VOL. XXXV NO.2 FEBRUARY. 1987 NEW SERIES 326
By BEATRICE L. BURCH and Bishop Museum, opercula of X. p. kondoi were THOMAS A. BURCH* loosely attached. Many fell off when the animals Adult carrier shells, Xenophora peroniana kon- were soaked in fresh water to remove the formalin doi Ponder, 1983, have been reported off the Ha- in which they had been preserved, before being waiian Islands by Ponder (1983) from material col- transferredto ethyl alcohol for storage.Opercula of lected from the Bureau of Fisheriesvessel Albatross most gastropodsare more firmly attached and are in 1902and by the National Marine FisheriesService's not disturbed during such handling and transference (NMFS) Honolulu-basedresearch vessel Townsend into alcohol. Cromwell in 1967 and 1968. The Burch family's Almost half of the 21 specimensdredged from 32-foot salmon troller, Janthina VII, dredged in Janthina VII were less than 30 mm and five were Mamala Bay, Oahu for eight years and collected smaller than 14 rnrn (Table 1). only 21 carrier shells. Five were from 8 to 13 mm in length; the others rangedfrom 18 to 45 mm. R. V. Janthina VII The coarse calcareousorganic material found in Most of the shells taken from the large govern- the fine sand and mud off Oahu at the stations ment ships were from 40-42 mm, although some Ponder illustrated many opercula which .are spe- where Xenophora were taken was composedof gas- rangedto 55-70 mm. The holotype and paratypesof cies specific, but he did not figure the operculum of tropods, pelecypods, scaphopods, Halimeda and X. p. kondoi were from Oahu. Most of the carrier this subspecies. He merely stated that it was identi- miscellaneousobjects such as larger Foraminifera, shells they collected were taken from off the north cal to Xenophora peroniana peroniana (Iredale, corals, echinodermsor echinodermspines and bryo- and south coastsof Molokai and off the north coast 1929). The operculum is carried high on the zoan fragments. Halimeda are erect, branching, of Maui. Even the larger ships couldn't work hatchet-shape foot and when the mollusk was living, segmented,green coralline algae which are common satisfactorily off Oahu as the ground is unsuitable the operculum was sparkling greenish gold, which in Hawaiian leeward coral reefs. Eroded segments for trawling at the depthswhere theseanimals live. became more brown when preserved. are abundantbeyond the reefs in Mamala Bay (Ho- Ponder's 1983 paper presented descriptions of The operculum of the single specimen that we nolulu). Examinationof Xenophora taken off Molo- Xenophora peroniana kondoi as well as 24 other collected alive was folded at right angles around the kai, Maui, and Laysan Islands showed varying speciesfound worldwide in fossil or Recentgeolog- edge of the foot after it was preserved. We did not proportions of molluscan, coral and other material. ical times. Gross anatomyof the animal, radula and notice this on any of the preserved National Marine The carrier shells off Oahu, however, rarely at- shell were well described. Fisheries Service specimens. tached any organism other than Halimeda segments When the NMFS material was prepared for trans- to their shells. *P. O. Box 309,Kailua, Hawaii 96734. fer from their Honolulu Laboratory to the Bernice P. (Cont'd on Page 4)
Three views of Hawaii's Xenophora peroniana kondoi Ponder, 1983 All Photos: Burch Page 2 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS February, 1987
~ alQ;4ti4#e S Ieett ?teett4 ISSN 0017.8624 Wesley Thorsson resigned as President of the which is brightly colored. When the fish tries to bite
Hawaiian Malacological Society early in January. it, the snail injects into [the fish's] mouth a disposa- AssociateEditor Editors Emeritus Editors .. He had been reelectedto office in November, pend- ble tooth containing the venom." ing solution of someorganizational problems. The poison has three major toxins, one of them The 1987 Vice President, Stu Lillico, has as- similar to the cobra's, which can overwhelm the ScienceAdvisor ... sumedthe president'sduties until a permanentoffice human neuromuscular system. Olivera says the Science Consultant holder is chosen. Lillico has stated that he will be venom' 'essentially allows us to dissect key ele- Editorial Staff unable to continue in the post due to conflicting ments in the nervoussystem." commitments. Isolating the venom's 500 componentshas been The HMS Bylaws provide that in this situation the focus of his work. The research has led to a the Board of Directors shall nominate a successOr greater understanding of muscular dystrophy and Presidentfor the next membershipmeeting. Further myastheniagravis. Muscular dystrophy leads to de- nominations from the floor are invited. It is antici- generation of muscles while myasthenia gravis pated that this action will be taken by the Board at causesgradual weakening and eventual paralysis of its February meeting and presentedto the member- face, neck, tongue and throat muscles. P O. Box 10391 ship in March. ActingVice Treasurer President Recnrding President Corr. Sec'y Sec.y ... 'Meet Me in San Diego' Thorsson will continue to superviseand maintain STUARTLILLICO BARBARAKUEMPER the Society's computer system. He was instrumental Plans for the 20th annual meeting of the Western Society of Malacologists (WSM) have been an- RAYMcKINSEY in installing and programming the computer, and . OOROTHYWENOT has assistedOffice Manager Helyn Toben in compu- nounced.Dates: June 21 to 25; place: the campusof Office Manager HELYNTOBEN terizing the Society's records and mailing lists. San Diego (California) State University. Directors "In addition to a regular program of contributed GEORGECOOK JIM ROHRBACH Spring in Waikiki papers on Mollusca, there will be at least three OLIVESCHOENBERG INGABORGSHIELDS The Waikiki Aquarium in Honolulu has an- special symposia, with a fourth in the planning Honorary Directors nounced a "Spring of Discovery" program for the stage," according to WSM President Carole M. E. R. CROSS OONALOOAN BRUCECARLSON The Society currently meets the first Wednesday of each months ahead. It features opportunities for families Hertz of San Diego. month in Honolulu to learn and explore the shores and reefs together. Non-professionalhighlights include field trips to VISITORS WELCOME! Activities for adults include day and night reef San Diego beaches(dependent on tides) and fossil Hawaiian Shell News is issued free to members of the Society. Postage rates have been computed and added to walks, and courseson marine mammals, the study sites; the traditional auction of molluscs and books; membership dues. Individual copies of any issue may be of Hawaiian seaweeds,and shorelinegeology. obtained. free of charge. by qualified individuals for bona fide displays of exhibits and posters, and a series of research projects. The Aquarium also is sponsoring a line-up of social events culminating in the annual banquet at Members outside the United States are asked to pay with a bank cheque (not a draft) payable to HMS on a U.S. bank. natural history study tours. On the schedule are the San Diego Natural History Museum. (Be sure your name and address appear on the cheque.) snorkeling on the Hawaiian island of Maui, diving Ms. Hertz, c/o the Natural History Museum, P. HMS DUES FDR 1987 Includes delivery of HSN on the reefs of Palau in the Western Pacific,' Fiji O. Box 1390, San Diego, CA 92112 can fill you in -US Zip Code Addresses (Handled as bulk mail. and Papua New Guinea, and sea kayaking in the on details. not forwardable to new address) $17.50 -Canada and Mexico (First Class mail) 22.00 Galapagosand the waters of British Columbia. Several members have called attention to a mis- statement in Donald Dan's recent forecast on up- -All Other Countries 24.00 Write the Waikiki Museum Education Depart- coming East Coast shell shows (see HSN November OPTIONAL DELIVERY OF HSN BY AIR MAIL (Dues included) ment, 2777 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815 1986, p. 14). The Conchologists of America re- -U.S. Zip Code Addresses 22.00 for details. cently discontinued "indirect cash incentives" (de- -Bahamas. Bermuda. Caribbean Islands. Central aler discount awards)at their annual displays. America. Colombia & Venezuela 28.00 The Useful Cone -Europe (except USSR. Latvia. Lithuania. & Estonia). Morocco. Algeria. Tunisia. Libya. Probably the first two warnings given to the be- Pleasethe 'Crowd' Egypt. Malta. and South America (except ginning collector anywherein the South Pacific are Dr. Tom Burch pausedin his efforts to learn the Colombia & Venezuela) 30.50 -Africa (except North Africa). Australia. New "Never turn your back on the ocean" and "Beware intricacies of editing HSN to send the following Zealand. Asia. USSR. Estonia. Latvia. Lithuania. Israel. Middle East. Indian Ocean of the beautiful but often deadly Conus geographus message: and Pacific Ocean Islands lacking U.S Zip Linnaeus." Now comes word that this marine snail "I received an interestingletter from Dr. Norman Codes 33.50 may assist mankind in understandingtwo deadly Paschallof DeLand, Florida. He wrote of a conver- -ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP (For family members; HMS card but no HSN) 1.00 diseases, muscular dystrophy and myasthenia sation he had with my father, the late John Q. Articles of interest to shell collectors are solicited Con- Burch. in 1959 when my father was editor of the tents are not copyrighted Republication. with credit to HSN. gravis, is invited Early Dutch colonizers of the East Indies trea- Minutes of the ConchoIogical Club of Southern The opinions expressed in signed articles in Hawaiian Shell News are those of the authors and do not necessarily sured C. geographus for its elegant 10 to 15 cm- California. Father apparently 'warned' Dr. Paschall represent policies of the Hawaiian MaJacological Society. long shell, but soon learned its sting is capableof to presentonly what the 'museumcrowd' wanted to Advertisements are accepted at the rate of US $20.00 per column-inch/issue. payable in advance. Discounts are of- killing a human. There is no known antidote, noted hear if he expectedhis articles to be published. fered for six and twelve insertions a recent issueof Asiaweek. "I was never aware of such a policy. I assureDr. Typesetting. composition and printing of Hawaiian Shell News is done by Fisher Printing Co., Honolulu. Few people know more aboutC. geographus than Paschalland anyoneelse that the only people whom longtime HMS member Dr. Baldomero Olivera, a I hope to please are the members of HMS, There molecular biologist at the University of Utah. In undoubtedly will be changesin editorial policy and fifteen years of researchthat beganat the University proceduresbut they should not be marked. I invite of the Philippines, Olivera has been unlocking se- questions,suggestions and advice from anyone." crets of the snail that are helping to fight diseasesof Advice from the retiring editor: "Pay attention to the nervous system. The piscivorous cone, he ex- that 'museumcrowd' but don't take it too seriously. olains. baits fish "with a sort of Ion!! oroboscis. Thev were amateursonce. too." February, 1987 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS Page 3
By A. JEFFS AUCKLAND - With only 200 animals left alive, the Far Northern Flax Snail, Placostylus am- bagiosus, is close to extinction. These snails live in small patches of native vegetation around the coast of the northern tip of New Zealand. Top: Shell ofCystiscus huna Kay, 1979. Flax snails hide in thick, moist leaf litter during /'. the day and emerge at night to feed upon freshly Right: Radula ofCystiscus huna Kay, 1979. """'------"'" fallen leaves. As a ground dweller the flax snail has developed a large (70 mm) heavy shell which serves By GARY A. COOVERT* to protect the animal. Their shells have a rich red- Cystiscus huna Kay, 1979, was describedby E. brown exterior and pink-orange interior. The snail Alison Kay in Hawaiian Marine SheDs, 1979, pp. 286-287. She placed the speciesin the genus "Cys- ticus," an obvious misspelling. The type of the Mr. Jeffs appeal concerns a rather unique and I worthwhile project that should be called to the at- genusCystiscus is C. cystiscusRedfield, 1870 (new I v name for C. capensis Stimpson, 1865, not M. tention of HMS members. The New Zealand Flax capensis Krauss, 1848). [See completediscussion in ~ Snails are a unique biological resource. If we can- Coovert, 1986.] Stimpson, 1865, figured the shell, not succeed in conservation within a liberal and animal, and radula (pl. 8, fig. 2). It appearsthat C. enlightenedcountry such as New Zealand. we prob- huna is indeedcongeneric. ably cannot anywhere. Kay describedthe holotype of C. huna as having Alan Solem a length of 1.75 mm and a diameterof I mm. Spec- Field Museumof Natural History imens that I have measuredrange in length from I t'\ Chicago i 2.75 to 2.85mm with a maximumwidth (at widest I point of lip) of 1.20 to 1.24 mm. The shell is itself is smoke grey with wrinkled skin. Their large translucent white, glossy, subpyriform, very broad Several other species should be compared with C. size and longevity (12 to 18 years) are the keys to at the shoulder, with the spire low and rounded to kana. Cystiscus pulvis (Jousseaume, 1875) and C. the survival of the species. The pool of large adult rarely flat and immersed. One specimenbefore me tomlini (Bavay, 1917), both Indo-Pacific in distribu- snails in a population is capable of surviving long has a produced,pointed spire. tion, are similar but are more cylindrical, lack the dry summers while still continuing to lay eggs. The aperture is narrow, somewh~t wider an- distinct parietal callus build-up of C. kana, and Placostylus snails are hermaphroditic, ie. possess teriorly and completely lacks an anterior notch. The have evenly rounded columellar plications inside the both female and male sex organs, and are also outer lip is thickened, especially at the posterior aperture. These two species also differ in size and believed to be capable of either self fertilization or third, but lacks a "margin" externally. The thickest further details of the columellar plications. sperm storage for up to three years. These are all part of the lip at the posterior third is set back from Kay described C. kana from the type locality of adaptations to ensure that breeding continues even the edge and is due to the incurving of the lip edge Barbers Point, Oahu, from a depth of 50 m. I have though the number of mating encounters between in the adult shell. The lip narrows anteriorly and (or have examined) specimens from Waikiki, Oahu snails may be low. This may be because of the completely lacks any trace of denticles. The post- (10-15 ft), Honolulu, Oahu, and Maile Point, Oahu small population size and the short distances snails erior end of the lip is usually slightly lower than the (25 ft in dead coral). travel in the space of a year (2 to 3 meters). apex, rarely flared and higher. The extremely minute radula was extracted from The breeding season lasts for a short period dur- The columella has three distinct plications fol- one of the Honolulu specimens and is herein figured ing the summer. The eggs are limey shelled and are lowed by a weaker one, then one to three granules for the first time. It consists of 178 rachidian plates, about pea size. They are laid in clutches of 10 to 70 or bumps on the edge of the parietal callus. This each arched plate measuring 0.012 mm in width and eggs and are buried in loose soil under thick leaf perietal callus is distinct, especially posteriorly, ap- bearing a total of 10 cusps. The quite distinctive litter. The eggs hatch directly into juvenile snails. Natural predators are few. Introduced animals - pearing as a low hump at about the posteriorthird if animals of Cystiscus cystiscus and Euliginella an- pigs, rats, mice, thrushes and blackbirds - are viewed at a sharp angle from the posterior end. The gasi have been figured (Stimpson, 1865, pI 8, fig 2 callus deposit causesthe first three columellar plica- and Laseron, 1957, fig 34) today largely responsible for the decline in snail tions to be produced such that they are usually Accurate observations and drawings of the animal numbers. The clearing of coastal bush for farmland concavein profile within the aperture. of C. kana would add much to our knowledge of and the introduction of cattle has severely reduced Kay compared her speciesonly with Granulina this group. Hawaiian collectors take note! areas suitable for snail habitation. vitrea (Laseron, 1957) and Euliginella angasi The author wishes to acknowledge Holly K. The long-term survival of this fascinating animal (Crosse, 1870), both from Australia. Granulina vit- Coovert for her assistance and the drawings included relies heavily on implementing conservation mea- rea, being in a different genus, is quite distinct in with this article. sures now, before snail numbers slip further down- many ways, most notably in having a minutely den- hill. Conservation could easily be accomplished by ticulate lip which fuses with and concealsthe spire REFERENCES planting trees, controlling predators and fencing out apically. Kay, in comparing her species with E. Coovert, Gary A., 1986, Nov. "Notes on the GenusCys- stock from the snail colonies. This would cost little tiscus and its type species," Marginelfa marginalia, vol. angasi, states that C. huna differs ". . . by the I, no. 5, pp. 20-24. compared to most conservation projects. broader shoulder proportionate to the length of the Kay, E. Alison, 1979. Hawaiian Marine SheDs;Reef and HMS members and others can help save these shell and the lack of a parietal callus" (p. 287). Shore Fauna of Hawaii, Section 4: MoDusca. B. P. snails from extinction by buying a 'Save Our Snails' This should have read' 'presence" of a parietal Bishop Mus. Spec. Publ. 64(4). Bishop Museum Press, sticker (see above). Proceeds from the sale of the callus, since this is a distinct featureof C. huna and Honolulu, Hawaii. 653 pp, 195 figs. stickers go towards replanting and fencing areas not seenin E. angusi. Laseron, C. F., 1957, July. "A New Classification of the where the snails live. In the past stock have eaten Actually, the two species are otherwise fairly Australian Marginellidae (Mollusca), with a Review of the natural vegetation. The shortage of food plants Species from the Solanderianand Dampierian Zoogeog- is now limiting snail numbers. Supplementary plant- close and very likely are congeneric,a subject to be raphical Provinces," Australian Journ. Marine and taken up more fully in another paper. The shell Freshwater Res. vol 8(3) pp 275-311, figs 1-84. ings should help save these animals from extinction. shapes and lip formations of the two species are Stimpson, William, 1865. "On Certain Genera and For further information contact the writer c/o similar although quite variable in E. angasi (see Families of ZoophagousGasteropods," Amer. Journ. Save Our Snails Society, Zoology Dept., University Laseron, 1957, pp. 283-294). Conch., vol. I, no. I, pp. 55-64, pIs. 8-9. of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, New Zealand.
~ Page 4 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS February. 1987
CARRIER SHELLS (Cont'd from Pa~ 1) Definite differences in selectivity exist among the By PETER V AN PEL. carrier shells of Oahu, Molokai and the remainder EGMOND AAN ZEE, HOLLAND - This time of the Hawaiian Islands. Off Oahu, where Halimeda we made our Australian shelling trip in the spring so is abundant, it was preferred although molluscan that we could enjoy the wild flowers near Perth. shells, corals, echinoderms, and limestone fragments Banksia, Bottlebrush, and Kangaroo Paw all of the appropriate size were present in the sedi- showed their beautiful colors and forms. I guess I ments. took about 500 color photos of them. But that is another part of nature and after all we were there to The abundanceof Xenophora off Oahu was esti- collect shells. mated by comparing the number of stations sorted We were lucky to get a comfortable camper van from the depths at which Xenophora were taken and went along the coast to Shark Bay. We hurried (85-200 fathoms) and the number of specimensper to the sites at which we collected last time and haul. We found Xenophora in only 10 out of 32 found that the shells were still there - the Bailers, stations sorted from those depths. Out of the 21 the Wentletraps, and the Creepers. We were very specimensfrom those stations only one was taken pleased to be back. Pilar citrina (Lamarck, 1818) alive. was abundant as were other species of the Veneridae family, as well as Lucina, Cardium, and Tellina. Many live and dead specimenswere taken off I also did a lot of skin diving which yielded many Molokai and Maui as shown by records from the shells like Strombus campbeUi Griffith & Pidgeon, Albatross and TownsendCromwell. The great num- 1834, Cymbiola nivosa (Lamarck, 1804), different bers of Xenophora given to the Bishop Museum species of creepers such as Rhinoclavis fasciata from the NMFS included some live taken as well as (Bruguiere, 1792), R. vertagus (Linnaeus, 1758), Hapalochloena maculosa 'at bay' many dead adult specimensbut from few stations. and Pseudovertagus aluco cumingi (Adams, 1855). Very few of the specimenscollected with the larger . . . and jetting homewards. In this way I also discovered a live Syrinx aruanus gear of the government ships were juveniles. Bot- (Linnaeus, 1758). Meeting one in very shallow tom trawling was done with 41 foot shrimp trawls water (about ¥2 meter) was a beautiful sight! towed for two hours and covering distancesof more I knew of the deadly octopus Hapalochlaena than two miles. maculosa Hoyle, 1883, from the literature, but I had never met one myself until this trip. I was turning Janthina VII collected with a 30 inch dredge stones looking for shells when suddenly I was aware towed for 10 to 15 minutes over a terrain that was that this dangerous octopus was very close to me. much more difficult to work without getting stuck But what a disappointment! Instead of an ugly and losing gear. Even so, we have proportionally monster there was a beautiful creature with many more juveniles, so each method has its value. B\lt in blue maculations. It did not attack me but tried to examining the size of the gear, depths trawled, the get away. areasand times attemptedit can be seenthat carrier This was an animal of about four inches, plus the shells are not abundantin Hawaiian waters, occur- tentacles. I tried to touch it (with my fins). The fine ring only in certain areas and are not easily found blue circles expanded into glowing rings of irides- by conventional ship gear. A better estimation of cent blue fire - as a warning, I guess. After a abundancewould be by use of submersibles. couple of minutes I left it alone. Hapalachlaena maculosa did the same with me.
LITERATURE CITED *Paralleweg 18, 1931 EW, Egmond aan Zee, Holland. Ponder, W. F., 1983. Xellophorldae of the World. The Australian Mus. Mem. 17:1-126, figs I-52, Sydney, NWS, Australia. HMS JANUARY MEETING The Hawaiian Malacological Society held its first 1987 meeting at the Waikiki Aquarium, returning to an earlier home after an absence of 15 years. We were warmly welcomed by Aquarium personnel, and old timers among us were generally pleased to be back. The February meeting will be there also. The Society is using a well-equipped, enlarged classroom on the service side of the building. In the old days, we met in the main aquarium foyer which was inconveniently laid out and inadequate for big turnouts. In addition, residents of the adjoining sea lion pool occasionally insulted the speakers. For the moment, HMS will keep its office at the First United Methodist Church, with the same postal address and the same lack of a telephone. Visiting members will find the Waikiki Aquarium convenient to hotels. February, 1987 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS Page 5
By AURORA RICHARDS. strips of its coast remain practically unexplored or pattern from specimens taken in Hansa Bay, in KIMBE - New Britain, a rugged, mountainous poorly known. From the air, the occasional clear- Rabaul and in the Solomons (see photo). ings of logging stations show up like open wounds. 580 kin-long island lying to the north of Papua New New Britain, of course, is also famous for its As there are few roads, however, most of the coun- Guinea proper, sits at the edge of a deep oceanic colorful land snails. Like many other islands of the is still undamaged. trench. The string of live volcanoes along its ~ Pacific, it has been the sceneof an ecological disas- It is also a land of contrasts.The Gazelle Penin- ter in the proliferation of Achatina fulica Bowdich, northern coast constitute most of the Bismarck Vol- sula, at the northeasternend, is heavily populated the giant African snail. These populations seem to canic Arc that stretches from Rabaul to Wewak. by the Tolai people, who have reachedthe highest Written records are available of eruptions by 14 go through cycles of explosive expansion. During level of development in Papua New Guinea. The volcanoes with increased intensity in the last 50 these phases,our gardensare invaded by thousands rest of the island is sparsely populated and little years; 38 more may erupt again. Earthquakes are of them, gnawing away plants indiscriminately. daily occurrences and part of the humdrum of life. developed. A. fulica has no natural predators here and poison The south coast is not volcanic. Its raised coral The locals say that when the "Mother" (Rabaul) is powdersor spraysare equally lethal to other species terraces are great for snorkeling. That coast Idyllic at rest, the "Father" (a strombolian counterpart near and birds. All we can do is collect them in copra appearing islets of dazzling sand and coconut are Kimbe) will burp and belch, and vice versa. Lately, bags and throw them out at seato fatten the fish! strewn at random over the sparkling sea. At the however, this popular belief has not proved true. In Hawaii, Euglandina rosea Ferussacwas intro- main village of Kandrian, a sparsepopulation vege- Both Father and Mother have been burping a lot in duced as a predatory speciesof snail. Malacologists tateson scantyresources. soon realized their endemic snail fauna was dwindl- unison. In the Western Province the only coastal road From the little planes and 'copters that hop across ing alarmingly and that, after all, imported predators runs along 80 km through the Harcros palm oil valleys and between peaks, one has a panoramic could be as destructiveas A. fulica. plantation with its refinery and mill. Biologists, view of the thick rain forests that blanket the island. It is feared that endemic land-snail colonies are entomologists and agronomists from the United getting thinner here, although this can only be ob- The forest canopy may be 35 or 40 meters high, Kingdom are busy improving production, and fight- served in coastal areas. What is happening in the with some emergent trees reaching 50 m, giving ing pests and diseases.They sometimescome across shelter to amazingly varied fauna. An occasional centre of the island is anybody's guess. Species new species of insects, new variants of plants or restricted to a small area or a specific tree might glimpse of the crystal ribbon of a fast-flowing mountain stream reminds one that this is a land of wild orchids. becomeextinct even before we hear about them. We Talaseaon the Willaumetz Peninsulais part of the don't have to go that far. Our own gardensused to plenty; the rivers are full of delicious fish and fresh volcanic belt. It has bubbling sulfuric mud swamps, be favorite haunts of Rhynchotrochus wiegmanni water mollusks. geysers,fumaroles and a vast crater lake, formed by von Martens, a bright jewel of West New Britain. The annual average rainfall of 4000 to 5000 mm, a colossal eruption a century ago. Amazingly, it Today specimenshave becomehard to find! continuous heavy rain (except in July, August, and contains crocodiles. As in the Rabaul caldera, the And there is more bad news. The Papuanmain- September) and constant temperatures up to 400 C sea around Talasea harbours a hoard of unusual land had seemed to be spared the plague of (104' F) in the shade make New Britain one of the variantsof seashellspecies in an exceptionalhabitat. Achatina fulica. Recently, biologists in Lae re- lushest places on earth. It is a naturR;1hiding spot A spectacular''form" of Cypraea coxeni hesperina ported specimensof gigantic size in their plantation for species yet undiscovered. Although the island is Schilder & Summers, 1963, is found in shallow along the coast. Upon investigation they found the only 85 kin at its widest, some of its interior and waters on muddy sand, in short seaweedand vol- snail had been introduced by the Tolai who carry "Box 65, Kimbe, West New Britain, PapuaNew Guinea. canic debris. It definitely differs in shape, size and copra bags in coastalboats.
Some variations (below) in Cypraea coxeni Cox: i, Photos: Richords from the Solomonislands; 2 and 4, form hesperina from Rabaul; 3, from the Solomons, Lower row, three variants from Talasea, New Britain. On the right, some endemic New Britain terrestrials: 5, Mecyntera sp., 6, Placostyla sp., 7, ?Nesohanina malleata Rensch, 8. 9 and iO. Megalacron spp, Bottom row, Rynchotrochus wiegmanni van Mar- t"n. Page 6 HA W AllAN SHELL NEWS February, 1987
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~UEL O. _TILLA 19A11/""C,.,. Quo"", Cily JOOI !'Iri/ippinrl 0..,., of qwtily Philippi".. Spoci_n Sh.II. B/ac. CarolBongf.., Chot.,., N«./ac" - & RN CarolC_n, N«.'oc.., Bongin Sh.1IChat.,., N«./ac.., Bongin Sh.// Pill Bo', LonIPS-. "'P" M¥ighl Kop;,C_I.,., P/oc Hopkin- 511#//PlcllNn
TOM SHEPHERD Dealer in Marine Specimen Shells. Buy Sell Exchange 2222 Beech Street Virginia Beach, Va. 23451
Displays At Most Shell Shows By A. J. DA MOTTA- without question that color or pattern alone cannot be relied upon for establishingthe status of a conid DONAI..D DAN HONGKONG - Dr. Henry E. Coomans of the - - QUALITY SPECIMEN SHELLS Zoological Museum, Amsterdam, recently adduced species! 2620 Lou Anne Court . West Friendship, MD 21794 evidenceof distinctive characteristicsto differentiate I suggest that both C. bizona and C. (301) 442-1242 Inquiries Welcome - No Lists among three allied species - CO""S anlfllllls, C. aequipunctalus are conspecific and do not represent distinct species. I further suggestthat the two have bizona, and C. aeqllipllnctlItIIs [HSN October 1986, FLORIDA LlGUUS: WORLD'S MOST BEAU- p. 8]. He considered these characterssufficient to no specific relationship with C. annalus. The latter TIFUL TREE SNAil. Limited number of superb classify them as three separatelyrecognizable shells. has a conic spire with round sloping shoulders and shells from my personal collection. Free price is more appropriately allied to C. pulicarius, having list. To permit a more precise comparison and assess- a depressedturbinate spire with an angular, coronate ARCHIE l. JONES ment of the points 1 want to raise, Coomans's 8025 SW 62 Ct., Miami, Fl 33143, USA sketches should be replaced with reproductions of shoulder, often even with similar larger donings. At this point, we are confronted with several the original type figures. These are shown here: (I) Shelling with Schetling C. arenatlls (Ency, MetbOO. Hist. Nat. des Verso conclusionsto review: Tableau 320, f. 4, Hwass, 1792 - lectotype); (2) I. As we must discount pattern differences being holotype of C. bizona (Basteria, Vol. 45, No. 1-3, an acceptableprimary feature for separatingthe two, 1981, p. 49 fig. 131a & 13Ib); (3) C. then C. aequipunctatus is the senior taxon availa- ble. This makes C. bizona a varietal form thereof, z< aeqllipllnctatlls (Mem. Mus. Roy. d'Hist. Nat. de '-' PO 81* 68 . Beig. Vol. II. Fasc. 18. PI. I, f. 2. Dautzenberg, just as C. undilla, C. mesoklltharos and C. annosa ---'-M"'£ «W,...,.,... 1937); and (4) C. plllicarills (Tableau 320, f. 2, are merely varietiesof C. arenalus. 2. BecauseC. aequipunctat/ls, in its polymorphic Hwass, 1792). '-"mal ae ~e~ ~"terpri~ forms, ranges widely in the Indo-Pacific region, a At the time they proposedC. bizona Coomans, P 0 eox 482. Dep H West Hempstead. NY 11552. USA Moolenbeek and Wils mapped out a distributional subspecific designation is inappropriate. The shell needs to be elevated to the status of a full, distinct Outstanding quality and personal service on range (Basterla Vol. 45, No. 1-3, 1981, p. 17) wofIdwide specimen shells Raritiesara our spe- ~ cially Freeprice list on request without being aware that many populations of C. species, a congenerin the C. puliCariMScomplex at ~~us ~ Tel. 1518\ 481-0451 bizona and C. aeqllipllnctatlls forms also were par with C. annallls. 3. If Dr. Coomanshas a mind to claim a statusof found abundantlyin Thailand, Philippines, Sumatra, and Okinawa among other places. 1 sent some spec- separategeographic population for C. bizona, then LEONARD c. HILL imens to Dr. Coomans,but the authorshad only this such a distinction would also apply for each of the 6713 S.W.113thPlace to say (Basteria Vol. 46, No. 1-4, 1982): "these other populations in the East Indo-Pacific region, Miami, Florida 33173 shells have pronouncednodules at the shoulder and thereby introducing classification of an extensive grouping at subspecific level based entirely on a -- two dark bands on the last whorl, but the shape of FREE LI~! Sprcia/ri,. - Con,..Mur,x" Mi"r. the body whorl is somewhat convex (not straight) zoogeographicidentity. and the pattern is not uniformly spotted as a typical C. a. bizona from East Africa." The specimenof C. bizona 1 sent may not have been an exact replica of the holotype, but this is to ignore the extreme variability of pattern and shape seen in this highly polymorphic species. 1 have, in fact, found colonies comprised of the two-banded (light and dark) "bizona" pattern and the three- banded' 'aeqllipllntactlls" coexisting in the same locality, including intermediatesinterlinking one to the other. Surely by now it is generally accepted I
. J 118 Peninsula Center. 67 M DELAND, FL - The late E. H. Bryan of Hono- Panama5 (3 alive), Hawaii 7 (2 alive), Guam 3, lulu in 1959 presenteda check list of Epitoniidae Ceylon 2, Gulf of Elat, Israel 2, Taiwan 1, Marshall that had been recorded from the Hawaiian Chain Islands 1, Japan I, Mexico 17, Fiji 1, Samoa 1, [HSN Feb. 1959, Suppl p. 8] Even after 27 years, Galapagos2, Gulf of California 2. Measurementson one of the 16 specieslisted, Epitonium arestrum, is these specimenswere: angle of spire ranged from still a mystery. I will present some data which I 38° to 52°, varices 6 to 8, whorls 4 to 8, length 10 hope will help clarify the statusof this species. to 17 mm, and width 4 to 10 mm. Epitonium arestrum Tinker, 1952. Epitonium alatum (Sowerby, 1844) Tinker, 1952, showed a picture of an epitoniid Kay, 1979, p. 153, describedthis speciesas fol- labeledEpitonium species but stated "the name of lows: "Length 17 mm; diameter, 8 mm. Shell: coni- Epitonium arestrum is used by some to designate cal, obese, without a basal disc; narrowly umbili- this species." Tinker was probably referring to E. cate; costae angled and hooked, intercostal spaces arestum which is one of Dall's "manuscript smooth; white. Spire: protoconch of two or more names." This was not properly validated and is thus conical whorls; teleoconchof six convex whorls, the invalid. Kay, 1979, states that E. arestum Tinker, abapical whorls enlarged; suture strongly con- 1952, is a synonym of E. alatum (Sowerby, 1844). stricted. Sculpture: strong, well-separated,platelike Helen DuShane,in a personalcommunication, how- costae angled and hooked at the shouldersof the ever, states that the specimenfigured by Tinker is E. "ares/urn" Photo: Bishop Museum whorls; intercostal spacessmooth. Aperture: circu- E. replicatum (Sowerby, 1844). Neither Bryan, lar, outer lip with a hook near the suture;operculum 1959, nor Kay, 1979, showE. replicatum as occur- dark brown. Color: white, occasionallywith broadly ring in Hawaii. diffuse brown bands.' In twenty-five years of visiting and examining My private collection data cards show 21 speci- collections at major museums and universities, I mens worldwide: Australia 10, Philippine Islands 7, have recorded data on four specimenslabeled E. Malaysia 1, Solomon Islands 1 and Gulf of Aqaba arestum: 2. Measurementsof these specimenswere: angle of Bernice P. Bishop Museum specimenBPBM No. spire 35° to 56°, whorls 4 to 17, varices 5 to 10, 66132, from Pearl and Hermes Reef, 1914; BPBM length 12 to 24 mm, width 8 to 12 mm. No. 196063 from Kualoa, Oahu; BPBM No. 196064 from the Hawaiian Islands, and Field Epitonium ares/rum vs. Epitonium replicatum Museum of Natural History, Chicago, No. 88603 I do not believe that E. ares/rum (or E. ares/urn) from Oahu, Hawaii. is a juvenile E. replicatum. I have four live-taken This last had no umbilicus, no body striata, and juvenile specimens of E. replicatum from Australia no basal disc or ridge. Whorls 6+, varices 8, length whose measurements are the same as the two spec- 10 mm, width 6 mm. imens of E. ares/urn in my private collection. These In addition, two specimensin my private collec- do not show coronation at the shoulders, are more tion which were collected in Hawaii prior to 1959 slender and only exhibit 7-8 varices and the oper- by Dr W. Kiser, a Navy physician, apparently are Photo: Paschall cula are all dark brown. It has been almost seven years since I received the same species. These have data as follows: Left: E. replicatum, right: E. alatum any specimens from Hawaii. I am sure someone in Spire Hawaii has found others of this beautiful little ~aIity angle Whorls Varices Length Width epitoniid which really needs a name and a proper 'Narae Bay'.. 44 4+1 9 9mm 5mm Epitonium replicatum (Sowerby, 1844) place in the world of conchology. This mystery can BarbersPt.. Oahu 42 4+2 11 9.5mm 5mm DuShane, 1974, pp. 43, 44, describedthis spe- be cleared up with help of collectors. Any speci- cies as follows: "Shell medium to large in size, mens sent to me will be returned to the owner after The second specimen was collected alive and had stout, conic, costae white, whorls dark gray on I identify them and record the data. the operculumin place. live-taken specimens; nuclear whorls 4, conical, My description of these specimensis as follows: glassy; postnuclear whorls 5 to 7, swollen, dis- LITERATURE CITED Bryan, E. H. Jr., 1959. "Provisional check list of Gas- shell short, obese, and compactly turbinate, nonum- united, costae 7 to 8, white thin, strongly reflected tropods recordedfrom the Hawaiian Chain." Haw, SheD bilicate, no basal disc or ridge, no body striata; to form a canal behind each, spanning the suture, News vol. 7 Suppl pp 1-25, vol. 8 Suppl pp 26-29. DuShane, Helen, 1974. "The Panamic-Galapagan varices thickened, slightly reflected and angled at fusing with costae on upper whorls, narrow on Epitoniidae. " Veliger vol. 16 Suppl pp 79-84, 154 the shoulderof the whorl, laminated and continuous whorls, greatly expandedat shoulder, anterior faces photos, I map, 5 figs. Kay, E. Alison, 1979. Hawaiian Marine SheDsReef and in about a quarter turn about the spire; suture deep finely striated; suture very deep; aperture slightly Shore Fauna of Hawaii MoDusca, 653 pp, 195 figs. but not open; aperture is ovoid, operculum light oval; outer lip greatly expanded to form a broad, Bishop Museum SpecialPubl. 64(4), Honolulu. yellow, thin, corneusand paucispiral. oval margin, free of the preceding whorl, resting Sowerby, G. B., 1844. "Monograph of the Genus Scalaria." Thesaurus Conchyliorum, London, vol 1:4 against costae, produced at the shoulder and at the pp 83-146. base; operculum dark, horny. Length [of shell], 6'/2 Tinker, S. W., 1952. Pacific Sea SheDs, Charles Tuttle Co., Rutland, Vermont. 240 pp, many figs. *2695 FrancesDr., DeLand,Fla. 32724,USA. to 15 mrn; width 4 to 10 mm.' **'Narae Bay' is not listed in any of the atlasesor gazet- [Other articles on Epitoniids in the HSN are by teers at the B. P. Bishop Museum that I consulted.(Editor, My private collection data cards show 67 speci- McDowall, April, 1981 and Takahashi, December USN) mens of E. replicatum worldwide: Australia 22, 1985.] Page 8 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS February, 1987 XENOPHORmAE OF THE WORLD. By W. F. Ponder, 1983. The Australian Museum Mem. 17:1-126. figs 1-52, Sydney, NWS, Australia. US$18.25plus postage. Reviewed by BEATRICE L. BURCH '{Ii ~~8Bpa~~n~~~~~~~ka~i~~J~~liPPines Xenophoridae,the tropical and subtropicalcarrier 'W PO Box 5035. Makati Central Post Office Tels- 864-294/864-140/863-825/863-826 shell family, has the intriguing habit of selecting PHILIPPINE SPECIMEN SEASHELLS calcareousobjects from the sedimentsupon which it we sell - common & rare beautief. - philippine browsesand securingthem to the shell margins. specimen seashells carefully selected for every col- lector's satisfaction at reasonable prices. In this timely review of the family Dr. Please write us for your requirements now! W. F. Ponder, one of the best-known of Austra- WEST COAST CURIO CO. lia's corps of malacologists, separates25 geologi- 1940 Maple Ave., Costa Mesa, Calif. 92627 cally Recent species and subspecies of "13 miles south of Disneyland". Longest estab- Xenophoridae, using taxonomically distinguishable lished shell dealer in the U.S.A. More than 3,000 shell characters, radulae, opercula and anatomical species stocked regularly. No lists - No mail or- characteristics.Fossil shell recordsare presentedand By CHRIS K. TAKAHASm der. Buy or browse - you're always welcome! the biology and habits of the family are reviewed. A COME IN AND SEE US schematic table presents possible relationships of The Chinese umbrella shell (Umbraculum - - ~ Recent species.Also included is a workable key to sinicum Gmelin, 1791) is common throughout the SPECIMEN SHELLS Recent speciesand subspecies.Photographs - dor- Indo-Pacific region. Here in Hawaii, however, less DECORATIVE SHELLS sal, ventral and lateral - of the shell as well as than two a year are reported. The umbrella shell Worldwide,Wholesale, Retail. Buy, Sell. scanningelectron microscopephotos of radulae are occupies labyrinths of rich coral growth in areasof Price lists US $1 Requestsaccepted included. There are good line drawings of anatomy, constant water movement caused by currents and FRANZ SEFCSIK P. O. Box 59,1091 Vienna,Austria radulaeand opercula. surge. Phone (222) 3727024 Extensive worldwide museum holdings and Umbraculum sinicum is characterizedby a shell worldwide distributional charts are shown for each that seems too small for the animal. The foot ex- species and subspecies.An appendix, coauthored tends beyond the shell's perimeter. Color ranges with J. Cooper, lists the Tertiary and Cretaceous from brown to black with white spots covering the foot. Interior of the shell is often darker than the speciesin taxa assignedto the family Xenophoridae. A huge bibliography, plus an index for speciesand white exterior. The mantle is a gray fuzzy matting genera, round off this satisfying account of a fas- that often isn't exposed. To date I've found four specimens off Maile cinating family of mollusks closely related to Calyp- Point and Diamond Head reef, Honolulu, inside CORAL traeidae. Finest quality - Lowest prices - Wholesale - Retail coral ledges in 20 feet. HSN editor Stu Lillico has 35 tons in stock: California Rose, Purple, found specimensat Ala Moana Beach Park in the Red, Blue, Elephant Ear, Many more. Visa, M.C. heart of downtown urban Honolulu. The outer RUSE CORAL & SHELL IMPORTS COQUILLAGES ET MOLLUSQUES D'AN- 311 Walnut Ave., P. O. Box 775 HM perimeter of coral reefs in 10 to 40 feet are where Huntington Beach, CA 92648 GOLA. By S.GoFas, J. Pinto Afonso & M. Bran- U. sinicumthrive. 1-714-969-4817 dao. Universidade Agostinho Neto/Elf Aquitaine Angola. 145 pages, color, hardbound. US$29. The bibliography of modern studies of the region where the cold Benguela Current meets the warm West African waters is thin. The beaches are mostly sandy, the occasional rocky areas are impoverished. To the north are cliffs. There has been little to attract malacologists. Pierre Bernard's Shells of Gabon (1984) was a welcome effort. Now comes Couquillages et Mollusques d' An- gola to carry on the study. Written in both French and Portuguese, it provides a general overview of Angola's molluscan fauna. Drawings, and black- and-white and color photos figure 116 species. A list of some 550 species found in the area follows. The fact that about 350 lack positive identification suggests the amount of work still to be done. The book acknowledges the collaboration of the government of Angola with a private French oil company in its compilation and production. The product is the first good overview of this little known region. Jean Claude Cailliez HMS member Cailliez reports that he has found UNIY- ERS SOUS-MARIN, Koninklijke Baan 90, S-8460 Kok- sidjde, Belgium, a good sourceof Europeanshell books. It publishesa regular catalog of new issues. ~9!1 ON - J8podW!-SU8W!:ledS 'e,WOI!IV:) U! ~ IIeqs 8~!IWn8SnW .,. 8t8tdWOOISOW pue tse6Je, ~ --~ MS!" JOQJ8H S8t86uy SOl U! ueqM 'SA8P L - "69~-~&9 (&~~) .--"'/.- ..'\.Y-3w 'rung.. Sv3H-i" IMQ 'DAK3 JOOJRLI 'N,. C~ --- t;/ P~~!\{A\ eJOIU .Y~nY 'a,b 'OISt 'qs!/1\ os A~1pJ! 's:)SnIlow U! Js~;JtU! roo Aofu~ ~II!A'UM°J. 'pJV,\\ IJJJoN'.IS .(~IUWIS(9£ 'YdW}JUD. OJ ;mu!Juo:l AUW - OOJ'SJ!;ltjJ pow - U~!II:lpUeJ8 roo J1IIp os 'uunvJ ow:)SnIlow SJ! pow ~d ~u!J1IW ~ 8UOWR uO!IRllnsuo:! jO Ilns:u R SY °:U;)A3S 001 J~1i J~g J~ ;ltjJ Jo Ju;}W~8voww (nJSS~J:II\S~IIJ ~ 01 AueW Aq II;)j :U;)i\\ 3S~ °SJOI~I°:! 1I:Jqs uodn JoJ Iv!Ju~s~ uo!JvUJJoJU!3p!AoJd II!/I\ ApmS J;Itj JO sJlns~ ~ JVIp ~oq ~M 'II~/I\ AUOl.Jg IIS!/I\ ~M ~Rld :U;)M SUO!I:!!.QS:U U!1!P;):! '1pRd ;)u!JR~ ;)t(1 .i'I'} 'e:ue ~AQISU~ v .M~~.~V.o..n'1~- oW_",..."'~"'1lI1' "'\1 UM~M~~.J~9 n~ In o~9..,.,..U'.. nl.'.rl~~ "".-0 UI. 'lI:II\s se 'pow Aqqoq v OWIp~J!I JO AV/I\ v JO ~OW sn JO AOWWOJ S;}WO:):lq8u!J~IIoo II~IIS .Ase~n SI~J .j:lO~ J~8 le;)J!) 31\1 UO 8U!I:I:III°:> J! OJ J1I~ S:)!J!A!J:>IIJ1IJnJ!JJed Jnoqv 1!1!J~ O! ~U°!J \('U!JUltsny "mO .(xx)v ~qs!JS 'AImO 113IIS jO lu3w38euew 3IJt JOj SUO!IRpU3WWO;);)J 8U! -s~b 8u!;q dnOJ8 AUY 'S;}W!J JV JlnJYJ!P ~AoJd IIpJ°N '061 xog 'O'd) 3UUqS!JS U! UO!I:>3S 3U!JUW -~ 01 3p!n8 , se s3!J1uno:> J3IJt° U! SIOO1UO:>II:lnS sell ApmS Ju=n:l J~ J1IIp 8u!s!Jdms JOII S! JI SM.dNO 3tp WOl} 3lquU!UlqO S! S!U 'I!Wl~ U }O 'V!JelJ p3:>U3!J:KfX3 3Aell OIjM nOA jO 350lIl WOJj IndO! Aue I -sny JO . -fwd 3IJt U!81dx3 01 aw p31qeua sell S!q.L 'UOSJ:Kf U! .i 3Inq!JIS!P 01 p3JOA83pU3 aA8q 1 q:>!qM 'S3!I!A9:>8 8a! YdW~BO Ie e:)e~ MeN ) -1:>311°:>UO 8u!ssn:>Oj ;)J!8UUO!IS3nb 8 p:ld°13A3P aA8q .J~~ J~!JJ'8 IvaJD «(1!J~P~.J)~1 puv (SMdNl) ~;)!A 1 35odJnd S!q1 JOd 'sqn\:> 113IIS ue!(8JIsny Ise3 31\1 -J3S ~.J!IPI!M puv ~ IVuO!IVN PUVISu~l) (~1I1S) jO SJ3QW3U! q1!M U098J:Kfo-o:> U! p.1l:>npuo:> 3Q ue:> 1I~t{s jO ~ lie 01U! 1100101 ~UO!SS!wwo:J u~ S,II!IVJ1sny U~~h\I~q UOS!V!I ~SOI;) S! ~J~1I1 '(9 d ApnlS aql jO IJ8d lue:>y!u8!s e 181\1 8u!doq we I set{ ApIIlS V .A:J!lod lu~w~8emlw uu~-8uOI dOI~/\~ 9861 '1d~ 'NSH) "SMdNb 01 YdW1l8D., ~1;)!1.IV 'j:lO~ 01 t{:J!t{M nOOn ~q Uo!!eUUOjU! le!!~sqns ~OW 311130!pnl:>D! . .(/1u= peal ~AvlI .(uw no.( 30!1I1 J~8 18;)J!) 31\1 UO AI!A!I:>8 3ql jO ;)JnI:>!d JaI83\:> , e JOj poou ~ saz!u8o~ MOU Vd~8D aIj.L -.(uv .Jo 1.J!lP 311101 . 'SJOI:I:III°:> qn\:J-uou 'SJ3Qwaw qn\:> Aq) 8U!I:>;)II°:> -~ aljl s~/\!!lI1u~~d~ qnl:J pUll SMdNb 'Vd~8D ..u.3N11V8 ANOA1I8 .(8 6 ~88d SJ\\3N "'ilHS NVIIV J\\VH L861 'f.JP.nJq~~ Page 10 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS February, 1987 Trochusseedt at Work By KOLINIO VOLA* tality rate for these shells was fairly high and an SOV A - About 700 living Trochus niloticus additional 500 were dropped by parachute onto Fakaofa Atoll by the New Zealand Air Force in Linnaeus, 1767 were sent by ship from Fiji to the May, 1986. The mortality rate was negligible. More Tokelau Island group in March, 1986. The Tokelaus than six months later the fisheries division of lie about 300 nautical miles north of Western Samoa. The sole source of revenue for the people of Western Samoa stated that all the Trochus were the Tokelaus traditionally has been copra. The alive and still at the site of liberation. Trochus were introduced in an effort to provide The map above, based on a chart by Brian Par- alternative revenue for the Tokelauans and also to kinson, shows many of the T. niloticus transplant give them an additional source of protein. operationsthat have been carried out this century. Because of the length of shipping time, the mor- [An interesting account of the value of the shal- tJohnny Appleseed, an early American folk hero, is cred- low water Trochus niloticus for meat and for pearly ited with having planted European apple seeds throughout buttons is given by Joyce Allen, 1959, Australian the Ohio Valley. Shells, Charles T. Branford Co., Boston, Mass. 'P.O. Box 3320, Lami, Fiji. T.B.l ~'"""""""""",,~ ~ ~ IT'S EASY TO SAY CREPIDULA !.. NEW YORK CITY ~ ," The unidentified cone or marginellid [USN Nov ~ (kre~ PI~ yu lub) ~ Shelletters 86 P 7], in my opinion is neither, but a worn, dead ~ A Pbone~lc. Guide ~ specimen of the Panamic province columbellid, ~ to P.ron!lnclatlon of tbe ~ Parametaria macrostoma(Reeve, 1858). ~ Scientific Names of ~ WHANGAREI, N .Z. Also, it is my opinion that the Conus species on ~ SEA SHELLS ~ My husbandand I always enjoy your magazine. page 6 is not pergrandis but a specimen of C. ~ and a Glossarr of Terms ~ As we don't live in the tropics any more, it keeps us in touch with the magic world of shells. sieboldii Reeve, 1848, [see Abbott and Dance's ~ Frequently Used in Malacology ~ We will gladly pay any subscriptioncharges that Compendium of Seashellsp 251]. A specimenof ~ by ~ come up. sieboldii in. the. America~ Museum of Natural.His- ~ JEAN M. CATE and SELMA RASKIN ~ tory collection IS 70 mrn In length, and nearly Iden- ~ ~ Mrs. D. Hayman tical in shell shapeand color pattern to the specimen ~ Published by Pretty Penny Press, Inc. ~ on page 6. I have seen few pergrandis, but none ~ P. O. Box 3890, Santa Monica, CA 90403 ~ were shapedlike the specimenillustrated. ~ $19.95 ~ SANTA ROSA, CA In the "News of New Species" column [p 10 of ~ Add $1.50 per book Postage& Handlina ~ Let's start HSN's new year by saying thanks to the same issue] the Teramachia photo should prop- ~ By Air Mall, add ~ the man who startedit - Clifton Weaver. erly be credited to Peter J. Harries; and the Lyria to ~ $3.00 per book In U.S.A., $4.00 forelan ~ John G. Saxby StephenButler. ~ California residents add 6% sales tax ~ WaiterSa2e -' ~ ""'"-~ The Society is profoundly thankful to "Cliff' Weaverfor his early and continued initiatives, not only with respectto HSN but to shell shows, special publications, financial support and as HMS presi- dent. Today, he is largely confined to his home by the aftermath of a stroke suffered early in the 1970s and is no longer able to write. For the record, today's HSN started in the late 1940s when Charter Member Chuck Allen published a series of duplicated notes now known as "the Allen Papers." Evelyn Gage Gerisch was the first editor of Hawaiian SheDNews in approximately its present form, beginning in 1950. Weaver, the late Karl Greene and Editor Emeritus E.R. Cross fol- lowed in the next 20-plus years. February, 1987 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS Page 11 NEWS OF NEW SPECIES PERSONAL ADS By WALTER SAGE Filippo Dallatorre, Via PadanaInferiore 3, 2~12 In the new periodical of the Society Beige de Caorso (PC), Italy, is engagedin the study of the Malacologie, Apex 1(3), 1986, HMS member Ro- Cypraea stolida group (stolida, brevidentata, land Houart describedPonderia abies, new genus, erythraeensis). He'd like to get worldwide gem new species [muricidae], on the basis of a single specimensand information from local collectors or specimen20 mm in length from off Newcastle,New dealers. He has for exchangemany species, some South Wales, Australia, in 154-164 meters. This rare, of cowries and cones. new species in compared to P. zelandica (Hutton, * * * 1874) [formerly in Typhis] and P. canaliferus Former shell dealer is selling his personalcollec- (Sowerby, 1841) [placed in Murex by Sowerby and tion. Nothing rare, but many large, miniature and unusual shells. No list. When visiting Orlando, inPterotyphis by Cernohorsky]. In this samenumber of Apex, Houart describeda Florida call Steve(305) 352-8944. * * * new Muricidae subspecies,Chicoreus (Naquetia) Endemic South African Marginellas (live) and triqueter vokesae, to 70 mm from the western In- Fissurisepta joschristiaensi Photo: La Conchiglia Volutas (trawled) for sale or for exchangeagainst dian Ocean. This new taxon is separatedfrom the worldwide Cypraea. Werner Massier, P. O. Box Pacific nominate subspecieson the basis of differ- species reaches 3 mm in length and is compared to 11377, 9000 Windhoek/Namibia, South West Af- P. (B.) sulcifera Sowerby, 1832. ence in nuclear whorls, shell shape,and sculpture. rica. Also in Apex 1(3), 1986, Tursch, Germain & In the course of research on his book on Cyp- * * * Greifeneder described Oliva bulowi phuketensis, raeidae, Ovulidae, and Triviidae of South Africa, William Liltved (The Veliger 29(1):114-122, 1986) HMS members, use HSN Personal Ads. [Olividae] to 31.5 mm in length, from deep water Three dollars per 25 words, plus name and off Phuket, Thailand. This new subspeciesis sepa- described six new Triviidae. Much of the material address. One time only! Dealers please use rated from the South Pacific nominatesubspecies on came from the stomachs of bottom-feeding fishes. diplay ads. the basis of differences in the protoconchs of the The new species are Trivia magnidentata, T. two taxa, slight variance in color pattern, and sev- khanya, T. lemaitrei, T. multicostata, T. virginiae, eral statisticalmeasurements. and T. eratoides. In La Conchiglia 17(6):194-195,May-June 1985, Among the bivalves, Callocardia thorae H. E. Driver & May described Fissurisepta joschris- Vokes, 1985 (Joum. MaIac. Soc. Australia 7(1- tiaensi (Fissurellidae), to 1.5 mm, from Reunion 2): 1-6) [V eneridae] was described from several spec- Gary Coovert, editor of Marginella Marginalia, a relatively new but well-based newsletter on the Island. The oval, limpet-shapedshell has an apex imens taken in deep water off the central coast of Marginellidae, needsresearch material. curved strongly posteriorly with an irregular slit eastern Australia. This species differs in size and Specimensof common or rare Marginella species under the apex. No comparisonto other fissurellid shell characters from C. guttata A. Adams, 1864. worldwide are wanted, he says. "I am working toward revision of the family," specieswas made. Cuspidaria okezoko Okutani, 1985 (Venus he writes. "Most important currently is a revision of Cypraea vicdani Lan, 1985 was de~cribedin the 44(3):145-148) [Cuspidariidae] was named from two the genera, involving extraction of radulae from as Bulletin of Malacology, Republic of China 11:1-5 complete specimens taken from one locality in 400 many speciesas possible'.To date, I have prepared more than 100 slides. from four specimens taken by tangle nets in the meters in Tosa Bay, Japan. This new species is "At the same time, I am revising many species Philippines. This new speciesappears closest to C. compared to various species groups in this family; groups - West Africa Glabella, western Atlantic katsuae Kuroda, 1960 and C. musumea Kuroda & two of these species groups are new genera: Nor- Granulina, and the western Atlantic Volvarina, among many others. Habe,1961. doneaera Okutani, 1985 and Soyomya Okutani, "More material is neededfor my study collection Aperiovula yukitai Azuma, 1985 (Venus 1985. (Recent and fossil) and I especially need specimens 44(4)d:229-231) [Ovulidae] was named from a Nuculana (Thestyleda) tanseimarumae Tsuchida with the animal inside, for radular extraction. single specimen taken off Kikaigashima, Japan in & Okutani, 1985 and Nuculana (Thestyleda) kiien- Deepwater shells and small species, as well as 'grunge' samples,also are on my 'want' list. 250-280 meters, and was compared to A. jeanae sis Tsuchida & Okutani, 1985 (Venus 44(3):149- "I will buy or exchangewith you. I have a very Cate, 1973. 158) [Nuculanidae] were described from trawled ma- large (about 80,000-lot) worldwide collection to Proterato (Eratoena) boucheti Drivas & Jay, terial in deep water in the Kii Channel, Japan. draw from." 1986 [Eratoidae] was described in La Conchiglia Coovert's addressis Dayton Museum of Natural Pinna cellophana Matsukuma & Okutani, 1986 History, 2629 Ridge Avenue, Dayton, OH 45414. 18(25):202-203 from a large series of specimens (Venus 45(1):2-4) [Pinnidae] was named from spec- He adds that he is in particular need of specimens taken from 50 to 80 metersoff Reunion Island. This imens taken in Tosa Bay, Japan. of type speciesof named genera and subgenerafor radular extraction. His method, he says, does not involve destruction of the shell which, in fact, can be returned nicely cleaned. Species of which Coovert stands in need right now include: Closia sarda, Bullata bullata, Balanetta baylii, Serrata serrata, Neptoginellafas- cicula, Eratoidea margarita, Alaginella ochracea, Protoginella lavigata, Carinaginella carinata, Triginella malina, Crithe atomaria, Marginellopsis serrei, Pugnus parvus and Gibberula miliaria. * * * "I have uncommon-to-rareshells to exchange, including Volutafestiva, V. lyraeformis, V. rosavit- toriae, V. subnodosa, Conus aurisiacus, C. skin- neri, C. gaugini and many others. Send me your shell list. I will reciprocate." Luigi Bozzetti, Via L. Devoto, 3 20133 Milani, Italv. Page 12 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS February, 1987 By E. R. CROSS* very scary trails and haven't changed all that much. long, sloped out and down to the deck of the However, the scenery through the redwoods is abso- schooner. Lumber, produce and people slid down Call the town Big River, as did the early whites lutely outstanding and makes the slow drive well thesechutes into the vessels. who settled there, or Bool-Dam as the Indians of the worthwhile. Also, sometimesvessels and cargo - and, yes, same era called the place. Mendocino, California as In the surrounding country were millions of board even people - were loaded by a system of cables we know it today is a gem of a town. feet of lumber that could be sold at a profit in the called "by the wire." Many of the schoonerswere lost. The first settler, a Gennan named Kasten, built a then developing community of San Francisco. But log cabin on the bluff overlooking boisterousMen- how to get the lumber to San Francisco? The enter- I was in Mendocino County, and Mendocino docino Bay. This happenedin 1851. In the 130-odd prising skippers of small schooners, and the timber town, looking for the "dog hole" ports and the sites years since then, only about 500 additional houses owners, solved the problem by developing what be- of schoonerwrecks. I found a few. Now, so much have been built. Both the lonely whites and the came known as "dog hole" ports - nothing more for what I was doing in Mendocino. Back to Joann Indians collected shells - abalone - for food. than a group of mooring buoys against a high cliff and The Collector shell shop. They were in abundancethen, probably more so near a small sawmill. The schooners moored almost than now; but they are still in abundance,still col- against the rocks. A chute, sometimes over 100 feet When I enteredJoann's shop I introduced myself lected and still a gounnet's delight. and said I'd been a shell collector for years. Joann replied, "Yes, and you just moved to Washington Even though Mendocino is a lovely, historically from Hawaii." You now know Joann is a member interestingplace, and a rare find in its own right, it of the Hawaiian Malacological Society and that she was not my only find during a recent visit to that doesread Hawaiian Shell News. California coastal community. My "rare find" was Joann Rushmoreand her shell shop, The Collector. The Collector is on Mendocino's Main Street, a More about Joannand The Collector a little later. long block, if there were any blocks, from Highway I that threads its way down the coast toward San You may have read in Hawaiian Shell News that Francisco. If you want to write to Joann Rushmore, I moved recently from Hawaii to Port Angeles, far try P. O. Box 183, Mendocino, CA 95460. If you north of there in the State of Washington. So! What want to phone her, and she is an interesting person was I doing in Mendocino? Chasing a story, natu- to talk with, her numberis (707)937-0888. rally. And eating abalone, too! Joann keeps a small but excellent collection of During the first 50 years of its modem history, no specimenshells in her shop as well as a selectionof roads or railroads entered Mendocino County. commercial shells, rocks and minerals. You will Rough, crooked, and very scary trails were the only also note in the accompanyingphoto she has black way into or out of the coastal region. The highways coral, pink coral, and a winning smile. If you are built later followed those same rough, crooked and ever in Mendocino you will miss part of the beauty of the place if you don't stop by for a visit with .P. O. Box 1267, Port Angeles, Wash. 98362. Joannin The Collector. ~