THE MilliONAIRE SHEllS - internethawaiishellnews.Org

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE HAWAIIAN MALACOLOGICALSOCIETY
VOL. XVIII
NO. 10
OCTOBER. 1970
"THE MilliONAIRE
NEW SERIES NO. 130
SHEllS"
by E. R. CROSS
In the early daysof shell collectingin Japanpleurotomariashellswere
Genus Mikadotrochus (Lindholm, 1927)
known as "millionaire shells" by the Japanesefishermendue to the comM. beyerichi (Hilgendorf, 1877)
paratively high prices paid for them by wealthy Japanesecollectors.
8yn. Pleurotomaria salmiana (Rolle, 1899)
Many of the speciesof this family are still millionaire shells,or nearly so,
M. hirasei (Pilsbry, 1903)
becauseof the difficulty in collectingfrom the very deepwater which is
M. schmalzi (Shikama, 1961)
their habitat. Nearly all Pleurotomaria speciesare expensive,ranging in
M. amabilis (Bayer, 1963)
price from about $40.00 to as much as $600.00for the more rare shells.
Genus Entemnotrochus (Fischer, 1885)
None are abundant in collections.Recently the fourth known living
E. adansoniana (Crosseand Fischer, 1861)
specimenof one species,Perotrochus teramachii, was collectedfrom
E. rumphii (Schepman,1879)
the East China Sea.At presentthere are elevenrecognizedspeciesand
(Con't on Page 4)
onesubspecies.
Onewriter statesthere are about 100 fossil speciesof this
group,indicating an apparantabundancein earliergeologicaltimes.
Perotrochus africana (Tomlin, 1948)
The primary intent of this article is to familiarize HSN readerswith
Only about a dozenspecimensof the South African slit shell have been
this little known family and to illustrate asmany of the known speciesas
collected.The specimenillustrated below was loanedto HSN for photopossible.This article will also serve as a request for photos of those
graphing by Mrs. Helen &swell of Africa in whosecollectionthe shellis
speciesnot illustrated for a follow-up on this interestinggroup of shells.
deposited.Sizeof the shell is given as four to five inchesin height. The
The identification andorganizationof generain the slit shellsare based
shell illustrated belowmeasured103mm(4") high x 125mm (4.9") wide.
on severalfactors: the sizeand positionof the openingor slit in the shell
Exact locality from which P. africana is found is not known. Habe, in
probablybeingthe most indicative factor. But alsoconsideredis whether
Shells of the Western Pacific in Color, Va!. II, statesthe shells are
or not an umbilicusor openingis presenton the undersideof the shell,the
found on the Indian Oceanside of SouthAfrica. This would seemlikely
type of sculpturingof the shell,and the angleof the spireto the apex.
as submergedplain with depths to 100 fathoms extendsout from the
No attempt will be madeto clarify or add to any of the presentorganicoastfor somedistanceon the Indian Oceanside while the Atlantic coast
zation of genera,subgenera,or speciesof this group. Basically the ardrops off to great depths quite closeto shore. The former would more
rangementof genera,subgenera,and speciesis followed as given in A
likely be the habitat for theseshells.P. africana is illustrated in color in
List of the Indo-Pacific Molluscs, concerning the Japanese MolSelected Shells of the World, Shikama,Plate 1, Fig. 2; in HSN, Oct.,
luscan Fauna; Superfamily Pleurotomariidae, by Tadashige Habe
1963,page 7; and in A BeginnersGuide to South African Shells,K. H.
and SadaoKosugewith additionsof recentspeciesfrom VanNostrand's
Barnard, Maskew Miller Ltd., Cape Town, South Africa.
Standard Catalog of Shells.
Systematicarrangementof this group of shells, as per Habe and
Kosuge, is as follows:
Phylum MOLLUSCA
Class GASTROPODA
SubclassPROSOBRANCHIA (STREPTONEURA)
Order ARCHAEOGASTROPODA (DIOTOCARDIA)
Suborder ZEUGOBRANCHIA
Superfamily Pleurotomarioidea
Family Pleurotomariidae
GenusPleurotomaria (Sowerby,1821)
P. gemma (F. M. Bayer, 1965~~)
Genus Perotrochus (Fischer, 1885)
P. quoyana (Fischer and Bernardi, 1856)
,
P. africanus (Tomlin, 1948)
P. lucaya (F. M. Bayer, 1965~~)
P. midas (F. M. Bayer, 1965~~)
P. (africanus subsp.1teramachii (Kuroda, 19551
*~As givenin Van Nostrand's Standard Catalogof Shells.
.
Page 2
A FEWWORDS
ABOUTSHEllS
Frequently, we receive letters from HSN
readers asking for the meaning of words. If you
have a word or two of wisdom about shells, or a
questionable word, send it in to the editors.
MOLLUSK: comes from the Latin moDuscus meaning soft, and refers to the soft body of
the animal.
GASTROPOD: from gastr (belly) and pod
(foot I. Hence stomach footed. However, gastr
also means ventral, so gastropod might be
interpreted to mean ventral footed. The foot of a
gastropod is on the ventral side.
PROSOBRANCHIA:
from proso (forward)
and branchia (gills I. Or a mollusk having its
gills in the forward part of the shell. This
occurred in the mollusks and the Subclass Prosobranchia as a result of torsion.
OPISTHOBRANCHIA:
from opisthen
(behind) plus branchia (gills), or moilusks with
their gills behind, or in the after part of, the
shell. In these shells, if torsion ever occurred,
they have realigned themselves into the original
molluscan form. or nearlv so.
HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS
by ELMER LEEHMAN
On the evening of September 16, 1970, some
sixty members of the Hawaiian Malacological
Society gathered at the Mokihana Room of the
Ala Moana Center to honor Dr. C. M. (Pat)
Burgess, our cyprea author and expert. Those in
attendance were priviledged to be able to examine some of the rarest cowries from Pat's
world famous collection. On display where Cypraea fultoni, C. rosselli, C. armeniaca and a
huge C. aurantium among other fine specimens. Many of those present had never before
seen some of the shells Dr. Burgess kindly displayed. Additionally, some fine local cypraea
specimens from the collections of Lyman Higa,
Joe Reid and Betsy Harrison were on view.
These displays elicited many "Ohs and Ahs"
from those who saw them.
The personable and friendly Doctor Pat spent
much of his busy evening greeting his many
friends and later personally autographing their
copies of his fine book, "The Living Cowries".
An inviting buffet along with two kinds of cold
punch were served and much enjoyed.
AnIong those observed in attendance were
HMS Past Prexy and HSN Editor Ellis R.
Cross accompanied by his attractive wife, Jere
Lee, HMS Past President and former HSN
Editor Clihon S. Weaver, Dr. Tom Richert,
Ruth and Jim Fair, Prexy George Campbell,
Vice President Betsy Harrison, Charter member
Jean Bromley, Past President Wes Thorssen,
Bunnie and George Cook, Fran and Russ
Wright and we were pleasantly surprised to see
our old friend Ray Summers.
This event was a fit and proper recognition
for the very popular Dr. Pat and Mrs. Burgess.
Unquestionably Dr. Burgess is currently recognized as one of the foremost cowrie experts in
the entire world, but more so since his book was
distributed. All members of the HMS are proud
of Dr. Burgess's great accomplishments. This
was much in evidence by the large attendance
and many compliments expressed by those
present.
CORRECTION
From Barney Roth, Technical Curator of the
California Academy of Sciences comes a correction to a story recently rWl in HSN concerning the Ostergaard Collection. "Wllike some
museums, the California Academy of Sciences
does not store any individual collections intact.
All material is catalogued and dispersed
throughout our general collection, which is
stored in systematic order. Therefore, any worker would be welcom.! to see the 'John Doe Collection', but he would have to look through several hWldred drawers to find all of Doe's specimens." However, the Ostergaard collection is
not yet at the California Academy of Sciences,
and when we do learn the actual disposal of the
collection. we will trY tn let nl1r reader.. Icnnw-
For anyone interested in land snails, Gerrie A.
Leslie, No. 156 Garden Oaks Drive, New
Orleans, La. 70114, has recently collected some
colorful land snails Helix hortensis, from Denmark and would like to trade some of them for
worldwide marine shells.
Brian Parkinson, P.O. Box 259, Lae, New
Guinea is interested in obtaining Cypraea
schilderorum,
sulcidentata or tessellata in
exchange for varieties of Volutes, Cypraea and
Conus.
Our long-time friend, Eva Pip of 340
Manitoba Avenue, Winnipeg 4, Manitoba,
Canad& would like to trade some rare freshwater mollusks from Canada for any shelled
mollusks - marine, fresh water or terrestrial.
And from New South Wales, Australia, Miss
Marion Ford would like to hear from private
collectors of sea shells from Africa, Japan, Philippines, Fiji or Tahiti in order to exchange good
shells. Write to her at "Merton,
3 Macquarie
Street, Taree 2430, New South Wales,
Australia.
L. J. Field of 50 Turpin Road, Southport
4215, Queensland, Australia would like to exchange Volutes, Cypraea, Conus and Murex.
Mrs. Betty Kinbacher offers her entire, exten&ive collection of world-wide and Queensland
shells for sale to private parties. If you are interested, write to her at 6 Oak Street., Innisfail
Queensland, Australia. From the United States
we received a nice note from Mrs. Thomas McGinn of Cut Off, Louisiana stating that her husband is a commercial shrimper and trawls all
over the Gulf of Mexico and off the Yucatan
Peninsula. They have some rare deep-water
Volutes, and Murex as well as other more
common shells and would be interested in trading world wide.
T. J. Castle, P.O. Box 460, Point Lincoln,
5606, South Australia would like to exchange
South Australian Haliotis for others around the
world, especially he would like to obtain H. ba,..
houri from Brazil. A. M. Bright, 10 Stockbridge St., West Mackay 4740, Queensland,
Australia has a long list of shells to trade for a C.
tessallata, write for a copy of the list if you are
interested in Australian shells.
Vlad James of Blackboy lAJdge, Darlington,
W. A. Australia 6070 writes that he has many
Western Australian cowries to trade for Hawaiian Cypraea, including C. cernica viridicolor which he would like to trade for a C.
tessellata. Also from Westerm Australia, A. W.
Moms of Prince Launch Service, Barron Island
6712 Western Australia writes that he has a few
liv"."nll,,('t,,~ r. InRrRndr..",i tn tr..t1..
October, 1970
HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS
Page 3
SHELLS FOR SALE
..;
,--by LYMAN HIGA
The Scaggs Brothers, Michael and Ronald,
have been having outstanding shelling recently
on the island of Oahu. Included in their finds
are: Cypraea vitellus, C. chinensis, a live C.
semiplota in 6 feet of water, Conus bandanus,
C. spiceri, Cypraea carneola and Semicassis
fortisulcata.
David Ornelles, Vice President of the Junior
Division of the HMS collected a live Conus
coronatus on the reef at low tide at Kahuku
recently. This is a very beautiful and quite unusual specimen for Hawaii.
Ron Macomber recently collected two Conus
marmoreus bandanus off Kewalo Basin at 90
and 120 feet depths. These are unusually large
specimens, measuring 5%" and 5%" respectively.
AI Calabreese collected another C. auricomus at Makaha, and a live Cypraea lynx from
Fort Kam in five feet of water. AI also collected
a C. chinensis at Pupukea.
Bobby Guttierez has come up with a beautiful
live Murex elongatus from 60 feet at Sunset
Beach. This exceptionally nice shell is 21/2"
long.
Ed DeVaul found a Conus spiceri and two
Harpa amouretta off Makua at 80' and AI Kekoa has brought up six more C. tessellata from
60-70 feet in Moanalua Bay over four weekends.
BOOKS FOR SALE
CONE BOOK
Now available 1963 edition of "WEST
AMERICAN MOLLUSKA OF THE GENUS
CONUS - II" by Dr. G. Dallas Hanna of the
California Academy of Sciences. This work on
West American Cones is the most comprehensive I have seen. It is paperback 7% x 10", 103
pages and 21 beautiful color plates illustrating
92 figures. Only a limited number of these fine
books are available.
Price is only $3.95 incl. postage in U.S.A.
Order this valuable addition to your Library
from George Mendenhall, 416 Bayview, MilIbrae, California 94030, U.S.A.
Journal De Conchyliologie,31 volwnes 185083, $25 per volwne. Otenu, Manuel De Conchyliologique, 2 volwnes, Paris 1859, $40.
Mrs. Harry R. Bain
46 WestBayberryRoad
Glenmont..N.Y. J2077
Professor Alan J. Kohn of the University of
Washington writes: "in the June, 1970 issue of
HSN, H. H. Heinicke reported the collection of
a living specimen of Conus varius, Linnaeus
from Upolu, Western Samoa, as a new locality
record and geographical range extension. However, this species has been known to occur in
Samoa for nearly a century. Andrew Garrett
collected it there and reported this in his
'Annotated Catalogue of the species of Conus,
collected in the South Sea Islands,' in the Quarterly Journal of Conchology, vol. 1, pp. 353367, 1878."
Also, from Norman McDowall, Niue Island,
a note that he has collected three live specimens
of C. varius on the reefs of Niue, some 400
miles S.S.E. of Samoa and 800 miles East of
Fiji.
Thora Whitehead, Box 599, Cairns, North
Queensland, Australia 4870 would like to get in
touch with her first ever exchange contact, Alan
Biddle, formerly of S.P.S.M. Fiji who moved
back to New South Wales about 1965 when she
lost contact with him. She would very much like
to get in touch with him again, so if anyone
knows where Alan Biddle is now, please let
Thora know at the above address.
Phil Clover has identified the "little stranger"
in the June HSN issue as Astraea tayloriana,
Smith. He writes, "Thought you knew about
this problem but I guess not. In the last year,
Taiwan boats have been going to East and
South Africa and they have been bringing back
shells, in many cases the dealer selling them
claims them as local shells." South Africa
should be listed as the collecting area for this
shell. Confirmation of this identification of
"little stranger" also comes from A. K. Schuitema of the shell department, Sea-Aquarium,
Delfzijl, Holland.
The nameless Phenacovolva, the photograph
of which has been published in HSN (n.s.)
117 : 6 (September 1969), has been established
as Phenacovolva labroguttata
Schilder in
Archiv f. Molluskenk .99(34): 209-211 (24 October 1969). This paper also contains the
photograph of the holotype from Haga-Haga.
TAHITI
Andr~ H. Chambon
P.O. Box 1089, Papeete, French Polynesia
First dealer in Tahiti. Fine and rare shells of
Polynesia, particularly Marquesas and Tuamotu islands. Cypraea helvola celista, C. irrorata, C. dillwini,
C. goodalli, etc. Conus
marchionatus (two colors), C. encaustus, etc.
Will also exchange for Cypraea of the world, especially S. Mrica, Red Sea and Hawaii.
RARE AND SPECIMEN SHELLS
Golden Volutes, Lambis violacea, precious
wentletrapsand others. Sendfor free price list
on shells.Also, free catalogof shell books,fish
and generaloceanographicbooksupon request.
Salt Water Aquarium Magazine- Published
Bi-Monthly: Just $4.50 a year.
Coral Reef Exhibits, HN
Box 1005 Kendall Br.
Miami, Fla. 33156
Yeppoon Shell Museum
R. T. &D. A. Brown,
Box 74, Yeppoon, Q. Australia
The largest dealers of Specimen Shells in
Australia. Fine and rare specimens bought and
sold. Will exchange for rare shells. Prices to suit
all pockets. On hand at present, choice shells
from New Guinea. Australia, Philippines and
Africa. Write for free Price List.
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN SHELLS
BoxT 1738,G.P.O.
Perth, WesternAustralia6001
The bestquality Australian Shellscomefrom
WesternAustralia.Wesell Cypraeamarginata,
C. venusta venusta, rare cones, Volutes and
Murex. Color slidesof breedingcones,cowries,
and murex.
SHELLS-SLIDES-AUSTRALIAN SHELL
BOOKS
ISLAND SPECIMENS, rare and exotic seashells from Southern California. We have all the
rare ones!! Buy, sell, or trade; wholesale and
retail lists available at your request. Write to:
Island Specimens, 320 West Cabrillo St., Santa
Barbara, California, U.S.A. 93101.
GEORGE MENDENHALL
ENTERPRISES
IMPORT-EXPORT
NATURAL SCIENCE ESTABLISHMENT
416 BayviewAvenue
Millbrae, California 94030
Send for free catalog of SpecimenSea Shells.
Wholesaleitems available to recognizedshell
dealers.
PLEUROTOMARIA
(Con't from Page 1)
Of the twelve speciesand sub-species,five are
found in Japanese waters; six in Caribbean
waters; and one off the coast of Africa.
Other families in the Superfamily Pleurotomarioidea with either slits, holes, or a single hole
in the shell for the ctenidium (gills! include the
Scissurellidae, Fissurellidae, and Haliotidae. In
Hawaii there is at least one representative of the
Superfamily Pleurotomarioidea. This is in the
Family Fissurellidae, Genus Emarginula;
E.
clathrata Pease, a small slit shell superficially
resembling a hoof shell.
ABOUT THE PLEUROTOMARIIDAE!
The molluscan Family Pleurotomariidae is
one of the living fossil group of shells, probably
having developed first at least in the early
Jurassic period about 200 million years ago. It
was thought to be extinct until a living, but
crabbed, specimen of Pleurotomaria
(Perotrochus) quoyana was brought up from deep
water in a fisherman's trap. Until the discovery
of the Genus Neopilina (N. galatheae Lemche,
1957), pleurotomarids were considered by early
students of the group to be the most primitive
living mollusk. The pleurotomarids still remain
the most primitive living gastropod. They are
considered primitive because of having two gill
plumes whereas in the more advanced mollusks,
the right gill plume is absent.
Primitive mollusks were probably more or
less flat bodied animals having anteroposterior
axis in line with the foot and complete bilateral
symmetry with the mouth located anterior and
the anus posterior. The gastropod came into
being when torsion occurred during some
ancient evolutionary period. The site of torsion
is the narrow neck just behind the head-foot of
the animal. In the embriological stage of gastropod development the larva is at first bilaterally symmetrical and then quite suddenly torsion occurs in the animal which brings about a
change of orientation whereby certain parts of
the mollusk originally lying ventrally and posteriorly are pulled up to the right side and are then
lying dorsally and facing foreward. Right hand
organs become left hand organs and left become
right. There have been several theories advanced for the reason torsion took place in the
primitive mollusk to. form thegastropodegroup.
There are advantages to mollusks in both larval
and adult stages as a result of torsion. The disadvantage was that excrements now were deposited over the front of the animal. To circumvent this some animals developed, during evolutionary processes,a slit in the mantle and eventually in the shell. Several genera apparently
once had slits but the only surviving mollusks
with a complete slit are the several Pleurotomaria species and a few species in the Scissurelliodae in the early growth stages. The slits and
holes in the shells are natural openings for the
passageof water through the gills and the expul-
sion of waste material such as excreta and deoxygenated water which otherwise would pass
over the gill plumes.
Probably the most troublesome result of the
evolutionary process of torsion was the influence
on methods of reproduction. In the Pleurotomarids sexesare separate but, due to a symmetrical arrangement of renal organs and resultant
difference in sizes of these organs, gemetes from
either the male or female, must be passed
through a functional kidney and eventually directly into the water. Since development of a
penis in the male and an oviduct in the female
did not occur (or were perhaps last I during evolutionary processesfertilization must take place
externally in the water. This more or less
happenstance fertilization undoubtedly places
great ecological limitations on the species.
In most Archeogastropoda it is believed expulsion of gametes from the two sexesis brought
about by changes in water temperature; perhaps by warming of the water in early summer.
This seems unlikely in some of the Pleurotomarids becauseof the more or less constant temperature that is assumed to exist at the depths at
which these species are found. It is possible, of
course, that other factors, such as salinity
and/or other chemical changes in the water,
might be the influencing factor in the speciesexpelling sperm with resultant fertilization.
In general Pleurotomaria species resemble
the various top shells (Marga rite, Calliostoma,
Tegula,
and others
I.
In common
with
these
they have a large foot, a broad somewhat
flattened proboscis, and two rather long tentacles having an eye at the baseof each. The diet
of these animals is said to be delicate sea weeds
assumed to be found in the deep water which is
their habitat. The fact they are occasionally collected in deep water fishtraps which are baited
with dead fish might indicate they are also
All living species of Pleurotomaridae have an
operculwn which is nearly circular, thin, and
has numerous whorls. The operculwn in most
species is too small to close off the aperture but
possibly serves other purposes. See Photo Page
1 and below.
carnivore scavengers. Also, in very deep water
there tends to be relatively little in the "sea
weed" group since most such plants require
light for photosynthesis. In any event, the
radula of the pleurotomarids is long with teeth
that are long and kooklike in each transverse
row. Numerous marginal teeth also exist that
become smaller toward the edge; a radula
suited for browsing on algae and animal
detritus.
While rare in collections, some authorities
now believe they may be fairly abundant on the
ocean bottom but are not often collected due to
depth and bottom characteristics of their habitat. One of the most fascinating aspects of this
group of shells in their presently known wide
geographical separation of the various species.
To date Pleurotomariidae specieshave been collected only in the northern Otina Sea - Japan
area, in the Caribbean - Gulf of Mexico between Latitudes 120 N. and 270 N. and
between Longitude 60 and 87 degrees West,
and off the coast of South Africa. Perhaps even
more amazing is that Perotrochus tei-amachi,
found off Tosa Bay, Shikoku, Japan, is a subspecies of P. africanus found half way around
the world off South Africa and no where (to
date! in between.
Pleurotomaria gemma
(F. M. Bayer, 1965)
This shell has been collected from deep water
(100 fathoms I off the island of Barbados at
approximate Latitude 30° 10' North; Longitude 590 30' West. This is the easternmost
collection site for the Caribbean group of the
pleurotomarids. Apparently it is a small species
as the specimen described was only 1.75" high.
It is finely beaded and is called the Jewell Slit
Shell. It is described and illustrated in Bulletin
of Marine Science, Vol. 15.
An inspection of an oceanographic chart of
Barbados Island would indicate the specimen
described probably came from the northeast
coast, probably on a steeply sloping bottom that
is almost cliff-like. This type bottom seemsto be
the habitat of the Caribbean pleurotomarids.
HSN editors would appreciate more information and photographs of this species for a
future issue.
Perotrochus quoyana
(Fischer and Bernardi,
1856)
This speciesis another that is small in size for
the pleurotomarids. It averages 1.5" in height
but larger ones to 3" have been collected.
Quoy's slit shell has been collected in the Gulf of
Mexico and West Indies to the Antilles, always
from deep water. It is quite rare and is similar to
Mikadotrochus amabilis in form but is smaller
and is pale brown in color. It has an angle to the
apex of about 80'0. The first living specimen of
(Con't on Page 5)
(Con't from Page 4)
the Pleurotomariidae was a specimen of this
shell. It was brought up in a fisherman's trap
that had been set in very deep water (about 100
fathoms I between the islands of Marie-Galante
and Dominica at about Lat. 15045' North; 610
20' West Longitude. Later two additional specimens were dredged by the research vessel Blake
off Barbados.
Photos of this shell would also be appreciated
by HSN editors.
,
Perotrochus lucaya
(F. M. Bayer, 1965)
This is the most recently describedspeciesof
the pleurotomarids.It is small in sizebeingjust
over 1" in height. It wasfirst collectedoff Lucayan Cay, Grand Bahama Island in the Caribbean at approximately Latitude 26° 30' N.;
longitude 780 45' West. It was brought up
from a depth of 250 to 300 feet. Wagner and
Abbott, in Van Nostrand'sStandardCatalogof
Shellsstate it may be a form of P. quoyana.
The shell was illustrated in Bulletin of Marine
Science,Vol. 15.
Little is known about this shell. Additional
information and photos would be appreciated
by HSN editors.
Perotrochus midas
(F. M. Bayer, 1965)
The king midas slit shell is fairly large
measuring 3Y2" to at least 4Y2" in height. It has
been collected off Great Stirrup Cay. Bahama
Islands at approximate Latitude 25° 45' north;
Longitude 770 50' west. This area was 280 to
300 feet with a steeply sloping almost shelf like
bottom.
Very little information is available on this
shell. It was illustrated in the Bulletin of Marine
Science, Vol. 15 and in color in the National
Geographic Magazine for March, 1969, on page
415.
Additional information and photos would be
appreciated for a followup issue of HSN.
Perotrochus (africana subsp)
~t~ramachii
(Kuroda, 1955)
This is one of the very rare slit shells, the
fourth living specimen having been collected on
December 13, 1967 from a depth of about
1,200 foot depth (photo below). It was trawled
off the coast of Amami Oshima, South of Kyuo
shu. Other specimens were collected off Tosa
Bay, Shikoku Island, Japan. This speciesgrows
to at least 4" in height.
This shell is an iridescent orange-red in color
with fine surface reticulations, except on the
body whorl and at the middle of previous
whorls. It is broadly conical. The operculum in
this species is quite large, nearly closing the
aperture.
The shell is illustrated in Venus, Volume 18,
Plate 8; in Shells of the Western Pacific in Col.
or, Vol. II, by Habe; alSo in Color in Selected
Shells of the World by Shikama, Plate 1, Figure
1.
Mikadotrochus beyerichi
(Hilgendorf, 1877)
This was one of the earliest pleurotomarids to
find their way into the collections of early U.S.
collectors; one such early collector with M.
beyerichi was Mrs. S. L. Williams of Oiicago,
the most successful U.S. collector at that time.
This shell is found in deep water in the East
Perotrochus (africana subsp) teramachii (Kuroda, 1955).
Otina Sea and off Japan. Size ranges up to 4" in
height. This species is shown in the two figures
above.
Mikadotrochus
salmiana Rolle, 1899, is
considered a synonym of M. beyerichi by some
students of this shell. Others feel it is an individual variety from Okinose in Sagami Bay. M.
salmiana is shown below (aperture view) and in
HSN Supplement 6-70 (dorsal view).
M. beyerichi is illustrated in Color in
Coloured Illustrations of the Shells of Japan by
Kira, (Japanese edition) Plate I, Figure 1, and
Plate 2, Figure 1, in the English edition. Also in
color in Selected Shells of the World by Shikama
Plate 2, Figure 1 and M. salmania in Plate 2,
Figure 2.
Mikadotrochus
hirasei
(Pilsbry,
This is the legendary Emporer's top shell
around which almost as many stories have developed as around any other shell in history.
Most specimens in collections are large and
colorful. The shell ranges in size from three to
five inches in height. It is also the most common
of the slit shell group, even though it is usually
collected from depths of 300 feet and more.
The color of the shell is usually a creamywhite shaded with red diagonal stripes on each
whorl. The interior of the shell is pearly white.
The slit is 1" to 1 ~ "long. (Photos below).
1903)
For an interesting story about M. hirasei and
how it saved the lives of a Filipino family
during the Japanese invasion of World War II
the reader should see Sea Treasures, by Kathleen Yerger Johnson, Houghton Mifflin Co.,
Boston, page 129.
This shell is illustrated in color in Shells of the
Western Pacific in Color, Vol. I, Kira, Hoikusha Publishing Co., Osaka, Japan, (English edition) Plate 2, Fig. 2, and Plate 1, Fig. 2 in the
Japanese edition of this book.
Mikadotrochus schmalzi
(Shikama, 1961)
There is some controversy about the validity
of this species. Van Nostrand's Standard Catalog of Shells says, simply, "This is M. salmiana." Habe, in Shells of the Western Pacific in
Color says, "This species was previously confused with M. salmiana which seems to be an
individual variety of M. beyrichii from Okinose
in Sagami Bay. Aher his critical observations on
specimens from off Choshi, Dr. Shikama concluded that the specimens from Tosa Bay were a
new species, naming them Mikadotrochus
schmalzi. "
It is rather rare, usually being collected from
steep cliffs at depths of 450 to 600 feet in the
nets of coral fishermen. It is a large shell with a
high conical shape, quite heavy and solid. The
columelar margin of this species is very stout.
The shell is yellowish orange with typical red
mottling. For a color illustration see the above
book; Plate 1, Fig. 2. Also Selected Shells of the
World in Color, by Shikama, Plate 2, Figure 3.
SeeHSN Supplement 6-70 in this issue for an
illustration.
Mikadotrochus amabilis
(F. M. Bayer, 1963)
Photo Geor./{esMarkens Paris. France.
Entemnotrochus
rumphii
(SCht~pman, 1879)
This was recorded as a speciesnew to science
by Mattheus M. Schepman about 1900. This
Dutch collector described the shell as the largest
living Pleurotomaria. His description was based
on a large specimen in the Museum of the Rotterdam Zoological Garden.
This is a rare shell, and the most expensive of
the slit shell group. It made news in the HSN
twice; first in March, 1969 and again in
October, 1969, when we ran the first pictures of
the living animal of this species. The shell is also
illustrated in Venus Vol. 18, Plate 9; by a black
and white drawing on Page 5, Fig. 5 in the
Japaneseedition of Coloured Illustrations of the
Shells of Japan by Kira; and in Shikama's
Selected Shells of the World by a drawing on
page 4 of Part 2.
The shell illustrated below was collected from
the South China Sea off Taiwan. This is the
fourth known specimen that has been collected
and only the second in existence since specimens
two and three were destroyed during World War
II.
The lovely slit shell, as this species is called, is
found in deep water off the Southeast Florida
coast in the Gulf of Mexico. It reaches a height
of 3" and perhaps slightly larger. It is a brownish-red shell, finely beaded, and quite rare. The
angle of the apex is about 650 and it's sides are
slightly concave. The slit is narrow apd extends
about one-fifth around the body whorl.
It is illustrated by a color drawing in Sea
Shells of North America, Abbott, Golden Press,
New York.
HSN editors would appreciate more information and a photograph of this shell.
The slit in this shell is very long and narrow
being nearly half the circumference of the shell.
The base color is yellowish-cream and is heavily
marked with broad flame-like colors of flesh red.
Photo Paul Tzinwulis, Editor-Publisher Skin
Diver Magazine.
Cymatium
(Monoples) parthenopeum
(Von Salis, 1793) has an extremely Wide distribution. A photo of this species was published in
the" December, 1969 issue of HSN with a note
asking readers to identify the shell. Many
readers replied and it was generally agreed that
the shell was C. parthenopeum (by Hal Lewis,
Thora Whitehead, and others). Mrs. Whitehead, who lives in Australia listed several geographical locations from which this shell had
been collected. It had not been collected previously in Hawaii.
In June, 1970, we received an informative
letter from Margaret Bentley-Buckle of Kenya,
East Africa, who said about a photo she submitted, "Is this not the shell that Mrs. Thora
Whitehead calls C. parthenopeum?
I have
never come across it before in this area, though I
note that Mrs. Whitehead says that she has one
from Africa in her collection, she does not specify which part of Africa. This shell was collected
by native fishermen off Zanzibar early this year
(1970) and like all such finds has no operculum,
andno locality data whatsoever. The shell measures 103mm. Would be glad for identification."
The photo was sent to Mr. Hal Lewis who
confirmedthat the shellwas C. parthenopeum.
It is illustrated this month in the HSN supplement and may be compared with the photo
which appeared in the December, 1969, of a
specimen of this species that had been dredged
from deep water in Hawaii.
Entemnotrochus
adansoniana
(Crosse and Fischer, 1861)
This shellreportedlyreachesa heightof 8". If
so it must be the most beautiful of all the slit
shells.It is rare; collectedat depths of 200 to
1,500 feet. Spire is high, slightly convexsides.
Slit narrow and very long, extending halfway
around the shell. Exterior is rough with red
splotchesor maculations.Umbilicus round and
very deep.Jo D. Starck collecteda specimenat
a depth of 28() feet on the outside wall of the
Andros Barrier Reef, Bahamas.A secondshell
was collected by her husband Walter Starck
shown at left on page 6.
SeeHSN Supplement6-70 in this issuefor
other photos of this shell.
ATTENTION:
We do not have photos to illustrate several of
the Pleurotomarids. Nor are they shown in any
other readily available publication. Because of
this we are urgently requesting photos of this
group of shells for use in a future issue of HSN
to complete the illustrated file on this group.
Early in July the well known Japanese shell
collector Mr. Ryosuke Kawamura visited Honolulu for two busy days. Kawamura is widely
known for having one of the finest collections of
Japanese shells in the world and has a number
identified by his name. One of these is the beautiful Voluta kurodai Kawamura. ,
Mr. Kawamura was entertained at a fine
Fisherman's Wharf llmcheon by HMS Past
President Cliff Weaver. Several shells were
traded and many shelling experiences exchanged. Kawamura was then invited to view
Dr. C. M. (Patl Burgess' collection at the Burgess Manoa residence. He is quite interested in
obtaining a full array of Hawaiian shells, especially the cones. Kawamura was also priviledged to view the Harrison collection thru the
courtesy of Ibby and Betsy. He was intensly interested in Betsy's live taken Strombus hawaiianensis which was shown him.
Mr. Ryosuke Kawamura is a successful
banker by profession, currently being President
of the Japan Credit Bureau, Limited. He has
also been an avid shell collector for over forty
years. He owned the second known Pleurotomaria rumphii which was Imfortlmately destroyedin the bombing of Tokyo in WW II.
We hope that Mr. Kawamura will visit us
again soon.
by TADASHI HADE
and KINICHI
SAKURAJ
Goubina insueta Dautzenberg has a shell
strongly curved to the right, like the claw of a
cat, with a lamella along the right side of the
shell in frontal view. This is the second specimen
of this species collected from Nase, Amami
Oshina, south of Kyushu. This .locality is far
from the type locality, Lifu, Loyalty Islands,
near New Caledonia.
Test figs. 1-2. Goubina insueta Dautzenberg
from Amami Oshima,Japan. Approx. x 3.
by ELMER LEEHMAN
One of the most intriguing programs of 1970
was held by the HMS on the evening of Sept.
2nd, 1970, at the Honolulu Aquarium. This
meeting was called to order by HMS President
George Campbell promptly at 7: 30 PM.
Speaker was Dr. Thomas H. Richert, who
had recently returned from a shelling expedition
in Philippine, East Indian and Northern Australian waters. The expedition was conducted
from the well known M.S. Pele. It began from
Davao, Philippines and extended to the North
coast of the Australian continent. Cyprea expert
and author Dr. C. M. (Pat) Burgess was also a
member of this enviable private expedition.
Tom Richert's affable and relaxed presentation kept the audience enthralled. Especially
when he described areas where shells abounded
and divers sometimes literally walked on beds of
mollusks. The "Pele" was completely outfitted
for shell dredging and has made many previous
such voyages. Initially in the Hawaiian chain
and later in the Asian area, mostly near the
Philippine Islands. Richert commented that
dredging had been quite fruitful and that a
number of new unidentified shells had been harvested. One of these is a new lyria voluta. At
each stop enroute, diving members of the group
would don scuba or snorkels and collect numerous shells.
The "Pele" collided with an underwater object enroute and had to enter drydock for major
hull repairs. This unexpected delay created
scheduling problems which required some projects to be shortened and a few others cancelled.
Nevertheless the venture was considered a
success.
Dr. Burgess was called upon to augment Tom
Richert's talk with some additional comments.
He emphasized that without the tremendous
effort of Dr. Richert, there would probably have
been no exped~tion. Burgess said that Richert's
extremely hard work and fine initiative were the
crux of the success of this last "Pele" shell
voyage. Dr. Richert than returned to the
podium to answer direct fInd detailed questions
for well over a half hour.
The late Mrs. King had expended many
thousands of dollars in the purchase, outfitting
and maintenance of the "Pele". It will be
remembered by many HMS members as the
first to dredge numerous rare deep water Hawaiian shells. Mrs. King deserves the endless
gratitude of all shell enthusiasts, Dr. ijichert
concluded. Particularly the many persons who
were fortunate to have been included in the
many "Pele Expeditions" over the last fifteen
years. Mrs. King was also a pioneer HMS
member.
Ed. Note: A more detailed account of the
expedition will be presented in HSN for
November, 1970.
HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS
October, 1970
~ I Entemnotrochus
~ Cypraea
lynx,
Supplement 6-70
--,
adansonia, basal view.
mantle
Tzimoul~
1
extended
Hawaii
Calabrese
~
~
~
~
~
rCymatium
~I
~I
5:1
(Monoplex) parthenopeum Von Salis
l
Mediterranean
Photo Courtesy Margaret Bentley-Buckle
L
I
To use these illustrations, cut carefully along the dashed lines. Perhaps a bit of extra trimming
may be necessary. Then carefully mount the illustration on a standard 3 x 5 inch file card. AddiI tional data about shells of this speciesin your collection, sizes,etc, may be entered on the back of the
file card.
I
I
_I
Supplement 6-70
HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS
SHELLS FOR SALE
CALIFORNIA
WEST COAST CURIO CO.
1940 Maple Avenue
Costa Mesa, Calif. 92627
"13 Miles South of Disneyland" Longest
Established Shell Dealer on Pacific Coast. More
than 2,000 Species stocked regularly. Buy or
Browse, you're always welcome! COME IN
AND SEE US.
AUSTRALIA'S FRIENDLY SHELL
DEALER.
OLAF CHRISTENSEN,
405 Bay St., Nth. Brighton, Victoria, 3186.
Australia
Handlesonly the highestquality in Shells.Tell
him which Families interest you and he will
quote you current prices from current stock.
Many Rare Specimensavailable; Shell books
also.
WISCONSIN
RICHARD M. KURZ
1575 North 118 St., Wauwatosa
Wisconsin 53226, U.S.A.
Dealer in fine and rare specimen shells. Shells
bought, sold and traded. Extra fine quality.
Write for free price list.
SPAIN
WORLDWIDE SHELLS
BOUGHT AND SOLD
Specialists in Cypraea, Conus, Voluta,
Marginella, Mitra, and Latiaxis.
Write for free 1970illusti:atedshell and book
list.
Philip Clover,Apartadode Correos22, Rota,
Cadiz, Spain.
October, 1970
SHELLS FOR SALE
SHELLS FOR SALE
FLINDERSIAN SHELL TRADERS
P.O. Box 91, Christies Beach
SouthAustralia 5165
FOR SALE
SouthAustralian (FlindersiantypesI Austroharps punctata (extremely rare); Voluta
exoptanda (very rare; J;; kreuslerae (very
rarel; Phalium adcocki (very rarel.
TAIWAN
CHIEN SHEN COMPANY
KaohsiungI,P. O. Box 01128
Kaohsiung,Taiwan, Rep.of China
FOR SALE
SpecimenShells: Shell Craft, Shark Teeth
and Jaws.Tortoise, Fish, SpecimenButterflies.
Butterflycraft. White Coral Necklaces.
NEW ZEALAND
Worldwide shells for sale in top quality at fair
prices. Many rare items seldom offered before in
stock. Also large range of land shells from many
countries. Wholesale rates to dealers. Orders
over $25.00 airmail free. Free price lists.
Suppliers to some of the world's biggest
museums.
John Hood Alexander Ltd., 61 Chequers
Ave., Glenfield, Auckland 10, NEW ZEALAND.
CALIFORNIA
THE THORNY OYSTER
John & Mary D'Aiuto, 437 Cambridge Ave.,
Palo Alto, Cal. 94306.
Only Specimen Shell Store in this area. Stop
by & brouse. Also Topical Stamps (Sealifel.
Send for 12 page check & price list 50c (no shell
list) send your want list. SPECIAL...
30
species of Philippine Land Shells w/labels.
$10.95 postage inc. (airmail extra).
To Buy Shells
Wants
PHILIPPINES
ROMEO M. LUMA WIG
SPECIMEN SHELLS WANTED
FRESHLY AND NEWLY collectedcommon,
I want to buy rare Conus, Murex,
Voluta
\U1commonto rare fine and perfect specimen and Cypraea. Can use Cypraea aurantium and
shells, many in growth series,for sale at very I will pay good prices. Only live collected perfect
reasonableprices both for retail and wholesale. specimens considered.
PRICE LISTS available on request. Write to
SIMON De MARCO, World's Largest
Mr. Romeo M. Lumawig, Boac, Marinduque, Dealer, P.O. Box 1664, Fort Myers, Florida
33902. U.S.A.
Philippines E-201.
PHILIPPINES
TAHITI
SHELLS
Fresh & newly caught specimenshells from
JEAN COLUMBIER
the central Philippines. All kinds of Philippine
P. O. Box 1610-Papeete-French
Polynesia
shellsfor prompt delivery from our warehouse.
Buying, selling, exchanging world-wide shells.
Price list available on request -Sea Gems Rare shells of Polynesia and New Caledonia.
Shellorama - P.O. Box 627, Cebu City, Ver beautiful minerals for collectors. Free list on
Philippines.
request.
DEALER OF THE MONTH
Eleven years ago a young Wisconsin florist named Richard M. Kurz selected Florida for his vacation. This selection was destined to bring about some important changes in Dick Kurz's future life.
He soon found himself scouring the Florida sea beaches and when he found his first specimens he
was irrevocably "hooked" as an avid shell collector.
Over the next seven years Kurz was able to amass an outstanding personal collection, while still
engaging in the florist profession. In 1966 Dick Kurz decided to become a full time shell dealer. And
1968, Kurz purchased the business of the well known Selma Lawson which consisted of over 45,000
specimens, all top quality. Since then he has established addition.al procurement connections allover
the world, which assuresa continuous influx of fresh new shells to offer to his many customers.
In a recent interview Richard Kurz simply explained his philosophy as follows: "I strive to obtain
the very best prices for finest quality. I then use great care in filling my orders, as if the shells concerned were for my own collection. I conscientiously attempt to fill all orders within two days, as I
well recall how anxious I always was for the mail man to arrive with new shells. My greatest business
reward has been the many compliments I regularly receive as well as the extensive happiness these
gems of nature bring to my customers".