Grow Your Own Conus gloriamaris

AN EDUCATIONAL
PUBLICATION
VOL. XXII NO.7
Grow Your Own
Conus gloriamaris
by ELMER G. LEEHMAN
lain Gower, planter-shell collector-resort
operator situated on Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands, has succeededin "raising" a oncedelicate Conus gloriamaris Chemnitz, 1777 to
robust adulthood in captivity. In doing so, he
has answered numerous questions about the life
cycle of this elusive species and raised a number
of others.
Gower found the shell while diving with Brian
Bailey near Lunga Sound, Guadalcanal in
1972, only a few days after oahurricane did great
dBn1age in the area. The huge seas had tom
chunks of coral loose from the bottom and had
shaken shells from their usual hiding places.
Collectors were reaping an unusual harvest.
During this dive, Gower picked up a small
undistinguished cone and placed it in°his bag for
later sorting. After surfacing, he was surprised
to find that he had an immature 18mm Conus
gloriamaris.
Many readers will recall that five or six years
ago Gower, Bailey and Wally Gibbins found an
unbelievable sixty-eight specimens of C. gloriamaris in the Guadalcanal area, only a few
miles from Lunga Sound (HSN, Sept. 19701.
There have been no reports of additional finds
since then.
Despite its rarity, the obviously immature
shell was of little value, and Gower and Bailey
were on the verge of returning it to the sea.
Gower decided, however, to try to keep it alive
in an experiment he had discussed with the
writer during a visit to Hawaii in 1971.
On returning to his home at Marau Sound,
Gower constructed a small metal cage in which
he placed the shell. Then he lowered it to the
bottom, in about twelve feet of water, at the end
of his pier. After that came the difficult task of
finding suitable food. It was a case of trial and
error. But after a few weeks it was clear what
the cone preferred, and the job became one of
finding enough to supply it once a week or so.
The Conus gloriamaris began to thrive and
grow, and its once-fragile lip hardened. Even
fCont'd on Page 51
OF THE HAWAIIAN
MALACOLOGICAL
SOCIETY
JULY. 1974
NEW SERIES NO. 175
by CHARLES WOLFE
The deep waters around Oahu recently
yielded a specimenof a Cassidnot previously
recordedfrom Hawaii. The shell - taken by
HMS memberGeorgeDonnerfrom a crab trap
at 700 feet- is a dead,slightly subadultPhalium coronadoi wyvillei (Watson, 18861.
This rare species,accordingto Dr. R. T.
.Abbott
in Indo-Pacific
Mollusca,
is found
in
depths of 300 meters or more from Japan to
Australia. The range extension to Hawaii is
doubly interesting since there is another Cassid
- Phalium glabratum bulla (Habe, 1961) -
which is recorded only from the deep waters of
Hawaii and Japan.
The Hawaiian Cassid~ewere the subject of an
article in Hawaiian Shell News, Vol. XVII,
No.5, May 1969. Interested collectors should
add P. coronadoi wyvillei to the species
covered in that article. The accompanying photo
of George Donner's shell also shows a specimen
of P. coronadoi wyvillei from Taiwan for comparison (Fig. 11.
It may be appropriate to point out an
apparent error in the 1969 Cassidae article. In
the feature, both Casmaria erinaceus erinaceus (Linne, 1758) and Casmaria erinaceus
kalosmodix (Melville, 18831 are assigned to
the Hawaiian fauna. It is doqbtful that two subspecies of the same species could exist in the
same island fauna.
f Cont'd on Page 31
Fig. 1. Phalium coronadoi wyvillei (Watson,
1886) - left, Hawaii; right, Taiwan.
Fig. 2. Casmaria erinaceus kalosmodix (Melviii, 1883) -left, smooth-shouldered
form with
flame markings; middle, noduled form with
light color; right, noduled form with flame
markings; all from Hawaii.
Fig. 3. Casmariaerinaceus kalosmodix (Melvill, 1883) - large form with "zebra" stripes
and no prickles on outer lip; Hawaii.
Fig. 4. Casmaria erinaceus erinaceus (Linne,
1758)
-
two left shells, smooth-shouldered,
no
markings and zigzag stripes respectively; two
right shells, noduled shoulders, no markings and
zigzag stripes respectively; all Philippine.
REEFCOMBINGS
Some
members
of
the
Hawaiian
Malacological Society - those with non-U.S.
addresses and who receive Hawaiian Shell
News by surface mail - are getting reminders
HAWAIIAN
MALACOLOGICAL
(Founded in 1941)
P. O. Box 10391
SOCIETY
Honolulu, Hawaii 96816
President
STUART LILLICO
OLIVE SCHOENBERG
ROBERT PURTYMUN
INKIE SHIELDS
LORETTA RICHERT
Vice President
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Sec. .
Directors
DR. THOMAS BURCH
DONALD GRACE
GEORGE COOK
FRANCISHEE
E. R. CROSS
DR. TOM RICHERT
DEANE GONZALEZ
CHARLES S. WOLFE
The Society meets the first Wednesday of
each month at the First United Methodist
Church, 1020 S. Beretania St., Honolulu at
7:30 p.m.
VISITORS WELCOME!
'ri'a~aiiale SItdt ~4
Editor-in-Chief
E. R. CROSS
Editors.
STUART LILLlCO, RUTH FAIR
Editorial StaH:
Elmer Leehman, Lyman Higa,
Genevieve Wheeler, Beatrice Burch
Corresponding Editors:
Peter van Pel,
Dr. J. C. Astary, A. G. Hamlyn-Harris,
Fr. AI Lopez S.J., Thora Whitehead,
William E. Old, Jr., Rick Luther
Hawaiian
Shell News is issued free to members of the Society. Postage rates have been
computed
and added to membership
dues.
Single
copies
of any issue, $1.00, postage
included.
Individual
copies of any issue may
be obtained,
free of charge,
by qualified
individuals
for bona fide research
projects.
MEMBERSHIP DUES:
U.S. (Includes Hawaii, APO, FPO) ..$ 8.00
U.S. AIR (incl. Canada)
10.50
FOREIGN SURFACE
9.00
FOREIGN FIRST CLASS
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FOREIGN AIR
16.00
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
1.00
(Each additional family member
may join for $1.00 but does not
receive HSN.)
Articles
solicited.
July, 1974
HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS
P8jte 2
of
interest
.
to
shell
collectors
are
Advertisements are accepted at the rate of
$10 per column inch per issue. Special rates
are available for six and twelve insertions.
with this issue that their dues for next year are
payable by the end of December 1974. If this
seems to be pretty far in advance to call attention to the date, it's because HSN often is outrageously delayed in reaching those people, and
their reply frequently takes almost as long to get
back to Honolulu. The only way to avoid delay,
confusion and needless correspondence is to
start the renewal machinery early.
Members who get their HSN by other classes
of mail will receive their reminders in later issues. (Comments on the new form of renewal
notice and the self-addressed reply will be welcomed. )
Perhaps this is an appropriate moment to say
that the gremlins have been at work for three or
four months on the HSN mailing machinery.
Quite a few members have written to complain
about nondelivery; a few apparently got empty
envelopes. Copies have come back for more
postage. Some of the fault may lie with the
postal service, but our own mailing system came
unstuck slightly, too. The obvious difficulties
have been recognized and overcome, we hope,
but if anyone is still without the earlier issues
due him, write to HMS Corresponding Secretary Loretta Richerts. She will mail a replacement.
A new edition of the classic American
Seashells is expected to go on sale in October.
Dr. R. Tucker Abbott has written friends that
he is finishing reading the proofs of the index
which includes 14,000 entries.
"Van Nostrand-Rheinhold Co. now calculates that the retail price of the 650-page book
(8Y2 x 11 inches, with two columns per page
and photos in text) will be about $49.50," he
went on. "That's a stiff price, even though the
twenty-four colored plates are entirely new.
"In the past, many friends have asked me to
autograph copies of my books. This new one
presents a problem as it is being delivered in
sealed boxes. However, if I know in advance, I
can autograph copies at the bindery, before
mailing. If you are interested in having one of
the first copies inscribed to you or someoneelse,
let me know at once.
"I'll be happy to pass on a fifteen per cent
discount to you, a saving of $7.50."
The new edition lists 6,500 species and subspecies, with authors and dates for all taxa,
including families. About 3,000 species are
illustrated and described in detail. The work is
the first comprehensive checklist of Canadian,
U.S. and Mexican marine molluscs, Dr. Abbott
concludes.
HMS members who want autographed (and
cut-rate I copies should write directly to:
Dr. R. Tucker Abbott
Box 4208
Greenville, Del. 19807.
Tell him to whom the volume should be inscribed, and to whom it should be mailed. Do
not send the money now. You will get a bill for
the book (less 15 per cent) plus postage when
it's delivered.
*
*
*
HSN Corresponding Editor Peter van Pel,
writing about the Cassidae of the Netherlands
Antilles (HSN, May 1974) remarked that he
had never seen Cassis tuberosa feeding on the
spiny sea urchin. R. H. Jones, of South Euclid,
Ohio, offers some "very strong circumstantial
evidence" that helmets do, in fact, eat the
prickly animals.
"Several years ago I was shelling on No
Name Cay, in the Bahamas" he said. "In one
afternoon my son and I examined at least 100
Cassis tuberosa
(I wanted one good specimen
I.
About half were over sea urchins, which had
anywhl:re from none to most of their spines removed. In some casesthe tests appeared to have
been emptied.
"We put several helmets down near live
urchins. In every case the helmet moved to and
covered the urchin.
"It is impossible actually to say that the
helmets were eating the sea urchins, which were
covered by the foot of their attacker. However,
the high percentage of helmets that were covering urchins, and the member of empty tests,
would indicate very strongly that helmets do
attack and eat urchins."
Jones added a note that will strike a responsive chord with male shellers.
"While my son and I were examining helmets, my wife was picking up empty tests from
the beach and shallow water. She had accumulated about a bushel of whole tests by the time
we returned. It was only with great difficulty
that we persuaded her to leave most of them on
the beach."
SPECIMENSNEEDED
The Society has received a request from Adlai
B. Wheel, Sr. of Syracuse, N.Y. for labeled
natural history material suitable for display to
students. He suggests collecting a large box of
shells from individuals, for which he will pay
transportation charges.
Mr. Wheel has been a teacher of "nature
appreciation" for many years and has an extensive collection of marine specimens which he
displays. He says he needs duplicates that
budding scientists can handle and study in
detail.
Mrs. Sue Hoffstot has agreed to coordinate
the Hawaii response. Phone her - 373-3642
if you can contribute specimens.
July, 1974
HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS
Page 3
Two Rare Shells
Are Found on Guam
AGANA
-
Two rare shells have recently
been found on Guam by Larry Saltzgaver of the
Guam Shell Club. The first, Murex laqueatus,
Sowerby II, 1841, was found in about fifty feet
of water, hanging upside down beneath a large
boulder. The orange-pink shell measures 39mm
long and 15.4mm high. Dr. Emily Vokes of
Tulane University subsequently identified it as
M. laqueatus, of which she said she had only
examined three specimens previously.
Shells on Stamps:
Three Novel Cones from New Caledonia
by JERRY DONOHUE
University of Pennsylvania
Of the numerous postage stamps which depict
A sinistral (left-handed) gastropod is easy to
shells, four quite handsome ones were issued in
recognize: if the shell is held with the spire
1968 by New Caledonia and Dependencies, a
pointed up, the aperture is on the left side. None
group of islands constituting a French overseas of the cones figured in either of the two books
territory in the South Pacific, east of Australia.
cited above is sinistral, nor is this phenomenon
The shells pictured are all of the genus Conus,
mentioned therein. Left.handed examples in the
namely, C. cabriti, C. coccineus, C geogenus Voluta (s.l.) are occasionally encountered
graph us, and Clienardi.
Three of the species, (see HSN Nov. 1973, p. 7), and species of the
Conus coccineus, C. geographus, and C
tropical West American genus Triphora are
lienardi,
are included
in Marsh
and
invariably sinistral, but, so far as I am aware,
Rippingale's comprehensive Cone Shells of the
this phenomenon has not been reported for
World. The C. cabriti on the 40 F stamp is
Conus.
illustrated in Webb's Handbook for Shell
Do the three stamps show rare and perhaps
Collectors, along with the other three.
unique specimens of left-handed cones? This
As well as can be determined, the shells on the
possibility cannot be ruled out. But I believe
stamps match the figures in the literature, but
that it is more likely that somewhere in the
with a very important exception: Conus
engraving process the three figures were recabriti, C. coccineus, and C lienardi are versed. This amusing error does not, however,
depicted as sinistral!
detract from the beauty of the stamps.
A NEW CASSID fCont'd from Page 11
Dr. Abbott, in his definitive coverage of Casmaria in Indo-Pacific
Mollusca, considers
that the only subspecies of erinaceus found in
Hawaii is kalosmodix, and that its distinctive
characteristic is the squarish blotches of color
just below the suture. These can be seen in the
photo (Fig. 2). Occasionally a large specimen of
kalosmodix is found which lacks the spines on
the front part of the outer lip and/or displays
"zebra" stripes. However, these specimens also
show the subsutural blotches characteristic of
kalosmodix (Fig. 3). For comparison, several
variations of Casmaria erinaceus erinaceus
(Linne, 1758) are shown (Fig. 4).
Cernohorsky, in Marine Shells of the
Pa~ific, Vol. II, treats kalosmodix
as a
synonym of erinaceus. Thus, according to Abbott, the Hawaiian shell is Casmaria erinaceus
kalosmodix; according to Cernohorsky kalosmodix is a synonym and the Hawaiian shell is
Casmaria erinaceus erinaceus; but neither
assigns both subspecies to Hawaii.
The following revised checklist of Hawaiian
Cassids follows
Abbott's
taxonomy
in
Casmaria:
Cassis corn uta (Linne, 1758}
Phalium umbilicatum
(Pease, 1860} endemic
Phalium glabratum bulla (Habe, 1961}
Phalium
coronadoi
wyvillei
(Watson,
1886}
Casmaria
18831
erinaceus
kalosmodix
Casmaria ponderosa ponderosa
1791}
(Melvill,
(Gmelin,
Murex laqueatus Sowerby,1841, Guam.
Photos: Saltz~aver
The secondshell is Conus luteus Broderip,
1833, Six specimenshave beenfound recently,
of which two weresentto Bill Old in New York
for identification. He called this shell "very
uncommonin collections."
Conus [uteus Broderip, 1833, Guam.
There is apparently a rather involved
synonymy between this shell and C. nucleus,
Reeve, 1848, which was applied to a juvenile
specimen of C. luteus. After examining six of
these shells, I am of the opinion that C. luteus
found on Guam is typical of size and shape for
this area, ranging from 15mm long for 24mm
long. Colors are basically reddish brown with a
row of whitish-blue spots around the middle.
Habitat appears to be in about thirty to ninety
feet of water under loose rocks in sediment.
Larry Saltzgaver
July, 1974
HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS
Page 4
IDENTITY PROBLEMS:
Synonymy of !!!ebra
robustum and T. lingual is Questioned
My experience indicates that anyone of the
contrasting characteristics described above can
be considered to be diagnostic.
The apical angle also reveals what I consider
to be a significant and constant difference
between the two forms: that of T. lingualis
varies from ten to twelve degreeswhile that of T.
robustum varies from the fourteen to eighteen
degrees of a typical specimen to the more than
twenty degrees of the form dumbauldi Hanna
& Hertlein, 1961.
Although admittedly not diagnostic by itself,
none of hundreds of specimens of T. lingualis I
have examined has approached the size of an
average T. robustum. I have collected or
observed the former ranging in size from 25 to
75mm with an average specimen measuring
about 6Omm. The latter ranges from 25 to
135mm with an average specimen at about
cords separated by a distinct incised line and 11Omm. Throughout the common size range the
morphological differences mentioned above reanteriorly - strong, curved, axial ribs which
main constant - a strong indication that the
extend from the scalloped incised line separating
them from the anterior cord to the anterior
lingualis form does not develop into the
suture. The interstices between the ribs are
robustum form with an increase in size/age.
unsculptured and approximately one-and-1Jne- Furthermore, I have never observed transitional
forms: regardless of size, every specimen is, in
half times as wide as the ribs themselves.
my opinion, quite clearly one or the other.
The early sculpture of Terebra lingualis
Given the taxonomically frustrating intraconsists of a subsutural beaded cord which is
specific variability of the phylum, perhaps more
separated by an incised line from weak axial ribs
significant than the morphological differences
extending to the anterior suture. Each rib bears
are the following remarks based on field
a strong node at its posterior end. These n04es,
observations of habitat and distribution made
in sum, create the impression of a second beaded
primarily in two collecting stations in the Canal
cord; however, clear separation of rib, and node
Zone throughout
a two-and-one-half-year
is lacking. In addition, examination of uneroded
specimens under magnification reveals that the
period.
Station "A" is on the east side of the causebeads, ribs, and interstices are all crossedby fine
way which forms the eastern bank of the Pacific
spiral threads which are absent in T. robustum.
approach to the Panama Canal. It is an extenThe early sculpture typical of T. robustum
sive tidal flat grading from coarse sand, pebbles
becomesin later whorls totally obsolete. That of
and shell fragments shoreward, through muddy
T. lingualis is, however, replaced by discrete
sand, to soft mud and ooze at subdatum levels
subsutural nodes which persist to the body in
seaward. Although generally calm, the water is
almost all specimens. These nodes impart a disvirtually opaque on an ebbing tide due to the
tinctive tabulate appearance to each whorl. In
large quantity of suspended silt.
contrast, T. robustum is devoid of macroscopic
The molluscan fauna there, in comparison
sculpture in its later whorls.
with that of other stations, is quite sparse and
In T. lingualis the sides of each whorl are
limited in the intertidal wne primarily to
virtually parallel. As a result its diameter is conPolinices bifasciBtus (Griffith & Pidgeon),
stant from the subsutural nodes to the anterior
Nassarius luteostoma (Broderip & Sowerby),
suture. The whorls of T. robustum, on the
Conus patricius Hinds, T. robustum Hinds.
other hand, are markedly inflated with the
T. robustum form dumbauldi Hanna & Hertgreatest diameter of each whorl occurring near
lein,
T. larvaeformis Hinds, T. strigata Sowerthe middle.
by, and various species of Mactridae and
Another morphological difference which
Veneridae. The Terebridae are found excluappears constant in the specimens I have
sively in mud and sandy mud at the lower end of
examined is the fine incised line which occurs
the tidal range. Notably absent during all
anterior to the subsutural nodes of T. linqualis.
seasons at this station is T. lingualis.
It persists on all whorls and produces a slight
Station "B" lies approximately 3.5 miles
compression on the outer lip toward the possouthwest of Station "A". It is the eastern side
terior end of the aperture. This line is absent in
of a sandbar and rocky reef which extends 1.6
T rnh..ahlnL
by GEORGE P. CUMMINGS, JR.
In the second edition of Dr. Myra Keen's
superb Sea Shells of Tropical West America
(Stanford University Press, Stanford, California, 1971), Terebra lingualis Hinds, 1844
is placed in synonymy with T. robustum Hinds,
1844. My personal observations of the shell
morphology and local habitat/distribution
of
the two forms in the Canal Zone fail to support
the synonymy.
A comparison of specimens of both forms
reveals constant morphological differences
regardless of specimen size. The early whorls of
both forms are heavily sculptured, and at first
glance appear to be very similar if not identical.
Examination with a lens, however, shows slight,
but constant, differences.
The sculpture of each early whorl of Terebra
robustum consists of two posterior beaded
miles seaward, linking the mainland with
Venado Island when exposed at low tide.
Isolated portions, consisting of volcanic rock,
are exposed even at high tide. The remainder
grades from coarse sand at the higher levels and
at the base of the rocks to fine, clean sand at
subdatum levels at the seaward end of the reef,
and sandy mud toward the shore. The water is
calm at all seasons and remains comparatively
clear even at low tide.
The molluscan fauna is extremely rich, with
almost all endemic gastropod families abundantly represented. The Terebridae found,
listed in decreasing order of relative abundance,
are: T. lingualis Hinds, T. strigata Sowerby,
T. armillata Hinds, T. larvaeformis Hinds, T.
bridgesi Dall, T. robustum Hinds, and T.
ornata Gray.
Terebra robustum is infrequently found at
this station, and almost exclusively at the shoreward t:nd where sandy mud prevails. T. lingualis, on the other hand, is not found close to
shore, but in clean sand at the seaward end of
the reef. As at Station "A", all the Terebridae
are most abundant at the lower end of the tidal
range.
Based on the almost total absence of T.
lingualis in the muddy habitat of Station "A"
where T. robustum is commonly found, and the
confinement of T. robustum to the muddier
areas of Station "B" where T. lingualis is not
found, I have concluded that the two forms
flourish in two distinct and only narrowly overlapping habitats. This conclusion is consistent
with observations - admittedly less frequent
and less intensive
-
at other stations
both on
the mainland and on offshore islands in the Gulf
of Panama.
The morphological and environmental factors
discussed above have led me to conclude that
the placement of Terebra lingualis
in
synonymy with T. robustum is perhaps premature, and that further study, preferably
anatomical and in the field, is indicated.
Recognizing the limited geographical extent
of my observations, I would welcome comments
from field collectors elsewhere in the Panamic
Province which would tend to confirm or refute
my conclusions.
FORMOSA SHELLS
WHOLESALE
CHU-SHAN CHIANG
Specimen& commercial seashells
WE BUY, SELL AND TRADE
Write for FREE Price-list
Box 332, Tainan, Taiwan
Republic of China
TELEPHONE: 50520 Tainan
July, 1974
HAW AllAN SHELL NEWS
COWRY HUNTING ON TIKEHAU
by HENRI BAUP, M.D.
PAPEETE - Cowry specialists are keenly
aware that many fine, albeit rare species can be
fotUld in the normally tranquil waters of French
Polynesia. With this in mind, four of us recently
boarded
the interisland
packet
-
Goelette
a
medium-size motor cruiser with limited
accommodations - for the overnight voyage
from Papeete to the remote village of Tikehau,
Tlkeheu
~ .rJ /
~
~~
~"0
Q""
')
~'~
Tuamotu.
!
u
-~
:
"
U
/
.I
~
0
~,..
.!'
~
.1
q
I
t).
'\fJ
Papeete
Society Is.
~
Back Issuesof
Hawaiian Shell News
available
Write to HMS CorrespondingSecretary
P. O. Box 10391
Honolulu. HI 96816
in the Tuamotu Group near Rongiroa.
We were braced for a passage on deck, but
three highly considerate native gentlemen
offered us their berths inside. When, en route,
the ocean became quite rough, we were doubly
grateful to the three. Experienced interisland
travellers, they and several other passengers
seemedto have no difficulty resting on the open
deck - the rolling and salt spray notwithstanding.
After twenty hours of heavy going we arrived
off Tikehau Pass and crossed a spectacular
lagoon to the fishing village. It had been our
intention to tent on the beach with sleeping
bags, but Polynesian gentleness, consideration
and courtesy again intervened and we were
invited to use a native house. It was a unique
abode, having running water, a most welcome
shower, a clean kitchen, and other unexpected
comforts. The owners, with no apparent difficulty, simply moved in with relatives while we
were there. We could not have been more
grateful.
As soon as we could don our trunks we started
serious beachcombing. In the first few days while trying to identify likely shell habitats we picked up several beach specimens of
Cypraea subteres, a fresh-dead gem-quality C.
dillwyni, three C. cummingii, and a number of
C. irrorata. When we looked seaward from the
reefs we saw several large sharks, as well as
water much too rough for diving. The Tikehau
people seemed to have no fear of these sharks,
but we were not nearly so brave!
After two days, however, the sea became
- smooth and the sharks departed, so we decided
to use our scuba gear. We were rewarded with a
few live Cypraea subteres and several C. cummingii, plus specimens of C. ventriculus, C.
depressa, C. maculifera, c. talpa, C. isabella,
C. poraria, C. helvola, C. schilderorum, c.
mariae, C. serrulifera, and C. margarita. We
also found Conus tulipa.
STIX DISPLAY STANDS FOR SALE
After dark we combed the reefs with lights,
ENHANCE THE BEAUTY
but had little success. We had hoped to collect
OF YOUR FAVORITES
Cypraea childreni, C. oblevata and C. erosa.
Rare shells,preciousmineralsand an endless
Apparently these species can be found only in
list of valued treasuresare exhibited to their
south Tuamotu, and then infrequently.
maximumadvantageand safetyin the patented
Such was our life for several days. Each found
ST.IX STAND. Available through many fine
us less ready to end our stay in this paradise.
shops.or write for specifics:STIX, 13 Vandam
Gradually, however, we decided we had enough
Street, New York. N.Y. 10013.
shells for our own collectioDs and pending
trades, and we became total loafers.
Yeppoon Shell Museum
After ten days of vast pleasure, tranquility
R.T. & D.A. Brown
and excellent rest we reluctantly departed this
Box 74, Yeppoon. Q., Australia
colorful lagoon with its beautiful people. The
The largest dealers of Specimen Shells in
next twenty hours were passed aboard Goelette,
Australia. Fine and rare specimens bought and
right in the middle of a full cargo of fish! I must
sold. Will exchange for rare shells. Prices to suit
confess that my sense of smell was not to
all pockets. On hand at present, choice shells efficient for a few days, but I suspect I went
from New Guinea, Australia, Philippines and through a heavy accumulation of medical work
Africa. Write for free Price List.
with a smUH smile.
P~e 5
GROW YOUR OWN C. Gloriamaris
fCont'd
from Page II
more amazing, its color changed from the original bluish brown to a golden hue.
For years, many of us have been puzzled by
the color variations in Conus gloriamaris.
Specimens from the Solomons are bluish brown,
while those from the Philippines are light tan
and shells from the New Guinea area are
golden.
Gower reported that he found his present
shell in bluish-brown mud, and that it was that
color when picked up. The sea bottom at
Gower's pier is clean sand, however. The
experience suggests that cones
-
young ones, at
least - can change color to more nearly match
their surroundings.
According to Gower, all the Conus gloriamaris found at Guadalcanal have come from
near river outlets, where the bottom is bluishbrown mud. I believe that this explains the
characteristic Guadalcanal color.
During its period in captivity Gower's prize
has grown from the original 18mm to 91mma startling and rather significant rate of growth.
lain continues to feed it regularly and hopes it
may eventually reach record size. It has quite a
way to go, however. The world record is held by
a specimen owned by Fernando Dayrit of
Manila - over 15Omm.
Another surprise is that the shell, which was
fragile and sickly when found, has become hale
and vigorous in maturity. It thrives in its new
home, to everyone's surprise. Within limits it
can take care of itself. Several times the Gowers
have been away from Marau Sound longer than
planned
-
once for
almost
three
weeks. On
their return they have found the Conus gloriamaris alive and well, even though it had consumed all the food in its cage.
For many years collectors and a few scientists
have debated the possibility of raising rare shells
commercially, as is done successfully with
oysters in many areas, including Hawaii. The
cone early in life goes through a free-swimming
veliger stage which complicates the captivity
problem for any potential "shell rancher." This
is still a formidable obstacle, but Gower nevertheless has proved that a juvenile specimen can
be grown to adult size if one is able to provide
suitable food and a proper environment.
Not many of us can hope to experiment with
the fabulous Glory of the Seas cone, but we
might try if with something a trifle more
mundane.
SEA SEARCH
Box 10532, Honolulu, HI 96816
Andy Butler - Dr. Martin Redlich
Fine specimensof all Hawaiian shellsfound
in the Hawaiian Islands. Catalog: 35 cents.
HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS
Page 6
July, 1974
Neocancilla granatina (Lamarck, 1811).
This sand-dwelling miter has a wide IndoPacific range. The aperture and spire are of
about the same length. The interrupted spiral
lines are made up of fairly long dashes.
* * *
Mitra (Scabricola) gracilus Reeve, 1844.
The generic assignment of this lovely miter is
tenuous. I have seen specimens only from the
Philippines. Though superficially similar to N.
granatina, it may be quickly separated by the
"dotted" spiral lines and the fact that the
aperture is much shorter than the spire.
by F. A. SCHILDER
(From HSN Sept. 1965
* * *
~
* * *
Conus terebra Born, 1778. This cone ranges
from the middle Pacific into the Indian Ocean.
It is a heavy shell with spiral ridging on the
entire surface of the body whorl. The waist is
sometimes slightly constricted.
* * *
Arca ventricosa
Lamarck, 1819. This
common bivalve is found throughout the
tropical Pacific. Interesting features are the
numerous fine teeth along the hinge line and the
wide gap between the valves at the basal
margin.
Charles S. Wolfe
,
,
.
From the East China Sea
Conus(Rizoconus) kimioi Habe, 1965 is a
very rare cone found in deep water among
precious coral in the South China Sea, The
specimen shown here was recovered at Pei Kang
Shoals, situated about fifty miles south of Hong
Kong. It appears to be mature, and is about 23
mm long.
The cone is noncoronate, with a slightly
raised spire terminating in a white protoconch.
The eight spiral bands are regularly marked by
almost square maculations alternating in cream
and brown. The body whorl has thin brown
bands 0.5 to 2 mm wide.
The shell is light fawn color, with three darker
wnes which have a "brickwall" pattern. It is
slightly emaciated, with a smooth shiny texture.
Conus kimioi was described by Habe in
Venus in July 1965.
Al Lopez, S.J.
PANAMIC SPECIMEN
SHELLSWe.11A'lexico 10 Panama
FREE PRICE LIST
3846E.HIGHLAND
I PHOENIX.AZ. 85018
USA
MARINE
SHELLS OF THE PACIFIC,
Cernohorsky, Rev. FIRST Ed. A$7.00. New
SECOND Ed. A$13.00
Postageis additional at A$I.10 Payment
requestedwith order, in Australia Currency,by
Bank~raft to:
OLAF CHRISTENSEN, BOX 124
NORTH-BRIGHTON, 3186, AUSTRALIA
Contact the reliable supplier in Taiwan for
your collection or for retail of shells:
JOVIAL ENTERPRISES, L w.
P. O. Box 1046
Taichung 400, Taiwan
Rare & CommonShells,Wholesale& Retail,
Handicrafts & Novelty also in our line.
leu codon - white tooth; maculifera - bearing a blotch (on the inner lip); nigropunctata
- black spotted; ocellata - eye-spotted;piela
- painted; punctata - dotted; quadrimaculata four-spotted; tessellata checkered; xanthodon yellow tooth;
ziC%Bc.**- (barbarous word for) zigzag;
-
zonaria
zoned.
Somesimilar namespoint to various objects
which aresaidto recallthe markings,asamphithales * - surrounded by flowers (spots);
comma-(withl comma-(likespotsl; cribraria
- sieve-like; gangranosa* - gangrenous(at
the extremitiesI; irrorata - bedewed(the spots
recall irroration ; lentiginosa scurvy;
miliaris - (finely spotted in a) millet-like
(way); nivosa - (with) snow-white (spots);
-
piperita
-
porous
peppered (at the margins);
(spots recall
The large photo on page 1 of the JUne,1974
issue,illustrating C. M. Burgess'article on Cypraea haddnightae Trenberth, 1973, suffered
an editorial
error
-
the caption
should
have read "from right to leh," rather than the
conventional leh to right. In other words, C.
haddnightae was on the leh end of the line instead of the right, as the caption said.
Please correct your copy of HSN.
The illustration of the Cairns Shell Oub
badge in the same issue (page 10) should have
been credited to Lindsay Payne, of Cairns. The
omission. althowrh unintended. is relrretted.
WANTED-SHELLS
OUI' representative will be in Bangkok in
August and Java and Singapore in September.
We will welcome advance correspondence with
any dealer or individual having for sale fine
specimen-quality shells.
West Coast Curio Co.
1940 Maple Avenue
Costa Mesa, Calif. 92627
pores);
poraria
redimita
-
coronated (by lateral spotsl.
Other names remind the resemblance to
nonconchological objects still more expressly:
the adjectives achatidea*
Speaking 01Sinistral. . .
from
SPECIAL BOOK LIST
AUSTRALIAN SHELLS, Wilson & Gillett,
ASI2.95.
SHELLS OF NEW GUINEA & the CENTRAL INDO-PACIFIC, Hinton, A$4.95.
Continued)
Details in markings have been described by
the names bicolor - two-colored; bistrinotata
- with two times three spots; contaminata distained; dorsalis - (with a) dorsal (blotch';
fimbriata - fringed (by spots); fuscodentata
- with brown teeth; fuscomaculata - with a
brown blotch (at the dorsum); guttata spotted; interrupta (wnes) interrupted;
labrolineata
- with (chestnut 1lines on the lip;
Strombus variabilis
variabilis Swainson,
1820 is a Southwest Pacific weed-and-sand
dweller. The center shell in the photo is an
uncommon color form with dark bands. The
dark blotch on the column ell a of the right-hand
shell is a variable feature which mayor may not
be- nresent.
-
- agate-like;arabica
- (not coming from Arabia, but marked by 1
Arabian (letters I; armeniaca - (not coming
from Armenia, but colored like the) apricot
(Prunus armeniaca); carneola - carnelian;
eburnea ivory-whites; eglantina * * eglantine (wild rose, or possibly a misprint for
elegantina
-
elegant';
geographica
-
(with
markings like in al geographical (map);
staphylaea - grape-like;stercoraria - dunglike.
Much such supposed similarities are
expressedby substantivenouns: alga - seagrass; annulus - ring; aurantium - the
orange; cicercula - small chickpea (cicer);
diluculum - morning twilight ("day breaking
cowry" of .Reeve,why?I; tabula - small bean
("feverolle")
mappa
-
vitellus
-
;
globulus
(with
-
small
sphere;
markings like in a geo-
graphicall map; margarita - pearl; nucleus
- kernel; ovum - egg; pyrum - pear;
yolk (not little calf, as Reeve sug-
gested, which is spelled vitnIusl.
(To be continued 1
July, 1974
HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS
Page 7
by DAN ELLENBURG
DIEGO GARCIA - It seemed strange that
no one could identify my mystery cowry. Diego
Garcia, a truly remote island in the Indian
Ocean, about midway from Indonesia to East
Africa, has ouly a limited library of reference
books on shells, but most species are illustrated
in one book or another. I could find nothing on
this one.
The mystery shell had the shape of Cypraea
onyx Linne, 1758, so no one objected when I
called it a "Golden Onyx."
When I came across a second specimen, I
wrote to the Academy of Science in
Philadelphia, whieh referred me to Dr. C. M.
Burgess in Honolulu. His response gave me that
once-in-a-lifetime thrill"You have discovered
the habitat of the mysterious Cypraea onyx
nymphae Jay, 1850."
After I recovered from this opening line, I
read on. It seems that the habitat of c.
nymphae has eluded discovery for over 100
years. Although Jay described the shell in 1850,
few specimens are known. Most of them give
"Mauritius"
as the locality. Dr. Burgess
doubted that this was accurate; no one on
Mauritius could remember any having been
found there. Unfortunately, existing specimens
were old and could not be traced back to their
original habitat.
In his book, The Living Cowries, Dr.
Burgess guessedthat Cypraea nymphae came
from the Chagos Archipelago, situated about
1,000 miles northeast of Mauritius. He was
right. But how did the shells get to Mauritius? I
think I can explain.
The whole island of Diego Garcia became a
coconut plantation in the middle of the
eighteenth century. Many of the plantation
workers were natives of Mauritius, who usually
stayed three to five years before returning home.
Apparently some of them carried specimens of
c. nymphae to Mauritius as souvenirs.
The people of Mauritius stopped going to
Diego Garcia to work about seventy-five years
ago, and the flow of people - and seashells between the two islands practically ceased. This
undoubtedly
explains why most existing
specimens are so old.
Diego Garcia today is not "loaded" with
shells, as most of you are probably thinking.
Over two centuries of people with little to do but
collect shells have turned the reefs into
shambles. Many species that should be common
are not, including C. nymphae. In fact, it is
rare. So are C. limacina, C. stolida, C. erosa,
C. staphylaea, and others that normally would
be easy to find.
The British
government,
which has
sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, is
trying to restore the ecology of Diego Garcia,
restricting accessto many parts of the island.
Many steps are being taken also to educate
the servicemen now stationed here on the
importance of such simple actions as replacing
rocks and protecting coral, and of the danger of
wiping out a speciesby overcollecting. Only time
will tell.
Getting back to the Cypraea nymphae, it is
an absolutely beautiful cowry. The shell is
typical of C. onyx in shape, dorsal banding and
"chalky" sides, but there the similarity ends.
The dorsum is light golden brown, slightly
darker on the banding, margins and base. The
posterior and anterior ends are the darkest of all
- a rich cafe-an-lait.
A study of the C. nymphae animal reveals
some interesting facts. The tentacles are long,
slender and pure orange. The siphon is grayish
white with white fringe. The mantle is also
grayish white, with white papillae of every
conceivable shape. The foot of the animal varies
from light gray brown on the crawling surface to
a slightly darker brown, finely mottled with
gray, on the top.
If any of you would like to visit Diego Garcia,
see your local U.S. Navy recruiting office.
Access to the island is restricted to U.S. and
British military personnel. Sorry about that!
AUSTRALIA
Lance Moore Marine SpecimensPty., Ltd.
27 A George St., Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
Free catalogue on request. All specimens cannot be listed, our stock too comprehensive. Ask
for your "wants".
HAWAII
deasRell <1'aradise
In confirming the significance of Ellenburg's
discovery of the habitat of Cypraea nymphae,
Dr. Burgess commented:
"Its greatest variation from other cowries in
the Onyx group is the almost complete
obliteration of the umbilical depression, and a
more elongated and pyriform shape.
"Since
the shell shape and tooth
characteristics and color varied from the usual
C. onyx, Jay gave it the specific name Cypraea
nymphae. However, unless animal study shows
otherwise, it is best considered a synonym of C.
KING'S ALLEY
131 Kaiulani Ave., Honolulu, HI 96815
onyx Linne, 1758."
NEW LOCATION-Expanded
(Formerly ParadiseShells)
WORLDWIDE SHELLS OF
SPECIMEN QUALITY
- Hawaiian SpecialtyWE BUY, SELL
AND TRADE
WANT LISTS INVITED
..
HMO-lOGS
Stock
July, 1974
HA WAllAN SHELL NEWS
Page 8
CAN YOU TOP THIS?
A SHELL MUSEUM
IN THE HOME
JACKSONVILLE, FLA.
What started
out as a family hobby has developed into a
"Shell Musewn" in the home of Mr. and Mrs.
W. C. Hamby and their two sons. They have
just completed building a twelve-by-twenty-foot
room onto their house to display their estimated
8,000 shells more adequately.
The title Shell Musewn was bestowed by
school children of North Florida who have come
to see the displays.
"This is a family affair," says Mrs. Hamby.
"Our sons, aged 15 and 10, are very involved in
it. That is how it spread to the schools.
"We began collecting three years ago and
added a room for the shells, which were soon
overflowing into our dining room, the living
room and then the spare bedroom which had ten
casesin it. When anyone came to see the shells,
there were too scattered! In January we started
work on a new 'musewn wing,' which we completed in April.
SPECIMEN
Data on world record size shells are being
brought up to date in anticipation of a new edition of Van Nostrand's Standard Catalog of
Shells. Have you anything larger? If so, write
-
JAPAN
SHELLS WANTED
to:
"The school field trip to our home has become
quite an attraction, as there is nowhere else to
see and learn about shells. I carried shells to
the school for the first two years, but as the students learned more they needed more shells. I
couldn't risk carrying our show shells around j
without cases, so this prompted us to put the
educational exhibit with the show shells.
"We have fifteen 23x33 inch standard display
cases around the wall at table-top height, and
nine casestwelve inches deep, two feet high and
four feet long are fastened to the wall above
them. These have glass shelves with mirrors in
back, and glass sliding doors.
"In the center of the room is a 6x8 foot show
case for our 'giants.' All the cases are lighted."
The new room and all the display cases were
built by Mr. and Mrs. Hamby.
I can use all the varieties from worldwide,
both sea and land, from common to rare. Offer
best prices with information on sizes, quality
and available quantities. Sho Yasuda, Box 30,
~
WHEN
IN
LOS
ANGELES.
VISIT
Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan.
MONTILLA
ENTERPRISE
Specimen Shells of the Philippines - Free
List - Shell& SeedNecklaces- Monkey Pod
& Wooden Wares - Black Coral Bracelets&
Earrings - Fibercraft - Artificial Flowers Shell Craft - Windchimes, etc.
59 Maria Clara
Quewn City 0-503
.-
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Merv Cooper of Perth Shell Distributors
avails you of his New List No.6.
- FREEWrite to:
PERTH SHELL DISTRIBUTORS
P. O. Box 186
Mt. Hawthorn, Western Australia 6016
ll1e Home of Cypraea rosselli
Ph~nD
Al ~-~,t?
..'
-.FINE SHELLS AND FINE ART
We do not publish a list but we will answer
.fIC
'
SpeCI
requests for Rare SheIIs - our spe.
CIalty.
ExceptionalGEM quality JapaneseLatiaxis
and Typhis now available.
She'".,.dedK'~.;"' ,. HMSISGS
TIDE POOL!
. ..
22762 PacIfIc Coast HIghway
Malibu, California 90265
I~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.~..~~~~~~.I
~
::
Shells of the Seas Inc.
'::
~;'"
~
~
~
~
SPECIMEN
SHEllS
BOUGHT & SOLD
..
~
Eo,'5poci",0"
~
~
~
.~
~
Dot..
Polinices draconis
Polin ices duplicata
Polin ices lewisii
Polin ices reclusianus
Polinices uber
Protothaca asperrima
Protothaca laciniata
Protothaca tenerrima
Prunum bullatum
Psamotreta biangulata
Pterynotus erinaceoides
Pterynotus festiva
Pterynotus
f~lia~a
Pterynotus
prnnrger
Scalina ferminiana
Scaphellajunonia
Searlesiadira
Semeledecisa
Semele
Sh k rupicola
~ t.
as yus Jes rvus
Siliqua lucida
Siliqua Fatula
Siliqua patlfla alta
Solen srcarrus
SP!sulaalaskan.a.
Sprsula
hemphrllr
Spisula polynyma
Spondylus americanus
Spondylus calcifer
Spondylus princeps
Strombus costata
Strombus galeatus
rom busga 11
us
St
Strombus
S
b gigas
1.
us go la.t,h
tram
Strom
busgracrhor
.=
Strombus peruvlanus
Strom bus gr anulatus
. ,
Sho",,. ."...;" ,. HMS"SGS.
Strombus latrssr?Ius
P. c. 8CX 1418
FT, LAUDERDALE,
FLA. 333C2
~
U. 5. A,
..~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I
MAURITIUS
.
Strombus thersites
Strom bus vomer hawaiensis
Syrinx aruanus
Tagelus
ca~ifornianus
Tegula
Buy-sell-exchange worldwide specimens
MIKADO SHELL HOUSE
S' W . .
6. IT Ilham Newton Street
Pnrt-T
kroyeri
cepio
.
W;t' A,,",ol. Locol;Gn ~
~
telephone
~ 305-763-7516
::
CO"'p;.'O
Plicifusus
Pododesmus
~ Strombolibeebei
Strombusalatus
FLORIDA.
TheFriendly
Dealer ~
W,;I. 1o, fREE U',
~
Van Nostrand's Standard Catalog of Shells
Route 1, Box 21
Marathon, Fla. 33050
When submitting data, include the name of
the present owner, where and when collected,
and by whom. It is important, also, to state who
measured the specimen.
Species normally measuring less than about
5Omm are not listed in the current series.
Pterynotus trialatus
Purpura Fatula pansa
Sanguinolaria nuttallii
Saxidomusgiganteus
Saxidomus nuttallii
@)
Philippines
CARFEL SHELL EXPORT
CARFEL SEASHELL MUSEUM
1786 A. Mabini St.
Malate, Manila, Philippines
We offer quality specimens, ornamental.
commercial shells & handicrafts. Write for free
price list. Visit us and seeour permanent display
of bpautiful collpction.
J. L. Wagner, Editor
Robert
,,"i~
MRl1ritil1~
regrna
Tellina bodegensis
Tellina idae
Tellina
lutea
d'
" 'n
...
~eraralaa
t.
IT:.t
tn
hD ..nntin.t"'!l
70.0
105.0
87.3
98.0
166.3
83.9
64.3
55.0
87.7
134.7
82.1
79.5
62.0
61.4
98.0
71.5
86.5
98.5
129.0
122.9
148.0
66.8
154.0
52.8
102.7
59.1
67.4
55.0
174.0
130.0
88.0
136.0
167.0
140.0
187.0
216.0
185.0
94.0
117.0
179.4
223.0
166.0
320.7
332.0
90.1
93.2
222.3
198.0
160.0
106.0
571.0
128.3
64.0
57.2
58.3
113.2
85.8
Annual Shell Auction
Donald Grace has accepted the job of running
the 1974 HMS Shell Auction, scheduled for
Saturday afternoon, 21 September, in the lanai
of the First United Methodist Church, Honolulu. Dr. Grace replaces Elmer G. Leehman,
who resigned last month as a consequence of a
serious operation which restricts his activity.
Deane Gonzales and Lyman Higa are assisting in securing Hawaiian shells for the sale.
Proceedsof the annual auction help to finance
publication of Hawaiian Shell News which
consistently costs slightly more than the dues
bring in.
Earlier this year, appeals were sent to the Society's supporters in many parts of the world for
donations of shells for the auction. There has
been a good response, Leehman told Grace in
handing over the job. More are needed, however.
"As time permits, I hope to continue the
personal appeals that Elmer started," said Dr.
Grace. "But I urge members to anticipate me
and send in shells suitable for the auction.
"Packages can be addressedto me personally,
or merely to the Hawaiian Malacological Society. In either case, P. O. Box 10391, Honolulu
96816 is correct. Be sure to enclose your name
inside the package. In time, all will be acknowledged.
"Incidentally, don't forget that the value of
donated shells can be deducted from U. S.
income taxes. The Society is a recognized nonprofit educational organization."
HMS members had a double feature at the
June 5 meeting of the Society.
Three Honolulu high school students, who
had received awards from the Society for their
displays at the recent Seventeenth Hawaiian
Science and Engineering Fair, were on hand to
explain their work and to demonstrate their
result. Each had a display of photos, charts and
samples.
Dr. and Mrs. Tom Burch took the initiative
in arranging for the prize winners' attendance,
and coached them on their presentations. For
most of them, it was their first "public"
appearance.
Subjects of the displays were: Darryl Hiyama
- "Effects of hormones on the development of
snail embryos;" Laura Shishido - "Feedback
mechanisms involved in the growth and
development of the snail, P. corneus;" and
JaniceKubota - "Influence of parasites on the
reproductivity of host snails."
The science talks were followed by a Safe
Boating slide lecture, prepared by HMS members Bob Taylor and Andy McClanahan and
sponsored by the USCG Safe Boating Unit.
Coffee and cookies concluded the evening.
Board of Directors
Vacations, illnesses and a flurry of competing
attractions on meeting nights have interfered
with the deliberations of the HMS Board of
A satisfied HSN Exchange Column user,
Directors recently. The Board meets routinely
Mrs. Laura M. Bauer, 2126 45th Street,
on the Tuesday evening following the monthly
Galveston, Texas 77550, now is looking for a
membership meeting. HMS members are
large red Murex pete (emphasis on "red"), plus
reminded that the board sessionsare open, and
samples of all other available colors. For exattendance is invited.
change or purchase.
For many years the Board has been meeting
* * *
in the auditorium of the Waikiki Aquarium.
Richard Sedlak, 4510 N. W. 46th Street, Fort
Beginning with the July 9 session,however, the
Lauderdale, Fla. 33313 (editor of the Broward
site is being switched to the Society's new
Shell Club's Busycon Bugle) is looking for a
office/work space in the education building of
vasid (except Vssum muricstum),
Ovulidae
the First Methodist Church.
specimens, Eratiodae specimens, bibalves, and
Lacking a quorum, the Board was unable to
Calyptraea - Crepidula (and related genera).
act on the resignation of Elmer Leehman at the
Worldwide.Evenif you don't haveany to trade,
June meeting. The Directors present discussed
if you know of some,write to Sedlak.
the step informally, however, and expressed
* * *
gratitude for Leehman's years of work for and
Larry Saltzgaverhas a beautiful specimenof
devotion to the Society. They noted that he
Murex lsquestus SowerbyII, 1841 (seephoto retains his Society membership, and expressed
on page 3) to exchangefor other rare Murex. hope that in time he could resume an active role
He alsohas Conus luteus Broderip, 1833 and , in HMS activities.
Conus cecilise Crossefor exchange.Larry's
In the near future, the Board hopes to conaddressis Box 164, FPO San Francis~oCA clude its consideration of proposed revisions of
96630.
the Society's bylaws. The results will be
* * *
circulated for approval by the membership.
HSN corresponding editor Rick Luther,
author of fascinatingreportson Shellingin the
Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea,has a new assignment- at Hong Kong. His addressis:
c/o Cable & WirelessLtd.
P. O. Box 597
Hong Kong
Shellexchangingfriendscan reachhim there.
* * *
Stuart P. Schipper,94-254 LeowahineStreet,
Waipahu, Hawaii 96797 has Cypraea tessel-
lata, c. gaskoini, c. mauiensisand other
RECENTFINDS
by LYMAN HIGA
The Recent Finds column serves a purpose
that you may not recognize. Quite often, the first
word of a significant extension of the range of a
shell comes from these reports. Scientists and
serious malacologists find this information useful. It is important to have regular and comprehensive reports.
There is a tendency to restrict the news to
Hawaiian findings because much of it comes
from personal contacts. We need reports from
Hawaiian shellsthat he would like to trade for
worldwide membersof the Cymatidae.
other parts of the world - particularly
the
* * *
Pacific islands. If you find something unusual,
A veteran admirer (he says} of HMS and or find it in an unusual place, drop a line to
Hawaiian Shell News, but a new member, Recent Finds, c/o HSN, P. O. Box 10391,
K. D. Weston, P. O. Box 760, Gladstone,
Queensland 4680, writes that he aspires to
establish a museum of worldwide shells in his
area, and that he is interested in exchanging or
buying suitable gem or fine quality specimens.
He has a special interest in Voluta, Conus,
Cypraea and Mitra. Weston has been associated with veteran HMS member Tom Nielsen
of Yeppoon in shelling on the Great Barrier
Reef and in the Coral Sea, and he writes that
they plan a six-week venture later this year.
* * *
Anyone want to give a good home to a Conus
barthelemyi
Bernardi, 1861? Kenneth E.
Sanger, 55 Richbell Road, White Plains, N.Y.
10605 has one to exchange for a gem quality
Harpa costata Linne, 1758 or a Murex or
Conus of eQual value.
Honolulu 96816.
Leland Miyano, of Honolulu, found a live
Strom bus hawaiiensis in four feet of water at
Kuhio Beach Park, Waikiki. It actually was
beneath the feet of a party of swimmers. Even
dead and crabbed S. hawaiiensis are unusual;
live specimens are very rare; finding a live one
in shallow water is almost unheard of!
Phil Kwiatkonski
found a rare Mitra
nebulosa in fifty feet of water at Maunalua
Bay, Honolulu, It was crabbed, but in perfect
condition. It is, I believe, the second specimen
found here recently.
While diving off Haleiwa, on Oahu's North
Shore, .Deane Gonzalez got a crabbed Phalium
umbilicatus - a rare find. He also brought up
a small cone that so far has not been identified.
He is makinu an pffnrt tn u..t SInSlmp
HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS
July, 1974
by FLORENCE
Length
BOYD
The publication by Hawaiian Shell News
Uuly 19731 of photos of fossil specimens of
Cypraea
(Siphocypraea)
problematica
Heilprin, 1887 found in the Caloosahatchie
River marl beds near Labelle, Florida spotlighted one of the most characteristic fossils in
that area. There is no record of the occurrence of
C. problematica in any other formation and no
descendant is recognized in the recent fauna.
According to Dall (18901 it is the only member
of the family in which the terminal commisure is
bent to the leh of the apex.
In my collection of fossils from the Labelle
area, I have retained four beautiful specimens of
C. problematica. HMS members may be interested in data on them.
'~
Write for Free Itinerary for 1974 Season.
P. O. Box 1418
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33302
Page 9
Height
Teeth
Specimen No.1
6Omm
35
28
26 outer/24 inner
Color: Base and high lateral sides creamy
beige. Oval dorsum deep gold liberally sprinkled
with prominent red dots.
Specimen No.2
62mm
30
20
23 outer/20 inner
Color: Base and narrow lateral sides creamy
beige. Dorsum clear gold with faint spots.
Specimen No.3
55mm
30
20
25 outerj22 inner
Color: Base and narrow lateral border
creamy beige. Dorsum deeper creamy beige
with very faint spotting.
Specimen No.4
5Omm
25
30
23 outer/20 inner
Color: Base and medium height lateral sides
rich beige. Dorsum gold with very faint spots.
The teeth of all specimens are coarse.
These shells are very shiny and almost
perfect. The four specimens seem to be in unusually good condition. Most C. problematica
when found are dull white. with a rough surface; almost all have lost their color.
Width
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Photo: Parkinson
Brian Parkinson, of Rabaul, New Britain
Island, Papua-New Guinea, found what must
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be
Linne.
close1758.
to aHe
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writessize
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it was collected
millepedain
'tl: SELL
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FREESHELL BOOK AND ACCESSORY
shallow water north of Hus Island, in the
Admiralty group in 1972. The shell is now on
CATALOGS ON REQUEST
s"". ,,'ded""'d", " HMS"SGS
,
,display
in Cairns, North Queensland, But is it
}'
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rea y . ml epe . ar mson IS not sure,
.
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1575 NO. 118 ST.
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KURZ,
INC.
WAUWATOSA, WIS. 53226 U.S.A.
DEALER IN FINE & RARE SPECIMEN
SHELLS OF SUPERIORQUALITY
SHELLS BOUGHT, SOLD & TRADED
Write for Free Price Lists
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WHITE PLAINS
..
~~
I have been following
reachingthe film so that longer exposuresare
needed. If the exposure exceeds one tenth of a
second a "reciprocity effect" occurs in which
exposures are no longer linear. This requires
that the lens be opened up l/2 to 1 stop more
than indicated by the exposure meter.
Generally, long exposures are preferred in order
to stop down as much as possible in order to
obtain the depth of focus usually needed.
A guide to Kodak film recip~ocity characteristics, pamphlet E-I, can be obtained from
Eastman Kodak, Rochester, N.Y. 14650. This
pamphlet also indicates the color correction
filters which may be needed for certain films at
longer exposures. However, with Type A film no
color correction is required if the exposure is no
mnrp thAn nnp ~('nnd.
Kenneth E. Sanger
~~~~~~~~
PLANNING TO MOVE?
h So .
I
'
vIse t e
clety as ear y as poSSI
bl e, t 0
reduce postage costs and avoid delay in delivery
of Hawaiian Shell News.
Ad
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~~~~~~~~~~
Chien Shen Company
Reliable
Shell Dealer
P.O. Boxes 1-28 and 01128
W
..
-
with interest Jim Fair's articles on shell photography, of which I do a good deal myself. I offer
some observations on film for this work.
I have been getting excellent results using
Kodachrome Professional Film (Type AI. This
is color balanced for photo flood bulbs
(3400~), so that no color-correcting filters are
required. The film, with a speed of ASA 40, has
excellent definition and true color rendition.
Jim Fair referred to the troubles caused by
reflections if the shells are placed on glass to
produce a "floating" effect. Reflections can be
significantly reduced and often eliminated by
using a polarizing filter. While viewing the shell
through such a filter, rotate the filter until the
reflection is reduced to a minimum. This technique also helps reduce highlights on the shell
itself and produces stronger, more saturated
colors.
The polarizing filter cuts down the light
Kaohsiu ng ' Taiwan
Speclmen
'
SheIIs
'
Coral craft
SheII craft
Jade craft
...
=
i
Film and Filters
For Shell Photography
House of Quality and Service
M I 0 d Sh II D I . h U SA
L
argest al
'
r er
~
e
ea er In t e ...
..
Horn craft
Sllark jaw craft
Pig craft
Oil paintings
~
Over ten years m
. busmess,
.
Satls
' f
'
actIon
Butterfly specimens
Butterfly craft,
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guaranteed.
SANIBEL
July, 1974
HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS
Page 10
by HELEN MARTZ
- With colored pennants flying,
the 37th Sanibel Shell Fair opened here on a
beautiful March day in Southwestern Florida,
In the next three days, the old Community
House surrounded by palms and pines welcomed 11,000 visitors!
The Fair was a trifle restrained this year, presumably due to fear of a gas shortage. But 125
collectors took part, with some 300 displays, so
there was plenty to look at - including lots of
old friends. And social life was in high gear as
residents, "regulars," exhibitors, visiting collectors, judges and dealers got together frequently
for shell talk and general pleasure.
Shortly after arrival, at one of the shell shops,
we ran into a television crew. (Actually, two
were "shooting" Sanibel that week!) I W!lS
given a "walk-in " role even though my hair had
the beach "frizzies" for my TV debut. My
vanity was spared, however. The TV lights blew
out all the fuses in the shop!
We went back to the Fair each day, always
finding something we had missed earlier.
The Shell of the Show (worldwide) was HMS
member Mrs. S. F. Armington's Altivasum
flindersi. In the Florida class, Jerome Bijur
won with a huge albino Strombus gigas. Lillian
Skinner took first in the Sanibel-Capitiva class
with her rare lemon-color Dinocardium rob usturn. We also noted Col. William Old's unusual
orange Melongena corona, collected last year,
and Louis Buisch's live Oliva ravenel citrina.
There were numerous exhibits by the lourthrough-seventeen-year group. Terry (11) and
Chad (8l/21 Shireman carried off four of the
seven awards won by this shelling family,
topped by Terry's first for Sanibel-Capitiva
shells. He also won the Mary Cunningham
award for elementary school collectors. (Not
bad after three years of collecting!!
Other winners include:
Miniatures
- Priscilla Murphy
Florida Shells - Myra Zuhone
One area (exc. Fla.1 - Lucia King
Worldwide - Mrs. Myra Scribner
One family
Eugenia Wright (Murex)
One small family
Mary Nix (Tridacna)
-
-
Rare shells
-
Helene Eker
Onegenus- Helene Eker (Terebra)
One species Lucia King (Murexiella
macgintyi)
Exceptional- Neil Hepler, with a display on
the life cycle of our Pomaces paluda land snail
from the Everglades, This also won a judges
special award.
Other outstanding exhibits were the Armington's worldwide specimens, Dr. L. C. Strong's
Volutes, William Bledsoe's and Henry Dow's
cases of Cypraea, Priscilla Murphy's Epitomium, Mary Nix's Nautilus pompilus and
the exceptional twelve-case exhibit of 161 shell
stamps with matching shells, entered by Dr. and
Mrs. Barton Barlow, who won the prized
duPont Trophy.
The judges' special award for a single shell
went to Mrs. Myra Scribner's rare and enormous deep-water Entemnotrocus
rumphii.
Writing up the Fair results, later, a local
reporter inquired whether the winning shell was
self-collected, causing lots of giggles!
Occasionally, as I walked and looked, I could
not resist telling some nonshelling visitor just
what he was looking at. It was fun to seehis eyes
widen. Always, he would take another look,
then tell his friends. The casual visitor, usually
had no idea of what these great collections
represented in time, effort or money.
In the dealer category, Elsie Malone showed
six cases of unusual and beautiful worldwide
specimens, including a seven-inch Cypraea
cervus, a seven-inch knobby yellow Lyropecten nodosus, and many Pleurotomaria. And
Reat Penney took a ribbon with a large white
wicker swan filled with shell flowers.
The judges this year were Dr. William Heard
and Dr. Harold Rehder, both of the Smithsonian Institution in Wa~hington. Dr. Rehder
later remarked that he had never seen so many
rare shells under one roof before!
The Sanibel Fair began in 1933, and
achieved national standing, of a sort, in 1941 in
an article in the Saturday Evening Post. It was
halted by World War II but when the show was
resumed in 194;, it ran for three days and drew
2,000 visitors. It has continued to attract evergrowing numbers for twenty-seven years, even
in 1961 despite the terrific damage done by
Hurricane Donna.
The Fair remains a community effort. There
is no admission
charge. The receipts
-
which
come from donations, salesof chanceson.handicrafts, and sales of donated shells - totaled
approximately $23,000 this year. The Sanibel
Community Association and the SanibelCaptiva Conservation Foundation are the principal beneficiaries. The money will be used to
purchase interior lands to protect the islands'
wildlife, and to finance a new, greatly needed
Community Center with a permanent shell
museum.