrom 30 to 65 fathoms.
The Pitcairn Island specimen has been iIlus.
trated by me in 1970, Bull. Ackland Inst. Museum, 8:78, pl. 7, fig. 12.
51, figs. 3, 3a.
Neocancilla takiisaoi Kuroda & Sakurai in
Kuroda, 1959: The "New miter species" from
New Caledonia is N. takiisaoi (1958, Jap.
Journ. Malac., 20(21: pl. 21, fig 10
nude
-
name; 1959, Jap. Joum. Malac., 20(4): 326).
Originally described from Japan, a fine specimen was dredged in 1966 in 55 to 65 fathoms
by the Pete Expedition, one mile off Pitcairn Island (USNMI. The specimen illustrated in
HSN on p. 6 of the June issue came from Grand
Recif, Noumea, New Caledonia, 65 meters, and
has been identified for Mme. R. Pierson in April
1973. The species has also been recorded from
thp RvllkvlI J"land" and Formosa. It usuallv
Ph"",..: Sinller
Page 4
HAW AllAN SHELL NEWS
August, 1973
Collecting Cypraea coxeni hesperina at Madang
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yielded two live but immature specimens from
deep withm a dead coral crevice. The piece of
coral had to be taken ashore and broken apart to
Photos: Brian Mennis
I!;et at the shells. We then found that the larger
Cypraea coxeni hesperina Schilder and
dorsum, base and sides, changing to a dull white
specimen was broodmg a cluster of light-yellow
Summers, 1963
a subspecies
or forma of C.
and even pure white with maturity. The promiel!;l!;s,which unfortunately could not be returned
coxeQi Cox, 1873
is one of the most attracnent, somewhat irregular teeth extend about
to the la!(oon.
tive of the cowries for its size. The length ranges
two-thirds across the base and are gray to dull
As the openmg to the crevice was much
from 14 to about 27mm. No two specimens
white.
smaller than the shells mside, we concluded that
have identical patterns. Dorsal markings vary
the cowries had entered as small juveniles and
from light reddish brown, through chocolate to
Our discovery of an empty C. c. hesperinll
become imprisoned there. No more specimens
black-brown in some fully adult examples. An,
shell in the Madang inner harbor early in 1972
were found m similar crevices m the coral.
terior terminal spots or blotches are sometimes
prompted a search for live specimens, without
The mam concentration of C, c. hesperina
successfor several months. Finally an offshorepresent.
eventually was discovered only a few meters
Juveniles are light golden brown on the
islaud lagoon (station E, Kranket Island)
from the origmal discovery. The shells were
deep withm large semidead, compact. fmely
branched coral. The only clumps contammg C.
he.~perina were those covered with weed, with a
perforated mat of gray, spongelike growth formmg chambers and passages withm the coral.
Better concealment could not be imagmed!
This same or similar habitat, also m Kranket
La!(oon, was reported by Madang collector
Isabel Pert m The Cowry, Vol. 1 No.7, Nov. I,
1964.
The varymg appearance of C. hesperina and
apparent transposition to typical C. coxeni m
8(Jme localities mdicates a variety of habitats
Fig. 1 Mantle- Dark grey, smooth,opaquewith 4 to 5 maroon colouredspotsnear top of ea(:h and/or food factors. The reasons for the pecumantle lobe (papillae under magnification.)
liar habitat at Madang are open for speculation.
Fig. 1 and2 Dorsumof Foot- Lighter grey than mantle. Creamywhite flecks and indistinctly TIle spongelike camouflage and the ~luctance
veined with darker grey near margins.
of the animal to withdraw its m,~tle mto the
Fig. 3 Foot - Crawling surfaceis creamy grey/white.
very conspic.uousshell may have allot to do with
Fig. 1 Papillae- Few,simpleand branched,alternating,white in colour.
avoidmg predators.
Fig. 1,2 and 3 Tentacles- Re<Vbrown,approximatelysamelengthasextendedsiphon.
As it was quite impossible to obtam C. he.~Fig. 1,2 and 3 Siphon - Serrated,light grey.
perin/l from the Kranket Island site without deFig. 1, 2 and 3 Eyes - Black.
Slr(lym!( ils habitat, my collectmg has ceased.
Fig. 4 Basilar and dorsal views of mature shell.
Durm!( five shellmg trips, however, forty-two
-
-
~
Fie:. 5 Dorsaland oosteriorviewof iuvenileshell.Protoconchred/brown.
I f:nnt'd
on
Palle
5\
Page 5
HA WAllAN SHELL NEWS
August, 1973
Oahu Observations
CYPRAEA COXENI
fCont'd from Page 41
specimenswere live-taken.Sixteenothers were
returned to the remainiug coral pieces- arranged,I hope,to provide satisfactorysurvival.
A searchof similar lagoonsand backwatersin
other localitieswhere C. hesperina may occur
could perhapsadd to our knowledgeof this interesting cowry. The Hermit-Ninigo Islands
(WesternIslandsl,some250 miles north of Madang, yield typical C. coxeni.
C. c. hesperina is found over much of the
known rangeof C. coxeni, including Manus Island lagoonsand the Samarai area of Papua
New Guinea.
Measurements and teeth counts of some specimens
in my collection:
We divers on Oahu can usually find good
sllorkeling on the windward side of the island
during times of low tide. The fringing reef
breaks the heavy wave action, and the lagoon
becomes clear and placid. Water depth ranges
up to twenty-five feet. Much of the bottom is
covered with broken coral rubble, with outcroppings of cemented coral ledges. There are numeNI\lS sandpockets, which became quite extensive in the deeper areas.
This adds up to excellent shell habitat, but
shells are scarce on Oahu. You must work for
every one you collect. It helps to have a good
knowledge of the habits of the shell you seek.
Food preference, bottom conditions, water
depth - all are important.
With all this in mind, I usually select the one
Cypraea coxen; he.~per;na
Locality
(I) Raballl, P.N.G.
(3) Milne Bay, P.N.G.
(21 Malaita, SolomonIs.
~81 Kranket Lagoon, Madang
Kranket Lagoon, Madang
Kranket Lagoon, Madang
Kranket Lagoon, Madang
(71 Kranket Lagoon, Madang
Kranket Lagoon, Madang
(41 Kranket Lagoon, Madang
(51 Kranket Lagoon, Madang
(91 Kranket Lagoon, Madang
Length
26.9
22.6
21.0
21.9
22.2
19.9
19.6
18.5
17.2
16.1
14.7
14.2
Width
13.6
11.5
10.0
10.8
11.0
10.0
9.6
9.4
8,3
7.9
7.3
7.3
Labial
Teeth
17
16
16
16
16
14
14
16
16
16
12
14
Averalre
On a recent trip to the Punaluu area, my
quest was for the endemic Hawaiian auger,
Terebra achates. I found one in about twenty
feet of water. I am sure that King Neptune
heard me squeal with glee when I poked the
lump at the end of a short sand track, and the
slender shell rolled out. It was a beautiful specimen, an even lOOmm high, with white backgr(lUnd, dark red spots, and sharp spire.
Side rewards
Teeth
19
20
16
17
18
17
19
16
16
16
15
15
24.6
25.5
23.1
23.2
23.0
22.8
22.8
22.5
21.9
22.0
21.2
20.9
14.7
14.5
13.2
13.3
12.7
13.2
13.1
12.1
12.8
12.7
11.7
11.7
14
14
15
14
14
15
14
15
14
15
13
14
16
16
15
16
18
16
17
17
16
16
15
16
22.8
13.0
14.25
16.2
Numbers in the left margin of the table identify the shells in the accompanying photograph, commencing clockwise from the top left hand corner.
III Rabaul, New Britain, P.N.G.
121 Tarapina, Malaita, Solomon Islands.
131 Nekumara reef, Esa'ala Island, Milne Bay, Papua. Note anterior terminal blotches.
141, 151, 171 and (91 Kranket lagoon. Note small size, anterior terminal spots and dark dorsa!
markings.
(61 Typical c. coxeni Cox 1873, from remote Western Island, P.N.G. Note anterior termilla!
SplItS.
181 Larger specimen from Kranket lagoon.
jIOI Kranket laL'Oon. Typical juvenile.
were
Conus
quercinus,
c.
pulicarius, Terebra crenulata, T. textilis, T.
funiculata, and an orange Mitra auriculoides,
crabbed but very large.
Columellar
C.coxeni
SolomonIslands
New Georgia,SolomonIs.
(61 Western Is., P.N.G.
Guadalcanal,SolomonIs.
Western Is., P.N.G.
New Georgia,SolomonIs.
Guadalcanal,SolomonIs.
Guadalcanal,SolomonIs.
Guadalcanal,SolomonIs.
Guadalcanal,SolomonIs.
Western Is., P.N.G.
Western Is.. P.N.G.
shell that I intend to collect. then pick the most
likely habitat. Other shells also use this particular area and are side rewards, if found, but
sticking with the one.shell idea produces a less
harried dive and, in my experience, more shells.
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Page 6
August, 1973
HA WAllAN SHELL NEWS
SHELLS FOR SALE
T AIW AN'S OLD RELIABLE
SHELL DEALER
Over ten years in the business, Rare and common specimen shells; Shark's teeth and jaws;
Shell and Jade craft (rings, brooches and ear
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SPECIMEN SHELLS
Bob Morrison collection.
The "Trader Cone" from Africa, Conus
mercator Linne, 1758, is an attractive shell that
is represented in most collections by one or more
specimens. Not everyone, however, is aware of
the large nwnber of color variations that occur
in this species. The most plentiful tvpe has a
Photo: Pete Carmichael
broad netted band entirely around the shoulder,
with another similar but smaller band around
the center of the body. Size ranges up to two
inches. The photo shows some of the many color
variations.
for many years has been Everet C. "Easy"
Jones, senior marine biologist with the National
Marine Fisheries Service, a director of the Society, a tireless worker for conservation, and an
authority on deep-water trawling experiments in
Hawaiian waters (see HSN March 1970 and
August 19721. It is with real regret that we
report Easy's retirement and pending return to
the Mainland.
Jones, a graduate of Hastings College, got his
Master's degree in marine biology at the Universityof Miami before entering Federal service
in 1955. Stationed in Honolulu, he did additional graduate work at the University of Hawaii. He joined HMS on arrival here, and in recent years has been one of the most active and
outspoken members of the HMS Committee on
Conservation and Ecology, which he helped to
form.
Jones has been in demand as Shell Show
judge - ajob he accepted seven times - and as
a speaker at Society meetings, where his dry
humor spiced his vast knowledge of marine subjects. In recent years he frequently has been
absent because of his work related to the establishment of a fisheries industry in the U.S. Trust
Territory of the Pacific.
Since stepping out of his formaldehydescented, specimen-filled office on Dole Avenue,
Easy and his wife Marlene have been preparing
to move to their farm in Missouri. We are confident the Joneseswill miss Hawaii and the warm
blue ocean they know so well. They certainly
prints.
The Morrison Galleries
5101 Ocean Blvd., Sarasota, Fla. 33581
HAWAII
~aradi8e c5R<~~1s
MurexNewsfrom DownUnder
One of the most popular and knowledgable
membersof the Hawaiian MalacologicalSociety
Write for free list or visit our shop on Siesta
Key. We also stock shell books and antique shell
by THORA WHITEHEAD
The identity problem involving Murex aduncospinosus Reeve, 1845 (HSN, Feb. 1973) is
not yet solved.
From time to time 1 visit a souvenir shop in
the center of Brisbane, where - among the tiger
cowries and Strombus gigas etched with "Welcome to Australia" - 1 occasionally turn up
some interesting specimens. Not long ago 1
bought a pair of what I thought were Murex
trapa, from a box of Murex from Taiwan.
When I got home and cleaned them, only one
was M. trapa. The other was a species I did not
have.
A search through my reference books produced an illustration in Shikama's Selected
Shells of the World identified as M. aduncospinos us, locality East China Sea. I subsequently checked my specimen against the type description and the figure in an article in Keppel
Bay Tidings. It appeared to fit very well.
When I sent the specimen to Dr. Winston
Ponder of the Australian Museum, however, he
replied that although it fit the original figure
reasonably well, at least three speciesdo that. As
the holotype of M. aduncospinosus has been
lost, the problem is a difficult one.
Dr. Ponder added that he hopes his current
research on Murex will lead to a resolution of:
the problem.
In the meantime,
we are not "out
of the woods."
will leave a host of friends here.
Me ke aloha nui loa, Easy - We will miss
you.
Elmer G. Leehman
WORLDWIDE
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Aul!ust. 1973
HA WAllAN SHELL NEWS
Page 7
CONUS PROBLEMS:
by JOHN K. TUCKER
My article titled "Conus Problems" in the
June 1973 issue of HSN included a couple of
ambiguous or oversimplified references which I
want to clarify. For example, the allopatricsympatric statement by Dr. Ernest Mayr, which
I paraphrased and simplified, is from his Animal Species and Evolution (1966: Harvard
University Pressl. For an exact and ,much more
erudite treatment, consult that volume.
Let me add a few points for co!lectors to keep
in mind when considering whether two forms
should be regarded as conspecific or as separate
species. One of the most important characteristics of a biological species definition is that
good species will not interbreed under natural
conditions. Thus for two closely related sympatric forms to be considered good species there
must be no evidence of interbreeding.
With allopatric forms, there may be interbreeding where the ranges meet if, in fact, they
do meet. If the ranges do not meet, then the
decision about specific status is more complicated. I tend to be a "lumper" rather than a
"splitter," so I regard closely related forms with
ranges that do not meet as subspeciesuntil more
biological data are compiled to prove otherwise.
Biological principles and characteristics are
seldom used when considering cones. This reflects both the lack of complete data and the
problems associated with observing marine invertebrates. The collector can make significant
contributions by carefully noting what species
occur in an area and recording the habits and
habitats.
My opinion on the status of Conus musicus
Hwass and C. sponsalis Hwass is based on personal observations at Grande Island in Subic
Bay, Luzon, Philippines, where these two are
sympatric. C. musicus are found in holes on top
of large rocks in four to six feet of wllter. C.
sponsalis are found rarely in deeper water on
sand near the bases of large rocks and under
others of a similar size. One individual C. sponsalis was found at the base of a rock with two C.
musicus on it. I have seen no evidence of interbreeding.
I do not know why some authors consider
these two speciesto be conspecific. My library is
limited, however. There could be a valid
biological reason. But until I see it, I shall regard them as two separate species.
Many other problems exist, such as the validity of the speciesgrouped around c. textile L.,
C. pennaceus Born, C. monachus L., and C.
generalis L. There are many others. If any
readers have thoughts on these subjects or information concerning the biology of cones, I would
be pleased to discuss these points and contribute
what data I collected in the Philippines.
by LYMAN HIGA
Randy Stevens, diving in thirty feet of water
in the Kaanapali area of Maui, found a freshdead Conus capitaneus early in July. This is
believed to be the third specimen of this species
found in Hawaii. Randy's mother, Mrs. Jean
Stevens, found a live Strom bus hawaiensis in
six feet of water at Lahaina.
*******
Hawaii State representative Dennis O'Connor, working both sides of the reef on Maui,
caught a fifty-pound ulua and a live Cypraea
rashleighana, the latter in thirty-five feet of
water.
*******
Joe Moore reports finding an uncommon
miter, Mitrella (Zafrona) nebulosa, in seventy
feet of water off Kaneohe. It was dead.
*******
Diving off Haleiwa, Dean Gonzalez got a
fresh-dead Cymatium vespaceum recently.
And on the same dive, Wes Thorsson scored a
grand slam with a Cypraea rashleighana, a C.
chinensis, a C. tessellata, a C. gaskoini, and a
(;. granulata -all on one tank of air! A few
days later, in the same area, Wes filled out his
hand with a C. poraria.
Downto the sea in Slips(Ouch!)
Big chunky Australian life guards wearing
pantyhose? The mind boggles! Believe it or not,
however, sales of dainty flesh-colored tights
have rocketed among the bronzed guardians of
the snrf on Australia's northern coast.
'I1le development is the latest attempt to
foil the sea wasp (Chironex fleckeri), a marine stinger that has taken 90 lives in tropical
Australian waters this century.
The idea of using pantyhose or support stockings (usually worn by women suffering from
varicose veins) is attributed to Dr. John Barnes,
medical practitioner and sea-wasp expert of
Cairns, North Queensland. Using himself as a
guinea pig, Barnes proved that a sea wasp's
stinging cells (nematocysts) cannot pierce the
fine pantyhose mesh.
Life guards wear the stockings over their normal cotton swimming trunks to waist height.
Then they pull on long-sleeve polo-neck cotton
"jumpers" to cover their chest and arms.
"After a couple of hours you forget you are
wearing it," said Barnes.
Talks are under way with Australian clothing
manufacturers to produce a heavier-weight
neck-to-toe garment, with strengthened foot sectinn~
HMS FIELD
TRIP
Be sure to save Nov. 16 through 19 for the
HMS Field Trip to Kauai. Reefing, Snorkeling,
Diving, Golf, and Sightseeing for three glorious
days! Reasonably priced! Call Ruth Fair, 9886635 for details. Join the fun on Kauai in
1\T~"d~hdP,
Photo: Bentley-Buckle
--- - - -HMS member Margaret Bentley-Buckle, of
Mombasa, in East Africa, has sent us a photo of
a live-taken Voluta (Lyria)
lyraeformis
Swainson, 1821.
"It came into my possession (in 1970)," she
wrote. "It was trapped at night br a fisherman
fifty miles south of Mombasa in forty feet of
water. The shell measures 120mm and is absolutely perfect, the only specimen I have ever
seen complete with animal and operculum. The
animal is salmon pink flecked with black.
"I wonder how many J;; (Lyria) lyraeformis
ar" r""orrl"rl a" tak"n aliv,,?"
Mr. Ong Leng Gin, of Poh Khong & Co., 444,
Penang Road, Penang, Malaysia, would like
some Hawaiian contacts interested in exchanging island specimens for Malaysia species"such
as Voluta nobilis, Babylonia canaliculata,
Latiaxis brevispina, Turbo cinereus, Cypraea mauritiana, Conus textile, etc."
******
Some specimens of deep-water variations of
Cypraea stolida stolida Linne from the Guam
area are offered by Larry Saltzgaver, president
of the Guam Shell Club. His address is Box 164,
FPO San Francisco 96630.
******
Dorothy Janowsky, 946 Ralph Avenue,
Brooklyn, New York, 11236 is interested in exchanging
for worldwide
Typhis
and
Trophonpsis.
******
Mr. W. J. Erich writes that he is planning on
building a shell museum in memory of his late
wifll, Carrie C. Erich, who was a member of the
HMS for years. The museum will be located in
the middle of the new Pacific Harbour Development at Deuba, Fiji. Mr. Erich would be interested in trading Fiji shells for worldwide
specimens. Contact him via Private Mail Bag,
Suva, Fiji Islands.
HA WALlAN SHELL NEWS
Page 8
3 MORE LOOK-ALIKE HAWAIIAN
MITERS
by E. R. CROSS
Mitra pele Cernohorsky, 1970 is a Hawaiian deep-water ~iter. Two specimens are known to
have been collected, both by dredging from depths exceeding 600 feet. The specimen illustrated
(Fig. 11 was dredged from nearly one thousand feet in a silty-sandy bottom with an abundance of
broken shell rubble.
At first glance Mitra pele is quite similar to two other "look-alikes": M. fulve.~cen.~ (Fig. 21
(syn. M. ostergaardil and M. coffea (Fig. 3). Each of the three shells is some shade of brown and is
fairly large for a Hawaiian miter. But there the similarity ends on close examination of the shells. M.
pelt! is longer, more slender, and smoother than either of the other two shells.
Comparative data is given below:
August, 1973
JUNIOR SHELL CLUB
Una May Young, den mother for the HMS
Junior Shell Club, reports a need for shells for
the young members to work with. Club members range in age from eight or nine to high
school graduation. Monthly meetings seek to
train the junior shellers in identification and
good shelling practices.
HMS members who can spare specimens for
the club can send them (with data, please) to
Junior Shell Club, Waikiki Aquarium, 2777
Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu 96815.
SHELLER'S
CREED
ICont'd from Page 1)
Ph(}IO: Hadfield
Length
Aperture
Spire
Width
Outer lip
Shell surface
Slltures
Ph(}lo: Jim Fair
M. pele
47mm
23mm
24mm
16mm
Porcelain white.
smooth.
M. fulve.~cen.~
36mm
19mm
15mm
14mm
Dull white.
evenIv dentated.
Smooth. Rust
colored, irregu.
larlv l1ark"r.
Radially punctate;
axially sculptured;
oranl!e brown or
bllrllt sif'nna.
Sm()()th
Slightly and
irregularly
c(~ronate, deeply
impressed.
Photo: Jim Fair
M. coffea
40mm
16mm
24mm
14mm
Light brown,
irregularly
spaced prominent
white denticles.
Axially striate,
closely punctate;
color: coffee
brown.
principal enemiesof our molluscan popu]ation,"
declared Ed Konopka, the chairman, in presenting the creed to the HMS Board. "We
realized, however, that careless collecting may
be a factor also in the apparent reduction of the
numbers of shells on our reefs. Moreover, it is
the only factor over which we, as individuals,
have some control. The creed represents a step
to restore the ecological balance."
The wording of the creed is directed at Hawaii's shellers, but the principles are valid universally, committee members point out. They
suggest that HMS members in other areas adapt
it to their own circumstances.
With the concurrence of the HMS Board, the
committee plans to print posters bearing the
creed and shelling guidelines, for display at dive
shops, schools and popular shelling spots on
Oahu.
The Ecology committee meets about once a
month at the Waikiki
Aquarium. HMS
members and the public are invited to attend.
WHEN IN LOS ANGELES, VISIT
/
Irregular, deeply
impressed.
Columella folds
4
5
4
A syntypeof M. fulve.~cen.~,
a deadbeachworn shell,wasillustratedin HSN for December,1969.
Both M. fulve.~c(~n.~
and M. coffea wereillustrated,not too clearly,in April, 1962HSN.
Ruth Fair hasgraphicallyillustratedthe differencein dentationand sculpturingof M. fulvescen.~
and M. coffea in Figs. 4 and 5.
"""-"e;
!
FINE SHELLS AND FINE ART
We do not publish a list but we will answer
specific requests for Rare Shells - our 8pe.
dalty.
Shell-of.Show winners come from the TIDEPOOL!
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Malibu. California 90265
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
M~rv Cooper of Perth SIte" Distributors
avails you to his New List No.6.
- FREEWrite to:
SHELL DISTRIBUTORS
I.). O. Box 186
MI. Hawthorn. Western Australia 6016
The Home of CyprReR ro.~.~elli
T"I"nhonp 831!i<)
PERTH
Fit!. 4. M. fulve.~cen.~
Fit!. 5. M. coffea
August, 1973
SHELLS FOR SALE
SPECIAL BONUS OFFER
Ten per cent off list price
of the following books:
Shells of New Guinea & the Central Indo-Pacific. by Alan Hinton, List Aus. $4.95.
Marine Shells of the Pacific. Vol. 1 (2d Ed,)
by W. O. Cemohorsky, $7.00.
Marine Shells of the Pacific. Vol. 2 (New) by
Cemohorsky, $13.00.
Australian Shells. By Wilson & Gillett,
$12.95.
Kingdom of the Seashell. By R. Tucker Abbott, $12.95.
Postage is additional at Australian 70 cents
per book plus registration (optional but recommended) at Australian 50 cents extra. Payment
by bank draft or postal order in Australian currency.
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WEST COAST CURIO CO.
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Free catalogue on request. All specimens cannot be listed, our stock too comprehensive. Ask
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HA WAllAN SHELL NEWS
Supplement 8-73
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by Dr. ~I. JAY
her in the same part of the coast. It was lying on
Two specimens of Cypraea broderipii
sand, 35 to 40 meters deep, about fifty meters
Sowerby, 1832 have recently been taken alive
from the base of the basalt cliff and about the
on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean. The
species had not previously been reported from
same distance from a small field of brown
there, although it is occasionally found from
weeds. TIle mantle was not out.
South Africa to the Arabian peninsula.
The animal lived about 24 hours in a saltThe first was found in June 1972 by Mr.
water tank, but it had just died when I saw it. A
Champeau, diving off the small harbor of Sainte
small part of the mantle was visible, which I
Rose, in the eastern part of the island. Diving
photographed. The color of the mantle and the
along a basalt cliff, he found the cowry clinging
appearance of the papillae were quite similar to
to the rock under a small overhang. He estithose of C. viteUII". The animal was preserved
mated the depth at between 110 and 130 feet.
and will he studied in the Museum d'Histoire
He could see part of the mantle, which he deNaturelle in Paris.
scribed as brown with gray and white spots.
Diving is very difficutt off the eastern part of
The animal was left to die. When I saw it two
Reuni~
Island. The coast consists of basalt
days later, the animal was too badly decomcliffs, exposed to the trade winds and rough seas
posed to be photographed. What remained,
for nine or ten months of the year. This may well
however, was put into alcohol.
explain why the species was not known on the
TIle second specimen was found by Mr. Buisisland until this time.
son. route Nationale. Bras-Panon. last Novem-