THE MilliONAIRE SHEllS - internethawaiishellnews.Org
Transcription
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".