By TOM PAIN shell of a small Bulimus (Strophocheilus chilensis LONDON - When one has been used to collect- (Sowerby) ), which were collected together in extra- ing the comparatively small land snails found in ordinary numbers on the driest s{X>ts. In the spring most temperateclimates, such as exist in northern one humble little plant sends out a few leaves, and Europe, it is a never-to-he-forgottenthrill to see for on these the snails feed. As they are seen only very the first time a live snail with a shell some 95mm early in the morning, when the ground is slightly long. damp with dew, the Indians believe that they are This I found in the Botanical Gardens at Port of bred from it". Spain, Trinidad, on the evening of my very first day Austroborus also lives under relatively drier con- in a tropical country, and it was my introduction to ditions. The common S. oblongus is evidently more the Strophocheilidae,a family of land pulmonates adaptable to changes in the environment than the peculiar to the New World con,tainingsome of the other species. It seems to have become closely asso- largestliving terrestrial snails. To the zoogeographer ciated with man, being commoner in gardens, culti- they are of more than usual interest as representing vated or fallow land, second-growth forest and other a South American branch of acivid stock, an an- manmade surroundings. cient, primitive group of pulmonateland snails with The sexes are separate, the female laying thick- a disconnected circumpolar distribution in the shelled eggs which are elongate elliptical, with flat- SouthernHemisphere, the superfamily Acavacea. tened sides and broadly rounded similar ends. The The first comprehensive study of the Stropho- Strophocheiluspopelairianus with ;;;.- ;)-~T.--.. size is in pro{X>rtion to that of the snail, heing cheilidae, the work of H. A. Pilsbry (}895-1902), largest for the giant S. popelairianus (up to 5lmm), was written before the family limits were clearly which has the largest known egg of any living defined. SubsequentlyJ. D. Bequaert(1948) mono- terrestrial mollusk. It is only 9mm long in S. lutes- graphed the family. This work was finally com- cens. pleted with a supplement,the work of T. E. Crow- indigenous in South America north of 40" Lat. S., There is also great variation in shell size, from ley and the writer (1961). including Trinidad. Only one species, Stropho- the tiny S. bridgesii, length 22mrn, the smallest and The Strophocheilidaecomprise only two genera, cheilus oblongus, occurs outside this area and this most slender species in the family, to the giant S. Strophocheilus with the subgeneraSpeironepion, has been introduced by man into some West Indian (Cont'd on Page 6) Megalobulimus, Austroborus, and Chiliborus; and islands. Gonostomus, with the subgenusAnthinus': Both All the Strophocheilidae are strictly terrestrial the genera are easily recognized by the general herbivores. Most of them prefer well-sheltered, Gonostomus egregius appearance of the shell, as well as by certain damp, deeply shaded places, with a dense plant peculiarities of shape, sculpture and colouration. cover; they appear to be nocturnal, hiding under Some 45 species are held to he valid. They are humus or in loose soil during the day. At times of drought they bury deep down in the ground or crawl Strophocheilus bridgesii into crevices of rocks or into caves where they estivate after closing the aperture with an epi- phragm. Becauseof the large-scaledestruction of forests in certain areas of Brazil, some of the species have becomevery scarceor possibly even extinct. The Chilean speciesof Chiliborus are said to hide underneathrocks or in loose sand, and evidently occur in a more xerophytic environment than most other species of the genus. Charles Darwin when traveling from the coast of Chile to the Cordillera in 1835 said: "The whole country is an uninhabited desert, there is very little water and that saline. I saw traces of only one living in abundance,namely the Page2 HAW AllAN SHELL NEWS August, 1981

"71aeq;aiiaH S Ieett 1teett4 ISSN 0017-8624 The annual notices that it is time to renew HMS age of 102 at a nursing home in Arizona. She was a EditorEmeritus E. R. CROSS membershipswill go out with the Septemberand Honolulu residentduring World War II and for sev- Editor STUARTlILLICO October issuesof Hawaiian Shell News. The good eral years afterward (HSN Nov. 1980), accumulat- Associate Editors ELMER LEEHMAN. OLIVE SCHOENBERG. GEORGE CAMPBELL news is that there will be no revision of the dues ing a sizable collection of shells. Last year the Science Advisor E ALISON KAY structure, ~ven though there has been a substantial collection was transferred to the Hawaiian Mala- Science Consultant W. O. CERNOHORSKY increasein postagecosts. cological Society. The shells are to be sold to es- Editorial Staff Lyman Hlga. Cliff Weaver. John K. Tucker The basic membership in HMS remains US$15 tablish a BessieArnold Memorial ScholarshipFund. Corresponding Editors: Fr. AI Lopez S.J.. Oon Moody. Wllllal1l E. Old Jr.. when delivered by bulk mail to U.S. addresses.The Cash contributions to the memorial may be sent Peter van Pel. Thora Whitehead chargesabove that are strictly to pay for the postage directly to the Society, endorsed "Bessie Arnold HAWAIIANMALACOLOGICAL SOCIETY involved. As most members are painfully aware. Fund." They will be acknowledgedby HMS. (Founded in 1941) postagerates bear little relation to logic. A letter to The fund will be administered by the HMS P a Box 10391 Honolulu. Hawaii 96816 ChristmasIsland, some 1,300 miles from Honolulu, ScholarshipCommittee.

Treasurer CorrespondingVice Recording President President Sec'y Sec.y MIKE OWENS requires the same number of stamps as a letter to KEITH ZEILINGER South Africa, halfway around the world from here, ROBERT SCHOENING The Index is Coming and almost four times as much as if it went to VI COLLIER This is an interim report on the HSN Index Proj- Quebec. There are dark hints from the HMS Trea- BUNNIE COOK ect that has been in the works for 10 years. Directors surer, Bob Schoening, that there will have to be No index was issued to cover 1980. After nearly DR TDM BURCH DAVENDRQUIST revisions next year, but we are safe for now. WILLIAMCHRISTENSEN DR TDM RICHERT 18 months of study, trial and error, however, work Members can do their part to keep the dues on BETSYHARRISDN GAGNE DUVE SCHOENBERG is going aheadon a computerizedfive-year cumula- DICKvan HDRN target by returning their dues promptly with the STUARTLILLICO WALTSIMMONS tive index that will cover the years from 1976 JORJANEUMANN CHRISTAKAHASHI renewal notice. We continue to urge members to through 1980. With a great deal of good luck, it The Society meets the lirst Wednesday of each month at the convert to first class or air mail delivery. Not only First United Methodist Church, Beretania & Victoria Streets, will be ready for distribution about the end of 1981. in Honolulu is it much quicker, but your copy of HSN will Ray McKinsey is continuing as the Index Editor. follow you when you move. VISITORS WELCOME! Wes Thorsson is putting all the entries into his

I Hawaiian Shell News is issued free to members of the Endangered Status Endangered beautiful new home computer, which eventually will Society. Postage rates have been computed and added to After making considerableprogress toward listing give a printout from which an infinite number of membership dues Individual copies of any issue may be obtained, free of charge, by qualified individuals for bona fide Hawaii's endemicAchatineUa tree snails as Endan- copiescan he made. research projects gered Species (HSN Sept., Oct., Dec. 1980) the The exact basis for distribution has not been de- Members outside the United States are asked to pay with a U.S. Department of the Interior appears to have cided. It has been proposed that copies be sent bank cheque (not a draft) payable to HMS on a US. bank (Be sure your name and address appear on the cheque) reverseditself. Word reaching Honolulu is that En- without charge to museums, libraries and identifi- dangered status never actually was proclaimed for able scientists among the Society membership.

HMS DUES FOR 1981 the nearly extinct genus and that no official steps Copies are also expected to be available to other First Class delivery of HSN in US., are to be taken to protect it. memberson request - possibly on payment of a Canada and Mexico (Recommended) ". $18.00 By Bulk Mail to U.S. Zip Code Betsy Harrison Gagne, chairman of the HMS modestcharge for postage. addresses $15.00 Conservation and Education Committee, wrote on Use of the computer has greatly simplified the Delivery by Air Mail (Recommended) behalf of the Society to the U.S. Office of Endan- job, according to McKinsey, but it has added some to Europe,Caribbean Med. and Africa Central and America (1 week) , $22.00 gered Species, to protest against the plan to "de- constraintsthat are still inhibiting the indexers.

Delivery Delivery to S. Pacific, America asby Letter PrintedAsia, (2 Mail Africa weeks) Malter (5 (2 to weeks) 10 weeks) " "".",.,.", ,...,..,.., , $23.50 $25.00 list" the AchatineUa. "In time, we hope to index the contentsof HSN $18.50 * * * back to 1960," he declared. "We have known for a

Associate(8 to 30 membershipweeks) (HMS card ,.., $17.00 Mrs. Margaret Bentley-Buckle, a long-time HMS long time that a great deal of valuable data on shell collecting, shell identification and malacology in but no HSN) $1flO~ member and resident of exotic shores, has asked us There is a $100 charge for Change of Address to remind her friends that she no longer lives in the general have appeared in HSN since its estab- Articles of interest to shell collectors are solicited. Con- Seychelles. Her address is The Heritage, Boldre lishment. The problem has been to make it available tents are not copyrighted. Republication. w~h credit to HSN, to busy researchers.The Index Project, when com- is inv~ed Lane, Lymington, Hants. S04 8PA England. pleted, should do that. Advertisements are accepted at the rate of US $1800 per Sister Frances Haddrill column-inch/issue, payable in advance Discounts are of- "After that, our job will be to keep it up to fered for six and twelve insertions. The Hawaiian Malacological Society lost two es- date." teemed members during June. Sister Frances Had- drill of Denmark, Western Australia, died after a HMS July Meeting long illness. A long-time shell collector and a When the scheduledspeaker for the July meeting WELCOME TO HAWAII!! cowry enthusiastof note, she had been a member of the Society failed to arrive in Honolulu, Mrs. more than a decadeand was well known to many of HMS membersvisiting Hawaii are invited to con- Beatrice Burch stepped in at short notice to tell tact the Society while in Honolulu. Please keep in us as a field researcher,a shell trader and an occa- about the collection of deep-watermolluscs recently mind, however, that the Society office is open ir- sional writer on malacology. She was one of the transferredto the Bishop Museum by the U.S. Na- regularly, and that it does not have a telephone. ftrst to recognize the uniquenessof the cowry that tional Marine Fisheries Service (HSN July 1981). Society officers are listed individually in the tele- later becameknown as Cypraea haddnightae Tren- The jars contained some surprises, she told the 75 phone book. If in doubt, ask the Waikiki Aquarium berth. or the Bishop Museum for names. Better still, write memberspresent. The ratio of speciescollected var- to the Society in advance. The Museum's Karl BessieArnold ied widely from what would be expectedfrom the Greene Shell Room has a good display of both Bessie Arnold, unquestionably the Society's results of shallow-watercollecting, for example. Hawaiian and Indo-Pacific species. senior memberin point of years, passedaway at the S.L August, 1981 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS Page3

DURBAN - Some recent published statements on South Africa's endemic cowries (not in HSN) deservecomment, lest collectors be led astray. In the first, I was startled to read of tbe two Cypraea edentula Gray illustrated, "both have la- bial teeth, but no vestige of columellar teeth; prob- ably in their living state tbey all have teeth, (which when) found beachedare not noticeable." During the past couple of years, while diving for cowries at Jeffreys Bay, in Cape Province just west of Port Elizabeth, I have collected one live and two dead specimens of Cypraea edentula from deep water - all in excellent condition. None has had any sign of teeth. In addition, we have collected a number of un- blemished specimens from the beach at Jeffreys Bay. The only difference noted is that the live and fresh-deadshells have a delicate pink hue that we have not seenon beach-collectedspecimens. So rest assured.If you have a C. edentula with- out teeth, you have a "pure" edentula - probably from Jeffreys Bay. The second statement that worried me, on the subject of the Cape Cypraea "complex," included an attempt to establish C. amphitales Melvill as a valid species. Cypraea amphitales, said the article, is "constant in its general shape, colour and markings. If the shell was a hybrid, surely it would at times lean Cypraea cohenae Burgess is more difficult for me to be confined to the Jeffreys Bay area. Some heavily towards either edentula or capensis. Why to comment on. I have not seen many specimens. s~cirnens called C. cohenae that I have seenhave must this so-calledhybrid always have the underside They are certainly rarer than amphitales, and appear teeth more reminiscentof C. fuscodentata Gray. characteristicssimilar to capensis?" Before discussingthis point, I would like to make some relevant observations concerning the distri- bution of C. capensis Gray and C. edentula. Cy- praea edentula are found on beachesfrom the west- ern Transkei westward past East London and Port Elizabeth to Jeffreys Bay. They have been reported as far west as Cape Agulhas. Cypraea capensis overlap with edentula on the western Transkei coast and are common in the East London-Port Elizabeth area. But they become rare west of Cape Recife, a few kilometers west of Port Elizabeth. The only specimens I have seen from Jeffreys Bay have been very "beach rolled" and bleached. Cypraea capensis were apparently com- mon there in the past, however, having been found in shell deposits excavated during building op- erationsin Jeffreys Bay town. Having collected'fairly extensively at Jeffreys Bay and from an isolated beach north of East London, we have noticed some striking differences in C. edentula. Those from Jeffreys Bay, where C. capensis do not occur, are rarely found with any sign of teeth. They have wide apertures and gen- erally have little dorsal blotching. (Fig. B 9, 10, II). On the other hand, those from north of East London almost invariably have a few small teeth anteriorly, narrower apertures, and dark dorsal blotching. From this same beach, C. capensis usu- ally have dorsal blotching, although we occasionally find gold, white or purple specimens.(A 4, 5, 6). On the same beach we have found amphitales which look like capensis ventrally (A 5, 6; also BurgessPl. 35D) and others which tend to be more likeedentula, with "fins" crossingonly the base.(B 7; Burgess35C). All are well blotched dorsally. Marginal spotting is usual in C. edentula, but absentin C. capensis. (B I, 2, 3). A characteristicof C. capensis is that somelabial teeth split into two or even three "fins" which pass up over the dorsum.

LITERATURE Burgess, C. H. 1970. The Living Cowries. A. S. Barnesand Co., Inc. New Jersey. Whatmore, L. 1978. Of Sea aOOShore, 8 (4):203-204. Whatmore, L. 1979. Ibid., 10 (2): 187-190. August, 1981 Page4 HAWAnAN SHELL NEWS

Without much doubt, among t~ rarest of t~ cones is CO/IUSlambe1ti Souverbie, 1877 - one of t~ very few sJx:ciesmissing from t~ famed coUec- tion of HMS member A. J. (Bob) da Motta of Bangkok. As far as I can ascertain,only five speci- mens are known. Three are in Europeanmuseums, and t~ ot~r two in New Caledonia- one of t~m in t~ collection of HMS memberRobert Pierson. It is amazing that more of t~se s~lIs have not been coUectedsince Souverbiedescribed tIr. sJx:cies more than a century ago. The most recent specimen was found fresh dead by Jean Doiteau, of the Association Conchyli- ologique de Nouvelle-Caledonie, early this year Photo: Schoenberg while diving on t~ outer side of t~ south barrier An elusive member of the Fasciolariidae is reef of the island, at the depth of 55 meters. But, LD/inlS no"lIIeensis (Crosse, 1790). Shells usually alas, t~ shell had been crushed by a predator. All c. lambelti Photo from Rossiniana are well hidden under rubble arxl frequently camou- t~ pieces were tediously collected by Doiteau and Restored .,hell Pierson shell flaged with a heavy lime coating. The specimen his companion. Later, t~ fragments were carefuUy STUDY OF A PARASffE figured here was found by former HMS vice presi- stuck toget~r to form an almost perfect specimen. The Malacoktgical Review has announcedpubli- dent Phil Kwaitkowski of Honolulu, in about 70 feet The restored shell is figured (right) with the cation of its SupplementNo.2, a monographon the of water off Waikiki Beach. Pierson specimen. The only significant difference newly discovered human blood fluke, SchinosolllQ Note that the foot of no"meensis has markings to betweent~ two is that t~ Pierson shell is slightly mekong;, and its unusual molluscan host, Triculll apel1ll. In addition to details of the parasite, the match its brilliant yellow-and-black shell. larger and has finer netting. The new shell measures The speciesoccurs in widely separatedareas - book presentsstudies of the snail intennediatehost, 106 by 5lmm. The spire is moderatelytall. including the effect of the parasiteon the snail, the New Caledonia, Japan, Hawaii and Mauritius in the All of which proves that CO/IUSl4rmbe1ti does snail's role in diseasetransmission and the sensitiv- Indian Ocean. Its "rarity" may be a consequenceof exist in New Caledonia waters. It is obviously a ity of the snails to molluscides. The price is US $26, postpaid. The volume is its small size (13mm) arxl because it is so well deep-watersJx:cies. I suspectthat a lot of diving is available from the Malacological Review, P.O. Box hidden in its habitat. going on as a result of Doiteau's discovery. 2750, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48106. Olive Schoenberg Elmer G. Leehrnan

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~ August, 1981 HAW AllAN SHELL NEWS Page 5

Photo: Chavan Chamorman c. floridanus C. carceUesi C. clench; C. clerii C. largillierti C. reguloris COrnIafloridensis Martins, 1945 Martins. 1943 Reeve, 1844 Kiener. 1848 Sowerby, 1833 Sowerby, 1870 46mm X 23mm 41mrn X 21mm 47mm X 28mm 45mrn X 22mrn 44mm X 21mm 43mm X 21mm Habitat: Off Sur la Paloma Off Rio de Janeiro, Cen. & So. Brazil Charlestoo.S. Carolina Guaymas,Mexico Gullivan Bay, Florida Uruguay S. Brazil Profile: Biconic, steppedspire Conic, closely coiled Turbinate, steppedspire Biconic. concavefrom Turbinate Turbinate, slightly sutures shoulderrising acuminate pyramidally to apex Postnuclear Smooth Smooth Strong vertical ribs, Smooth Beaded Smooth whorls: uniformly spaced Spiral 3 to 4 fine threads Almost smooth 3 to 4 threads Almost smooth Shallowly channeled, 3 to 4 threads striation: 3 to 4 threads Shoulder: Subangulateand smooth Subangulate,smooth Angulate, carinated Subangulate Angulate, carinated Sharply angulate,smooth Sides: Broad, slightly con- Flat and attenuated Broad, with pinched- Slightly convex at Aat and attenuated Flat vex at upper part in waist upper part

By A. J. da MOTTA from the parent stock may have continued inde- shaped differently in their earlier growth stages, the BANGKOK - Elmer Leehman expressed views pendently, thereby altering the status of the sup- foregoing criteria are applicable only for adult posedsubspecies (Ernst Mayr). shells. shared by most collectors and serious students of 3. A form must exactly resemblethe speciesin To illustrate what I am saying, let me offer six when he deplored the conf~sion existing its structural shape, although it may differ in color, look-alikes. In particular, I include carceUesi in the nomenclatural system relating to , in pattern or superficial sculpture (as smooth, ridged, Martins, C. clenchi Martins, and C. clerii Reeve. pustulous or spirally incised body whorl). These particular the family (HSN Apr. 1981). These three have heen regarded as conspecific by variable featuresmay not always be present,but still those who base their judgement solely on color and He continues to urge the International Commis- must occur frequently to justify infraspecific pattern. sion on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) to impose classification. (But note that definitions below the Can they really he one and the same species with more stringent controls for naming new taxa, as the subspecific have no standing under present ICZN such distinctly different structural morphology? Cer- rules.) tainly not, if one accepts the criteria given above. solution. I see the problem from another angle, So far, we have dealt with what still amountsto a These precepts constitute the only basis on which especially when one gets down to its roots. Even if theoretic basis for specific definitions before we can one can identify and classify fossils, which may be the ICZN were to agree to a revision, it would be conclude unequivocally whether a speciesis valid. totally bereft of color, pattern or biological evi- Since such evidenceis invariably difficult to obtain, dence. This same yardstick can be used - provi- exceedingly difficult for a set of new rules to apply what then could be the next course in order to sionally, if you like - to identify living species to one particular phylum only of the animal king- satisfy the taxonomic need to identify and differen- until the system is ultimately replaced by genetic dom. tiate betweenvisibly dissimilar creatures? analysis. From continuous observation of Conus popu- The rules must be sufficiently flexible to apply to With a system of identifying the status of a shell lations over the past 10 years I have been able to without guessing, we could establish the process of all the other phyla, as well. establish statistically that each speciestends to de- classification on very solid basis. A great deal of To my mind, the confusion can be attributed to velop, upon reaching full maturity, certain specific cleaning up could be undertaken at once. the ab~nce of any standard criteria whereby the characteristicswhich are constant, to a great or les- There would be no reason, for instance, to lump status of a molluscan species can be properly deter- ser degree, in the structure of the suturesand spiral C. capricorni, C. candeUatus and C. clarki pri- mined and then correctly classified. John Tucker whorls, the shoulderand the sides. Magnification of marily because all three are white. And instead of (HSN May 1981) gave a succinct explanation of the specimensis necessary,especially in studying lumping C. praelatus, C. episcopus, C. rubiginosus how to separate a species from a subspecies, as well the growth striations. and C. colubrinus as synonyms of C. pennaceus, as of the nature of a color form. Theseconstant structural factors are: they could be separated, although remaining in the To reiterate Tucker's points and to elaborate a bit, a. Are the post-nuclearwhorls beadedor smooth? same complex under the subgenus . he declared: b. Is there threading on the spiral whorls, or are 1. If two species are sympatric, one can only be they smooth? Conus zulu would fit into its proper slot as a a form of the other. Otherwise they are separate c. Is the spire convex or concave? form of C. figulinus. Conus abbreviatus could be valid species. d. Is the shoulder smooth, keeled or coronated? unshackled from C. miliaris, C. laterculatus from 2. A subspecies must belong to an allopatric e. Are the sides convex, concave or flat? C. australis, and innumerable other good species population, but within touching range of the valid Each species will exhibit one each of the five restored to their proper status. ancestral species or another subspecies. They will main characters, but never two simultaneously. If Would-be authors must recognize that it takes not interbreed. When some distance separates these the spire is concave, it cannot be convex also; if the more than a difference of color or pattern to qualify populations, unless genetic analysis proves other- shoulder is coronated, it cannot at the same time be a new species. Perhaps they can impose on them- wise, the fact that two species have some smooth or keeled, etc. Put the shell in silhouette and selves the discipline that Leehman, and so many morphological similarities does not prove that one is the differences immediately become apparent. more of us, would like to see introduced into the a subspecies of the other. The process of speciation I must emphasize that, because many s~cies are science of svstematics. Page6 HAW AllAN SHELL NEWS August, 1981

STROPHOCHEILIDAE (Cont'd from Page 1) popelairianus, length 168mm, the largest species ON THE REEF SHELLS FOR SALE and next to the largest living terrestrial snail known. Several of the larger species were formerly eaten by the Indians, as noted by the early travellers for S. oblongus, S. popelairianus, and S. ovatus, As late as 1867 von Martens found S, ovatus offered for sale as food in the market at Rio de Janeiro. Miller in 1879 noted that S, popelairianus was re- garded as a delicacy in Ecuador. In recent years the custom of eating these snails seems to have been discontinued. The empty shells also sometimes serve household or ornamental pur- CROWN SPECIMEN SHELLS INC poses. L. B. Brown (1903) noted an interesting use 2293 Novus Street Sarasota,Florida, 33577, USA of the egg of S. oblongus in Barbados, where the Finest Quality SpecimenShells white provides glue to mend china and glass and is Bought Sold Traded claimed to be superior for this end to any manu- "PRICE liST UPON REQUEST' factured product. Murex triqueter Photos: Purtymun The Strophocheilidae are only exceeded in size by certain African Achatinidae. Moreover, these two With BOB PURTYMUN Yea Der Enterprise Co., Ltd. families seem to replace each other on their respec- While diving on the Taema Bank, off Pago Pago P. O. Box 456, Kaohsiung, Taiwan tive continents, where they occupy to some extent Bay in American Samoa, late in 1975, I found a Fine and Rare SpecimenShells the same ecological niche although the Achatinidae pair of Murex triqueter Born. They were on the Cut mother-of-pearl,Decorative shells, are more prolific in genera and species, even de- bottom of a large coral slab in 15 metersof water. Sharkjaws, Shark teeth and Shell craft. Write for free lists veloping arboreal types. In some cases the shells of The larger, measuring6Omm by 25, is a beautiful Tel. 2814438 . 2114438 the two families have become superficially similar specimenwith exquisite frills on the body whorl and Retail and Wholesale through convergence. The South African Metacha- flange. The smaller, 54 by 25mm, is also a gem - liRa and the Central African Burtoa particularly just not quite so spectacular. WEST COAST CURIO CO. simulate certain species of Megalobulimus; but their Identification was confirmed by the late Ruth 1940 Maple Ave., Costa Mesa, Calif. 92627 nepionic shells are small and decussately sculptured, Fair, one-time associateeditor of Hawaiian SheD "13 miles southofDisneyland". Longestestab- as in the other Achatinidae, where both genera are News and author of The Murex Book. It was too lished shell dealer in the U.S.A. More than 3,000 no doubt correctly placed. late, however, for her to report my find as the sRecies stocked regularly. No lists - No mail References easternPacific limit of the range of this species. order. Buy orbrowse-you're always welcome! Bequaert, J. C. 1948. "Monograph of the Stropho- I also found specimensof the similar M. trigo- COME IN AND SEE US cheilidae, a Neotropical Family of Terrestrial Mollusks." BuD. Mus. compo bIOI, Uarv. 100, no. I. pp. 1-210. pIs. nulus Lamarck in the shallow waters of Pago Pago 1-32. Bay, as weD as on the fringing reef at Aleipata, on Quality specimen shells wanted Brown, L. B. 1903. "Notes on the land and freshwater the Western Samoaisland of Upulo. shells of Barbados." J. Conch. Lond. 10. 266-273. of every area. Crowley, T. E. and T. Pain. 1961. "Pfeiffer's unfigured Murex trigonulus Wholesale and/or retail prices requested. speciesof Strophocheilus(Megalobulimus). "Breviora no. 138 pp. 1-8, pis. 1-2. FUAD WAHBEH Darwin, C. 1882. A Naturalists Voyage. . , Round the P. O. Box 1198 World. 519pp. London. Damascus, Syria Pilsbry, H. A. 1895-1902. Manual of Conchology. (2) 10. PHILLIP W. CLOVER 0. P. O. Box 83, GlenEllen . Calif.95442 U.S.A. Dealer in World Wide Specimen

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By HARRY G. LEE JACKSONVILLE, FL - Recently I asked John Lott, keeper of the Jacksonville Shell Club's north- eastern Florida checklist, just how many species of marine molluscs had been recorded there. He counted up 309 of which, we discovered, 33 were described by Thomas Say between 1816 and 1834. A review of our 66 species of land molluscs indicates that Say described no less than 11 of them. Say was born June 27, 1787 in Philadelphia, where he was raised. He had only a modest formal education and, while in his teens, began to work as a printer's apprentice. His great-uncle William Bart- ram, influenced his interest in natural history and by 1812 young Thomas was included among the charter members of the Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia (A.N.S.P.), which first convened on Photo: Chapman May 17 of that year. After serving in the War of About a decade ago the Australian malacologist from Western Australia next to them. The two at 1812 he returned to Philadelphia where he made the Dr. Barry Wilson, writing his Australian Shells, top right are from sponge beds off Fremantle, as is acquaintance of William Maclure, who in 1817 be- declared that Cypraea thersites Gaskoin and C. the lowe~ left shell. These three are commonly cal- came president of the A.N.S.P. - a post he held friendi Gray were synonymous.Hawaii's cowry ex- led the "verco fonIl," but are obvious intergrades. until 1840. pert, Dr. C. M. Burgess, was one of those who The two lower center shells are specimens of the Thomas Say had published his first paper, fully agreedwith Wilson on the matter, but the idea "Descriptions of seven new species of freshwater still has not been universally accepted. regular globose "thersites fonIl" from southern and and land snails not noticed in the systems," in eastern Australia. 1816. Accordingly, Maclure approached him in the Some specimens sent to me recently by HMS autumn of 1817 about a trip to the Southeastern member A. J. (Tony) Gabelish of WesternAustralia A specimen of the valid C. thersites contraria United States. Say, Maclure, George Ord and Titian offer strong evidenceto support Wilson's opinion. lredale from Port Lincoln, South Australia, is at the R. Peale set out from Philadelphia and visited the Sea Islands of Georgia. We catch glimpses of an In the above figure, two of the usual elongated lower right. interesting and exciting trip from Say's letters back shells are at the top left, with an albino specimen Elmer Leehman to Philadelphia. They ascended the River St. Johns as far as Pico- lata, an old Spanish fortress, now in ruins, about 100 miles from the river mouth, then crossed coun- He leaves no doubt as to the type locality of mourned by all American natural scientists. The late try on foot to St. Augustine. Succinea campestris (1818). Henry Pilsbry declared Say's "descriptions of shells There the group heard discouraging reports on "On CumberlandIsland, in Mr. Shaw's garden, I are excellently worded, very few of them being in recent Indian hostilities. The governor of the Prov- obtained several specimens from the leaves of any way ambiguous. . . All his specimenshave ince of Florida recommended that they proceed radishes," Say wrote. Clearly, he was an unusually been identified and very few of them fall into with the utmost caution. Being men of great sensi- resourcefulcollector. synonymy." tivity and no little respect for the aborigines, the Say becameenamoured of the utopian concept of Considering the state of the art of science, group scrapped its plans to visit' 'south Florida," as New Harmony, Indiana and moved west in the communication and other restraints of his time, this Say called it. 1820s. He established the New Harmony Dis- is a most flattering tribute - one that not many It appears that Say was very active in the field seminator of Useful Knowledge, which ran from other malacologists of any epoch would likely re- during this trip as many of his southern species were 1828 to 1830. He published his papers in the few ceive from his successors. described from his own collections. Exactly where then existent scientific journals, as well as making he obtained most of holotype specimens, however, major contributionsto Nicholson's Cyclopedia. Condensed from the Jacksonville Shell Club is not known. In those days it was not exactly His untimely death in 1834 at New Harmony was Shell-o-Gram customary to record a type locality with the original description. Nevertheless, many of Say's specimens are still in the A.N.S.P. His early labels help us reconstruct some of his collecting activities. We know, for in- stance, that the land snail Helicina orbiculata (1818) was taken in "oystershell hammocks near the mouth of the River St. Johns." This very area now supports a large population of Helicina, although it is being threatened by developers. Say also reported his Melampus bidentatus to be "very numerous near the mouth of the St. Johns River." Upstream, the party put ashore at a small settlement which Say called' 'Cow Fort," the site of modem-day Jacksonville. The snail Praticolella jejuna (1821) was described from there. Interest- ing1y, we have yet to find this shell in all of north- eastern Florida. I suspect that it was quite common in those d?ys, but local in its occurrence. Page8 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS August, 1981

Giant Clams Threatened ~aL de ~e~ e"terpri~e6 946 Ralph Avenue, Brooklyn, New Yo,k 11236 USA Giant clams of the family Tridacnidae (HSN Oct. ...,~ .,.. ro,oo.."-,,,,"" '79) will soon be recognized as "threatened", ac- ~ Outstanding quality and persoual service on cording to the International Union for Conservation ~~ worldwide specimen shells. Rarities are our MuTe' '\ specialty. Free price list on request. of Nature and Natural Resources. The IUCN's cur- phyllopterus rent Invertebrate Red Data Book will examine case histories of invertebrates negatively affected by man, and will categorize these species as threatened, S & D SIGLER endangered, vulnerable, rare or indeterminate. SPECIMEN SHELLS Giant clams have suffered chronic overexploita- P.o. Box 14169BOrlando, FL. 32857 tion throughout most of their Indo-Pacific range, and some populations have been fished to near ex- An (OUR3Q's tinction. The forthcoming Invertebrate Red Data Auction BU1'' * QUALITY Book will serve the same purpose as the earlier with each SELL:,.. * QUALITY volume for vertebrates, which has been instrumental li~t TRADE * QUALITY in focusing international attention on efforts to con- serve natural diversitv. World Wide Specimen Sea Shells Jerry Heslinga Paul and Paula Mikkelsen receive the Exhibitors' .k d9~e:-ina~~o//ee~ Award from Mrs. Doris Thomas. president of the Astronaut Trail Shell Club of Merritt Island. PERSONAL ADS Florida. at the ATSC's 1981 Shell Show last Jan- uary. The award was made on the basis of a secret ballot among all the exhibitors. The ATSC's 1982 I have two live-taken Cypraea gondwanalanden- Shell Show is scheduledfor January 15.16 and 17. sis and two live-taken C. algoensis. I am looking for offers of shells or money. I needC. teramachii, midwayensis, leucodon, rashleighana and brod- eripii. G. Verhoef, P.O. Box 892, Cape Town, :, South Africa 8000. * * * HSN BACK-ISSUE PRICES REDUCED!! FOR SALE OR TRADE: Conus crocatus (small), C. armadillo, C. pel1usus (52mm), C. circumcisus HMS has moved its office to smaller quartersand (75-80mm), Murex mal1inetana, M. dorothyae, Voluta cathcartiae (110-115mm) plus more. Bob we must cut our inventory of Hawaiian SheDNews Schoening, EPMU-6 Box 112, Pearl Harbor, HI back issues. Rates for full volumes are being re- 96860. duced to encouragesales. Many older issuesare out * * * of print but they have been replacedby good Xerox WANTED: Conus prometheus (15-2Ocm) and copies. They all make interestingreading! Conus leoparous (15cm up), one or few or in quan- Write to the Society for a back-issueindex. price tity. Fuad Wahbeh, P.O. Box 1198, Damascus, Syria. list and order blank. * * * Bunnie Cook WANTED: Gem quality Strombus specimens, Back Issue Chainnan especiallygibberulus gibberulus, mutabilis zebrio- latus, taurus, rugosus, plicatus, wilsoni, aratrum chrysostomus. Winston Barney, 2801 Clary, Fort Worth, Texas 76111.

* * * HMS Members: Nonmembers will receive a com- plimentary copy of Hawaiian SheD News (with a Use HSN Personal Ads. Three dollars per 25 words, plus name and address. Dealers please use membership application) if you sent the Corre- display ads. One time only! sponding Secretary their fuD name and address. aSTINI est. 1967 Vis San Godenzo 141 - 00189 ROMA - ITALY ~ 1) Price list tree on request A 2) Extensive price list of mediterranean and worldwide shells at U.S $3 00 (refundable with lirst order) 3) The book (GUIDA ALLE CONCHIGLIE MEDITERRANEE) illustrating more than 500 species with full coloured photo- graphs at U.S. $27.00 (surface mail expenses included). 4) Dredged marine material from Italian coasts

TH~WAIIAN MoLLusK 122 Waialeale St.. Honolulu, HI 96825 Hawaiian Specimen Shells Phone 395-3581or 623-8918 August, 1981 HAWAllAN SHELL NEWS Page9

By N.S. "Boy" ABREA CABUG - Chitons are less than totally appeal- GIRDLE DARK BROWN ing to most collectors. Their valves are not so attractive as the intricate shells of the gastropods. DARK REDDISH BROWN But the are interesting. LIGHT CREAM ISH BROWN The chiton figured here was found in the CREAM ISH OBSCURE CREAM ISH BAND Cabug-Medina area of Mindanao, in the Southern Philippines, in about a meter of water, under a stone half hidden by sponge. This s~ies also has been ~ . observed to hide in deep holes in the coral and ~ rocks. ':::'::~:;::i I;;';i; I have not identified the species. In my many years of shelling and snorkeling, only recently have ~ .' :,. ., Z:~~ I found this particular species. ,,';.: ..." ", ':':'.":: ;1- The animal has eight seedlike shelly plates. The , ~ -%:t:ii three on the "head" region are strongly held by a girdle - a velvety, strong, leatherlike substance. ~y ---' POSTERIOR PLATE The other five plates are encasedonly in epidermis. ~ DARKCREAM ISH BROWN The three "head" plates are bone white except , PLATES ALMOST TOUCH EACH TIP that half the secondplate is dark reddish brown (as ~ PLATESPRECISELY TOUCHING indicated in my figure). The rest of the plates are PLATES BARELY OVERLAP completely dark brown. ANTERIOR PLATE Only the first and second plates overlap each "A" other; the posterior end of the first plate is concave, apparentlyto allow easy raising of the frontal end. . ~~ ~ ~ l :::.-: c";;"':;c:C':'~ .:;~:::::';::'::;:',,~;~:::,:,.:-;' The extremities of the third plate just touch the tip .#:' ~-;;;:'- - -- ~ ~--+- of the second, and the fourth plate alcInostreaches ..-"* the tip of the third. The rest of the plates are at - considerabledistances from eachother. -< '~"C;'.,..;,;;.i,1.~.~::': .,.., "'~'-""""". ~.,,---~- The space between the plates (indicated in my figure by broken lines and arrows) can be stretched -~ . r t t t l . horizontally if the animal desires, allowing the chi- FIGURE 2. "A" INFLOW OF WATER WHEN ANIMAL IS IN MOTION ton to attain considerablelength and sometimesan irregular shape.The animal moves by sliding, as is FOOT RESPIRATORY CANAL typical for chitons. GILLS GROOVE I . ~IRID~E ~ E~IDERMIS The epidermis is hidelike, tough but not hard. It ANUS is studded with very fine sandpaperlikehairs. Al- " ~I though they appear to be soft, if you run your ;J,.- ~~~~:~~~~a~ fingers over the hairs you feel the fine abrasions. ,.,~... '; " 'i"".'l::;' ;:',',c ~"!:; + The shapeof the mouth is typical of chitons, and "-- ". ~'.' the anus is covered with the posterior end of the foot. The foot is narrow and elongate. MOUTH. ~~;:~~~:~=~:=~~=~~: ~"~ The ventral girdle of this particular species is similar to the dorsal epidermis, only lighter and FIGURE 3. INFLOW OF WATER WHEN ANIMAL IS AT REST softer, and the sandpaperlikehairs are finer. The canal for passing water over the gills starts beside the mouth. It is long, narrow and shallow, gradually becoming wider and deeper toward the gills, which are found on both sides. The feature that makes this chiton particularly interesting is the groove near the mouth, and the periodic elevating of the body section ("A" in my figure) when the animal is on the move. This mo- tion does not appearto produce a propulsive wave. Because of this, I suspect that the raising of the "A" area is to allow water into the gill canal to permit respiration while the animal is at rest. Since the foot and girdle strongly clasp the substrate, water cannot enter. Then the groove near the mouth may be used to bring in water for respiration, or as a vent for rejectedfood particlesif it is feeding. Page 10 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS August, 1981

Publications: A FIELD GillDE TO AUSTRALIAN SHELLS A FIELD GUIDE TO THE REEF-BUILDING 79, 289, 290); Psammocora nierstraszi (pp. 51 Prosobranch Gastropods. By B. R. Wilson and K. CORALS OF INDO-PACIFIC; By Hans Ditlev. 290); Endean(pp. 90, 94) and Gaimard (p. 92). Gillett. 272 pp + index. Sydney: A. H. & A. W. 291 pp. ScandinavianScience Press, Ltd. HF 63.50 n Reed Ply Ltd. (= about US $22.50). Alternative assignments and nomenclature for Dr. Barry Wilson, then head of the Division of Reviewed by Dr. James E. Maragos some taxa preferred by other taxonomists include Natural Sciencesat the Western Australian Museum in Perth, and Keith Gillett, co-authorof and photog- the following: In putting together A Field Guide to the Reef- rapher for a string of Australian marine-oriented volumes, produced Australian Shells in 1971 - Building Corals of the Indo-Pacific, Hans Ditlev The name Pavona cactus rather than P. frondi- and his team of editors and publishers have tackled fera ecomorphcactus; the name Pavona decussata the outstanding recent study of that subject. Sub- an extremely difficult but important challenge- to rather than P. lata and P. lata em. decussata; the sequently, the material from that book was re- arranged, somewhat edited down and reissued in produce an identification guide of less than 300 name Pavona maldivensis rather than P. explanu- lata em. maldivensis and P. diffluens; Pavona pocket-handbookform as A Field Guide to Aus- pages summarizing and making sense out of 200 maldivensis as a distinct speciesfrom P. explanu- tralian Shells. years of taxonomic chaos. They have achievedmea- lata; Pavona duerdeni as a distinct speciesfrom P. Travellers to the southern continent in particular surablesuccess. explanulata and P. clavus; the name Pavona ven- probably will find the new edition more useful than osa rather than P. (Polyastra) venosa (deleting the the older volume, although the color plates have The guide briefly and concisely describes the subgenus);the name Psammocoranierstraszi rather been reduced in size. One edition or the other be- "species problem," morphology, collection and than P. samoensis;Synaraea as a subgenuswithin longs in the library of every serious general collec- field techniques, as well as giving individual ac- the genus Porites,. Echinopora hirsutissima, E. tor. gemmacea, E. horrida, and E. mammiformis as S.L. counts of over 260 species and ecomorphsof reef distinct species from E. lamellosa; Leptoseris ha- corals. In addition, the guide provides excellent waiiensis as a distinct speciesfrom L. papyracea; identification keys, photographsand line drawings. the nameLeptoseris incrustans rather than Agaricia pateUiformis ? (reported only once from Hawaii, There are nearly 400 black-and-white and color incrustans; the absence of corals of the genus Agaricia from the Pacific; the name Fungia (Pleu- over a half century ago); Diaseris distol1a (referred plates of excellent quality, showing both living cor- ractis) scutaria rather than F. (P.) oahensis; Ac- to as Cycloseris distol1a in text); Fungia (Pleu- als and skeletal material. Thelia (and A. horrescens) as distinct from the ractis) scutaria (referred to as F. (P.) scutaria and F. (P.) oahensis in text); Gardineroserisplanulota The most important taxonomic material to 1979 genus Galaxea; the name Diaseris distorta rather than Cycloseris distorta; the nameLeptoseris solida (so far reported only as a fossil from Oahu);Leptas- appears to have been reviewed and listed in the rather than Domoseris solida; Pachyseris speciosa trea bottae; Leptastrea purpurea; Leptoseris ha- literature section. as a distinct speciesfrom P. rugosa em. speciosa; waiiensis (referred to as L. papyracea em. ha- Unfortunately, the guide contains errors of spell- the nameCoscinaraea bottae rather than C. monile; waiiensis in text); Leptoseris incurstans (referred to as Agaricia incrustans in text); Leptoseris papy- ing. Also, the assignmentsand names for some of Coscinaraea columna as a distinct speciesfrom C. monile; the name Sandalolitha rather than Para- racea; Leptoseris tubulifera; Montipora verrucosa; the taxa will be disputed by other specialists. It is halomitra; the nameCynarina rather than Acantho- Pavona duerdeni (referred to as Pavona explanu- unfortunate that Vernon and Pichon's 1979 review phyllia; the name Scolymia australis rather than lata em. explanulota and P. clavus in text); Pavona maldivensis (referred to as Pavona diffluens, P. of many scleractinian groups (Vol. 3 of the Aus- Homophyllia australis; the nameSymphyllia valen- ciennesii rather than S. hassi; Pectinia alcicornis, explanulota em. maldivensis and P. (Pseudocolum- tralian Institute of Marine Science's monograph P. paeonia, and P. elongata as distinct speciesfrom nastrea) poUicata in text); Pavona varians; Pocil- series on Scleractinia of easternAustralia) was not P. lactuca; the name Cycloseris somervillei rather lopora damicornis; PociUopora eydouxi; Pocil- lopora meandrina; Porites compressa; Porites availableto Ditlev and his co-workers. than Fungia (Pleuractis) somervillei,. Leptoseris incrustans, L. tenuis, and L. mycetoseroidesas (Synaraea) convexa (referred to as Synaraea con- Ditlev's Field Guide will be highly useful if for distinct species within the genus Leptoseris; the vexa in text); Psammocora nierstraszi and Tubas- no other reason than the fact that it is the first name Euphyllia (Fimbriaphyllia) as the generic traea coccinea. successfulventure in publishing a single guide to name for E. fimbriata; the name Catalaphyllia jar- NOTE: The author also reportsFungia (Pleurac- tis) somerviUei (= Cycloseris somerviUei) from cover the Indo-Pacific reef,'corals.Furthermore, it is dinei rather than C. plicata and the nameHeterop- , sammia cochlea rather than H. michelini. Hawaii, but there are no recordsof this speciesfrom packedwith useful information. Hawaii. The following tables identify some errors I noted, III offer alternativeopinions on taxonomic assignments, The following corals describedor figured in the BACK ISSUES and add distributional notes on Hawaiian corals. text are found in Hawaii: The Hawaiian Malacological Society maintains a modest stock of back issues of Hawaiian Shell Acropora humilis; Acropora cytherea,'Acropora valida (referred to as A. variabilis in text); Cosci- News. Copies of most issues back to 1960 are Unconventional spellings were used in the text for naraea wellsi Vernon and Pichon (referred to as C. available, although some are in xerox form. Write the following correct names: fossata em. ostreaeformis in the text); Cycloseris to the CorrespondingSecretary for information. August, 1981 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS Page 11

NEWS OF NEW SPECIES When in Los Angeles visit ~-", By JOHN K. TUCKER I Ed Petuch (1979, Nemouria #23: 1-21) described --~~-- - --~ a dozen new species of Indo-Pacific gastropods. The " lGiil'en; descriptions. condensed from his originals, are con- tinued from last month. FINE SHELLS AND FINE ART Agatrix (Olssonella) nodosivaricosa. The thin, We do not publish a list but we will answer fragile, inflated shell has an indented suture and a specific requests for Rare Shells - our spe- somewhat protracted scalariform spire. The body cialty. whorl has 12 rounded varices that are crossed by Sh",. ".", ",.","", HMS'SGS numerous raised axial threads. The varices are or- namented with large undulating raised knobs. There 22762 Pacific Coast Highway are 3 large plaits on the columella. The umbilicus is Malibu. California 90265 closed. The outer lip has strong lirations. The color is pale cream with 3 tan bands, one at the shoulder, ~ one at midbody line, and one at the anterior end. CC'; Photo: Mailly The aperture is pale yellow with tan bands showing MARINE A LAND through. The holotype measures Ilmm long x 9mrn wide. The type locality is off Balicasag, Bohol Is- There is an old saying that good things come in ~ ,-Bm-;5ELL-.-F:XCHANGi-- '~ land, Philippines in 300 meters. The new species pairs. Maybe that is what the above shell was think- .',\ ~ \ ..,..'FOR HMS-ISGSGRADING,AND YOUR FREE LIST WRITE: -' was compared to A. deroyae (Petit). ing when it grew two operculums. Richard Goldber~'" WorldWide Specimen Shell" ~ Conus aphrodite. The thin, delicate, lightweight, The Voluta musica Linne was collected alive by 49-77 Fresh Meadow Lane F1ushln~,N.Y.11365 elongated, glossy shell has a straight sided outline. HMS memberMarcel Mailly in Martinique. TJSA The shoulder is smooth, angular, and slightly cari- The two opercs can be clearly seen at the top of nate. The anterior third of the shell has 6 to 8 faint spiral sulci. The color is lilac purple with three the figure. How they would operate when the ani. bands of chestnut brown flamrnules. This is overlain mal wanted to withdraw into its shell is not clear. with 12 revolving rows of white and brown dots and E.G.L. dashes. The spire is purple with alternating brown flammules. The edge of the shoulder has alternating . brown and white dashes. The aperture is purple. The holotype measures 21mm long x Ilmm wide. The type locality is off Panglao, Bohol Island, Phil- bands, one just anterior of the shoulder, one at ippines in 250 meters. The new species was com- midbody, and one anterior of the midbody line. pared to C. otohimeae. There are 3 to 4 rows of alternating brown and white rectangular dashes between three brown Conus boholensis. This thin, delicate, glossy, bands. The spire is white with alternating dark- elongated, straight-sided shell has a sharp extremely brown crescent flammules. The flammules extend carinate bladelike shoulder with a slight constriction from the suture across the shoulder and onto the just anterior to the shoulder carina. The early whorls body whorl. These produce a pattern of alternating are strongly coronate. The spire is scalariform. The white and dark brown dashes along the shoulder body is sculptured by 25 to 35 deeply Incised spiral carina. The apertureis pale lilac. The holotype mea- - sulci. The spire is smooth except for growth lines. sures23mm long x I2mm wide. The type locality is THE SEA The color is white with scattered red-brown dashes. off Panglao, Bohol Island, Philippines in 250 me- , 305 N. Harbor Blvd. The spire is white except for a few scattered cres- ters. The species was compared to C. eugram- cent red-brown flammules. The aperture is white. malus. San Pedro, Calif. 90731 (213) 831-1694 The holotype measures 38mm long x 18mm wide. '---' The type locality is off Panglao, Bohol Island, Phil- Conus zulu. The heavy, glossy, pyriform shell Visnour new much larger museum-like store. Specimen, decora- tive & craft shells - shell jewelry, shell & sea related gift nems- ippines in 250 meters. The new species was com- has the anterior third of the body whorl heavily shell books pared to C. cancellatus. Unfortunately, it most sculptured with deeply incised spiral lines. The closely resembles juvenile C, sieboldi to which it color varies from yellow to gray brown to deep Importer of world wide shells. No lists - no mail order. was not compared. gray. The anterior half of the shell is darker than the posterior half. The shoulder has a clear orange or FOR SALE Conus fragilissimus. The shell of this species is red band. The colors are overlain with numerous Specimen Shells, Shell Craft of all kinds, shell jewelry, extremely thin, fragile and translucent. The outline spiral rows of dark brown dots and dashes. The sawfish bills, shark jaws and teeth, carved shells, coral is ovately cylindrical. The shoulder is wide, angled, spire is cream gray with intermittent, regularly necklaces, carved jade, butterflies, pig tusks, tortoise craft, and prominently coronated. The spire is elevated spaced dark-brown crescents. The type locality is horn, agate and hardwood novelties. Satisfaction guaranteed. and scalariform with 4 to 6 fine revolving spiral off the mouth of the Umfolozi River, Zululand CHAIN YU ENTERPRISES CO., LTD. threads. The aperture is wide and flaring. The color Coast, Natal, South Africa in about 40 meters. The (ChienChih Chen, Pres.) P. O. Box 5-56 is pale tan with longitudinal brown flamrnules which new specieswas comparedto C. figulinus. Kaohsiung800, Taiwan R.O.C. often coalesce into large brown patches. This pattern is overlain by variable amounts of dots, dashes, and a netlike pattern. The spire is pale tan with regularly spaced dark-brown flamrnules. The protoconch and early whorls are dark brown. The holotype measures 3Omm long x 12mm wide. The type locality is S. coast of Marmil Island, Oahlak Archipelago, Eritrea Province, Ethiopia. The new species was compared to C. geographus. It differs from equal-sized C. geographus by lacking a pinkish red base, by hav- ing distinct white shoulder coronations, and by hav- ing early whorls that are dark brown instead of pink or red.

Conus nereis. This thin, delicate, elongated, smooth, straight-sided shell has a smooth sharp dis- tinctly carinate shoulder. The anterior third of the shell has 6 to 8 wide deeply incised spiral sulci. The color is pale blue white with three light-brown Page 12 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS August, 1981

By PETER van PEL To Celebrate 40th EGMOND AAN ZEE - For us Dutch collectors, the shelling groundsof Bretagne(Brittany), France, are well worth visiting. They are not too far away, and are easily accessibleby car. Loading our cara- By ANDERSON BUTLER Chairman, Shell Show Committee van and heading south to the Brittany coast is al- The forthcoming 1981 HMS Shell Show in Hono- ways an exciting experience. lulu will l~ad off the celebration of the Hawaiian This was the case on a recent holid.,;-:Equipped with a new underwater housing for my camera, I Malacological Society's 40th birthday. The Society chose a small bay, protected from the open ocean was fonnally organizedlate in 1941. by offshore rocks, for my first swim. The occasion will be celebrated at the Show awards dinner on November 13, with which the I found myself surroundedby long, colorful weed annual year-endparty and get-togetherwill be com- of all shapesand dimensions. In previous visits, I bined. had seenthis weed exposedon rocks and the beach Half a dozen of the charter membersstill live in at low tide. For summer low tides, in particular, this Hawaii. They will be recognizedat the dinner. wet cover must be a welcome haven for many mol- Distribution of the HMS Shell Show rules and luscan species, who find protection from predators entry fonDS with the July issue of Hawaiian SheD and the hot, drying sun beneath the weed. The News has brought a quick responsefrom Society difference in appearancenow was astounding.They members intending to display here. I urge others are beautiful when seenfrom the water. who plan to enter the SheDShow to mail the entry I continue to descendto the sea bottom. Cuttle- blank as quickly as possible. fish are everywhere,changing color constantly. They should be addressedto the HMS Shell Show I meet a jellyfish and watch it for a while. It is Committee, P.O. Box 10391, Honolulu, HI 96816. interesting to see how small fish swim carefully Members outside Hawaii who wish infonnation along with their host, protecting themselves from on Honolulu hotel accommodationsmay request it the stinging tentacles but keeping close, neverthe- from the SheD Show Committee secretary at the less. I can't stop taking pictures of this fascinating same time. This applies, incidentally, to several sight (Fig. I). who inquired earlier and did not receive replies. In my search for molluscs, I turn over several Pleaseask again. rocks and, to my surprise, discover lots of large The Society's year-end get together and Show abalone, Haliotis tuberculata Linne, averaging awards banquet will be in the Pacific Ballroom of about 9cm (Fig. 3). I did not expectto find so many the Ilikai Hotel, in Waikiki, on Friday night, 13 of these interesting shells. The dorsum is covered November. All Show participants, visiting members with the sameattachments as the surroundingrocks. and guestsare urged to attend. As I have all sizes and forms of this speciesin my Details of time, price, menu and reservationdead- collection already, I leave these to grow and multi- line will be announcedlater. Validated parking will ply. be available in the Ilikai Hotel garage. Then I come to a threadlike. weed on which a host The forthcoming Shell Show is unquestionably of different creatures are feeding - colorful nudi- the Society's most ambitious effort to date. The branchs, Calliostoma species, and others. Ilikai Hotel is one of Honolulu's most prestigious, The most spectacular, however, are the sea hares. being situated at the western end of Waikiki Beach First I spot a single specimen feeding on the weed. and overlooking the Ala Wai yacht harbor, Magic A little later I notice another, and another, and then Island, Ala Moana Reef and Fort DeRussy park. lots more. They are all over the place. Some are The display will be open to the public for three greenish. Others are black. I identify them as Ap- days. lysia punctata Cuvier. Attendance at previous Shell Shows has run as I also come to realize why these molluscs are high as 35,000. We do not expect this year's to called "sea hares." Indeed, they resemble our draw such large crowds (for one thing, there will be friends from the meadows, with their two earlike an admission charge), but we believe that the per- processes pointing upward. Again, I take photos in centageof genuinely interestedvisitors will be much every situation - even while they are mating. higher. Once, while cruising in tropical and subtropical a shell and others do not. Sometimesa nail-like Mid-November is just aheadof the big year-end waters, I had tried to find the shell that is supposed shell is visible (Fig. 2). Perhapsthis jlas something visitor rush in Honolulu. to occur in Aplysia. From the literature, I knew that to do with age. The older the sea hare, the thicker it was covered by the lobes. Great was my as- the shell. Juvenile specimensdo not seem to have tonishment when the animal secreted purple clouds shells at all. that left my hands stained for days. Just as discon- I am not caught by surprise this time when these SEND IN YOUR RENEWAL! certing, I could not find any shell! European individuals release their clouds of purple On that day I resolved never to touch another sea dye. But I come to the conclusionthat it is better to All HMS membership expire at the end of the hare in my lifetime. photographthese interesting molluscs than to touch calendar year. Send your renewal at once. Re- Now, however, I discover that some animals have them. member- No dues. No HSN.