AN EDUCATIONAL PUBLICATION OF THE HAWAIIAN MALACOLOGICAL SOCIETY
VOL. XXVI NO.7 JULY. 1978 NEW SERIES NO. 223
by WILLIAM BRUCE WELLS
This is the story of a Hawaiian conus species that is largely unknown and neglected, yet is very old. It is also something of a malacological mys- tery, involving the reappearance of a long-lost member of the genus whose birth and demise oc- curred in the mists of antiquity. The protagonist of our tale has no valid name, nor has a proper description ever been published, as far as I know, although the shell itself was discovered some years ago. Hence, keeping in mind John Tucker's recent discussion of the pit- falls in assigning names to new species, I am going to refer here to the Incognito Cone, for reasons that will become apparent. The circumstances of the shell's appearance (or, more properly, its reappearance) offer some interesting thoughts on environmental and ecolog- ical disruptions. My home is in Kailua, a residential suburb of Honolulu adjoining the Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station on Mokapu Peninsula (see aerial photo). From time to time I shell along the wave bench cut into the slopes of Ulupau crater facing Kailua Bay and the open Pacific. Late in 1975 I beganto find a newcone - alwaysdead but never struction of a deep-waterocean outfall for a new crabbedor beachworn. I wasimmediately struck and enlargedsewage system to divert effluent by its distinctiveform andcolor pattern,but puz- from KaneoheBay to deeperwaters off Kailua zled by its suddenappearance in an area I had Bay, northeastof Mokapu Peninsula.Shoreline shelledfor someeight years. heightabove MSL at sewerline exit is aboutsix- Intuition told me there was somethingunusual teen feet. The total depth of exposedand sub- aboutthese finds, apartfrom the depressingreali- mergedreef rock removedby blasting,etc. was zation that I couldn't identify them. Where did from 20 to 31 feet. they comefrom? Why only now? And why only All shellsfound were dispersed within sedimen- alongthis onequarter-mile stretch of wavebench? tary, sandstoneand limestonebeach rock, coral, Other shellswere turning up, too, but for the and calcareousalgae deposits which the blasting mostpart they wereobvious fossils, bleached and hadexposed and converted into beachrubble and eroded.All the otherswere fairly easyto identify boulders. The cones in question were at first andexcept for one(Cypraea erosa Linne, 1758)are found separateamong the rubble and apparently frequentlyfound alive on the samewave bench. washedup by waveaction, but further inspection Specimensof the IncognitoCone, along with a of the area revealeda few imbeddedin lithified wide variety of manifestlyfossil species,began to conglomerate of sandstone, coral fragments, appeara month or two after blasting and bull- limestone,black lava bombs,and cementedlava dozing operations started along the northeast ash- in other words, the remainsof an old reef. shore of Mokapu Point, producing a trench that at This entire area contains occluded lava bombs and water's edgewas aboutfifteen feet deepreferred rr-agm-~~-;;ejected by the initial-a~;:m~ve to meansea level. This rude interruption of the ~~n~ nearby~upau Crater, d~g ~ ---Photos: - Bruce Carlson local ecologyand peacefulpursuits of adjoining Pleistoceneperiod in geologichistory. "'t.-- marine mollusc life was mandatedby the con- Continuedon Page10 . July, 1978
~aUtattale Sledt ~4 ISSN 0017-8624 Hawaiian Malacological Society dues for 1979 personal notes of people working there, even an Editor Emeritus E. R. CROSS will remain essentially as they are in 1978, the almost complete Ph.D. thesis, were destroyed. Editor STUART lILLICO Associate Editors ELMER LEEHMAN, OLIVE Board of Directors decided at its June meeting. "We had planned to begin with the study of SCHOENBERG, GEORGE CAMPBELL Minor adjustments were made, however, in the Portuguese and West African molluscan fauna, as Science Advisor E. ALISON KAY Science Consultant ... W. O. CERNOHORSKY case of overseas members who receive Hawaiian well as Dr. Monteiro and Burnay's second vol- Editorial Staff ... Lyman Higa, Scott Johnson, Shell News by air mail. ume of their Seashellsof the Cape Verde Islands. Chris Takahashi, Cliff Weaver Corresponding Editors: Details of the revision, along with comments on Now we have no Tryon, Reeve or Kiener, no K. J. Gilchrist, M.O., Fr. AI Lopez S.J., the Society's financial future by President George Dunker or Dautzenberg, no proceedings,journals Rick Luther, William E. Old Jr., Peter van Pel, Thora Whitehead Cook and Treasurer Wes Thorsson, will appear in or abstracts, no files, nothing. HAWAIIAN MALACOLOGICAL SOCIETY the next issue of HSN. Membership renewal "When I read for the first time in Johnsonia (Founded in 1941) notices will begin going out in August. about the destruction of the Chicago museum in P. O. Box 10391 Honolulu, Hawaii 96816 1871,when all of Stimson's papers and notes were President GEORGE COOK Vice President ' " PHIL KWIATKOWSKI Ruth Hal6burton Fair lost, along with borrowed material, shells and Treasurer WES THORSSON The SOCI e oss with the books, I remember thinking that such an ex- Recording Sec'y KAREN ROHTER Corresponding Sec'y ... OLIVE SCHOENBERG death in June of Ruth Fair, a veteran HMS mem- perience must have been like something out of this Directors ber and one-time editor of HSN. She had been a world. Now we are experiencing the same thing. ANDY AOAMS STUART lILLICO DAVID ARNETTE JOHN MAPES resident of Houston for the past three years. "If we are ever to resume our work here, we ANDERSON BUTLER RAY McKINSEY An artist of considerable talent, a facile writer, must have new books, at the very least. Will you GEORGE CAMPBELL INKY SHIELOS E. R. CROSS DICK VAN HORN and a successful mother of six boys, Ruth was ask members of the Society to send us extra copies ED DUNHAM largely self-taught in marine biology. Her interest of their papers on malacology? It is obvious that I The Society meets the first Wednesday of each month at the Hawaii National Guard in shells began during a tour of duty on Kwajalein, can't pay for all this. What money is available will headquarters, Diamond Head Road & 22nd where her youngest son was born. The family have to go for equipment. As compensation, how- Avenue, Honolulu at 7:30 p.m. moved to Honolulu in 1969. ever, I will try to send to everyone our future VISITORS WELCOME! 1"- Three years ago, Mrs. Fair had the distinction of papers. But I am afraid it will take some time." Hawaiian Shell News is issued free to members of the Society. Postage rates !lave been computed and added to membership seeing two of her books published almost simul- * * * dues. Single copies of any issue, $1.00, post- taneously - The Shell Collector's Guide and The age included. Individual copies of any issue Veteran HMS member Edward Schelling has may be obtained, free of charge, by qualified Murex Book. The latter has become a standard individuals for bona fide research projects. asked HSN to pass the word to his worldwide shell ce volume among collectors. Members outside the United States are ~ friends that he expects to spend the coming year in asked to pay with a draft from their local Backed by other members of the Fair family, bank on its u.S. account. (Be sure your Korea, where he intends to continue to collect and name and address are on the draft!) Ruth produced a study of the shallow-water shells I of a single Hawaiian reef over a period of years exchange shells. His new address will be PSC Box HMS DUES FDR 1978 3979, APO SF 96366. He hopes that Korea shell- U.S. addresses, including Hawaii, that received the Smithsonian Institution Award Alaska, Guam, American Samoa, ers will contact him at Osan Air Base. APO, FPO and all others using at the 1971 HMS Shell Show. She and her hus- U.S. Zip Codes $12.00 band, Jim, were officers and Board members for * * * First Class delivery to the above, plus Canada and Mexico $15.00 several years. Mrs. Blanche Boorman, of Rockhampton, Non-U.S. addresses In accordance with her wishes, Mrs. Fair's Qld., who wrote on Australia's plan to establish a As "printed matter" $13.50 ashes will be returned to Hawaii. Marine Park on the Great Barrier Reef (HSN Jan. As "Ietter mail" (recommended) .. $16.00 Airmail delivery $20.00 --- ~; * * 1978), has sent word that the new Barrier Reef Articles of interest to shell collectors are Marine Park Authority recently announced it solicited. Contents are not copyrighted. Re- HMS members living outside Hawaii: this is publication, with credit to HSN, is invited. practically your last chance to contribute shells to would allow no more drilling for oil on the Reef Advertisements are accepted at the rate until its investigations are completed. of US$15 per column-inch/issue, payable in the Society's forthcoming auction. See page one advance. Discounts are offered for six and of HSN for June. * * * twelve insertions. Write to the Corresponding S""r"t"rv fnr infnrm"t;nn The Loss of the Lisbon Museum The New Caledonia authorities have eased Some further information on the disastrous fire their import duties on shells, according to word that hit the Faculty of Sciencesin Lisbon in March reaching Associate Editor Elmer Leehman. Five hasreached us in a letter from Ilidio A. V. Felix shells at a time can be brought in without payment Alves of Estoril. of duty. M S J u n e M e e tin The venerable Faculty of Sciences buildings "We hope this is the initial step in completely were practically destroyed. rescinding all charges on seashells," he said. "As "In order to prevent destruction of the entire far as I know, New Caledonia is the only country Frank Perron, one of the recipients of the first neighborhood, firemen had to protect the chemis- with this illogical duty." HMS scholarship awards, was the speaker at the try department," he wrote. "In the meantime the * * * June meeting of the Society. Perron, a graduate fire reached such proportions in the natural his- A note from Mary A. Dunham in Clearwater, student of marine biology at the University of tory department that they were unable to save it. FL says she is trying to get her travelling shell Hawaii, gave a slide show on the development of Nothing but the walls remain of the Barboza du exhibits on the road again (see HSN June 1977). cone shells from the egg to the mature specimen. Bocage Museum. They are to go on display at the First National "The extraordinary collection of African birds Bank of Clearwater shortly, and she expects to ~ ttendance was well in excess of 100, as mem is lost, along with the very good collection of have another at the George Washington Univer- bersbecomefamiliarwiththeSociety'snewmee fishes, including some unique specimens of ex- sity Library in Washin on, D.C. during July and . g room in the Hawaii National Guard headqu - tinct species, holotypes, etc., the reptiles, the Augus a is seekin a gran or other support s on the slopes of Diamond Head. shell collection and so on. Books, papers, and to assist e DFe'. - ct. --=== July, 1978 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS Page 3
by TAKASm OKUTANI TOKYO - The Malacological Society of Ja- pan has just celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its foundation. The big convention held at the auditorium of the National Science Museum, Tokyo, April 29 and 30, 1978, included a formal celebrating ceremony, a special address by our President, Dr. Iwao Taki, celebrating messages from sister societies both domestic and foreign, and our annual meeting. Some thirty scientific talks were also given to an audience of more than 100. During the ceremony, our Honorary President, Dr. T. Kuroda, and five other persons were com- mended officially for their efforts and contribu- tions to the Society in bringing about today's suc- cess and prosperity. It was in 1928 when Dr. Kuroda circulated a proposal to establish the Society among thirteen professional malacologists and amateur collec- tors. When the first issue of Venus was published in November 1928,the membership was only 145. A feature of the Malacological Socie~ of Japan's extensiveshell show was a display of material from the Although during and after World War II the qual- Emperor's collection. Below, the owner of one of the striking exhibits of rare and valuable specimenswas ity of paper and the number of pages fell, the Mr. Murakami. Photos: Cardin academic level of the published studies was faith- fully maintained. outstanding display (under guard all through the In its first half century, Venus has published a by CHARLES CARDIN show). total of 8,800 pages, in which more than 800 new TOKYO - Japanese shell enthusiasts were Generally speaking, the exhibits were not de- taxa were described. treated to an outstanding display early in May signed to catch the eye of the ordinary amateur The Society's current membership is almost when the Malacological Society of Japan cele- collector. 1,000, including both domestic and foreign mem- brated its fiftieth anniversary. The arrays of epitonids and buccinids were bers. Although the display was publicized as the truly outstanding, however. I have never seen so The Society has been giving a special conven- "50th World Shell Show," it might better have many rare and gorgeous members of the Epitoni- tion and shell show almost every five years. How- been described as an exhibition. There was no dae in one place before. The Buccinidae included ever, the shell show for the fiftieth anniversary, competition, and two leading Japaneseshell deal- some of the world's rarest. The display was beau- held at an exhibition hall of the Tokyu De- ers were major participants. The affair was ob- tifully done. partment Store in Tokyo, was the biggest and viously professionally created, with several exhib- I was terribly disappointed at the cones. Many finest of all. Some 12,000persons enjoyed seeing its of museum caliber. of the specimens were in poor condition, and this show, which was open from April 28 to May 3. The Emperor of Japan was represented by an names frequently were not in accordance with international criteria. I noted one fair Conus dusaveli and a gem C. excelsus, however. The collection of murex - my favorite family- contained poor quality shells and was not well arranged, in my opinion. The cowry display included many ultra-rare and beautiful specimens. I counted no less than six Cypraea leucodon and ten C. valentia! But not a single specimen of Japan's endemic C. artufelli was even in sight. Other notable exhibits included Latiaxus, ovulids and bivalves. They were not as well pre- sented as were some of the other families, how- ever. This was far from the usual shell club show. While it was technically very well done, it lacked the excitement and obvious enthusiasm of a true amateur production. As is traditional in Japan, the exhibit was held in a crowded department store, guaranteeing excellent attendance. In fact, the crowds frequently made it impossible to study the individual shells. Page 4 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS July, 1978
OBSERVATIONS - the Nudibranchs
Phestilla melanobrachia is an Aeolid nudibranch
that occurs through~uch of the Indo-Pacific, al-
though it is often overlooked by divers. This
species is generally about 3 centimeters in length
and is covered with long tentacle-like extensions
of the body called cerata.
Although frequently overlooked, this nudi-
branch is easy to find if one is aware of its habits.
Phestilla is almost always found feeding on the
~ Thisve-dwelling coral comescoral inTubastraea several colorcoccinea. forms, but the
most common is orange. When the nudibranch is
feedin2 on oran2e coral. i~n~dvturn;: \ oran-ge,~e to~ in~o~ti~~~ ~~ent that colors the coral. Since the ) cerata along the back of thenudibmnch closely resemble the tentacles of the coral, the nudibranch , looks very much like just another coral polyp :' when it is feeding. To find the mollusk, one has to - -- look for white fresh dead patches of coral skele- Bursa thomae (I) B. pacamoni Photo:Lee \ tons, and Phestilla will usually be somewhere " nearby. by HARRY G. LEE ~heitiUa melanoliiachia can also changecolor. If JACKSONVILLE. FL - A specimen of these two membersof the Bursidae,two char- an orange nudibranch moves to another color Bursapacamoni Matthews & Coelho, 1971was acteristicsshould be noted: form of Tubastraea, it will change to that color. namedthe Self-CollectedShell of the Showat the Bursa thomaeattains larger sizesthan is gen- The second most common color form of Greater Miami Shell Club exhibition early this erally acknowledged.Nine specimensin my col- Tubastraeais black, and occasionally one can find year, just about the time my report on the dis- lection rangefrom 28 to 45mm,and I haveseen a black Phestilla melanobrachia eating it. The tinctly rare shellwas published (HSN Mar. 1978). onestilllarger.B.pacamoni, while generally larger nudibranch was probably named from one of these The eventwas noteworthy in the short histQryof than thomae,overlaps that speciesin size: my black specimens, since its specific name means "hl.."k ..rm." ~{'ntt Inhn.nn the species,and I askedthe collector,Ted Kalafut illustratedshell is 37mm,Kalafut's is 47mm,and ~ ~~.. of Miami, for details. Vink's 44mm. I was informedthat Ted found his nearly gem Aside from coloration(a tenuouscharacter in ORALITA CAPERS specimenunder rubble at a depthof fifteento manyother species), the easiest way I havefound SHELLING SAFARI EXTRAORDINARY " twenty feet just outside SombreroReef in the to differentiate these two is by pacamoni's Shellersall, would you care to comeshell col- middleFlorida keys. RussellJensen of the Dela- elongatedpo lecting with me in the Coral Seaon the goodship ware Museumof Natural History confirmedthe Coralita? identification.I certainlyagree, after seeinga fine This is a uniqueopportunity to participatein a color photo taken by the collector himself. shellingsafari with a difference. We thus have another leap northward in th HMS Members: Nonmembers will recei e If the thoughtof suchan adventureexcites your ever-expandingrange of this species - fi a complimentary copy of Hawaiian She 1 imagination, write to me now, for further in- northern Brazil, then Curacao, then Puerto Ri Nelv~ (with a membership application I I formation. Please enclose $2 to cover postage, and now Florida. I am compelled to wond Oil send the Corresponding Secretary their etc. K. D. Weston, P.O. Box 760, Gladstone, whetherthe' 'bloom" of pacamonimay not reflect II name and address. Queensland,Australia 4680. an actual population explosion, such as might " occur with a suddenincrease in veliger vitality .II (boostingrange and decreasingrarity). DankerVink (HSNNov. 1977)may havewrit- ten the first chapterin the sequelto the Cypraea semiplota story (HSN Sept. 1975). Time will tell if the recentlyfound B. pacamoniare just the result of more efficient collecting or are actually the sentinelsof a greatbloom. Of particular interest right now, however, would be to know whetherother specimensof B. pacamoniare hiding in museumsets of B. thomae (d'Orbigny, 1842). Since popular books have little to say about July, 1978 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS Page 5
by A. J. (BOB) DA MOTTA
~~~K - All cone buffs will readilv rank Next, observe the body contours. Each has Conus IV.. . ." Plate 3 No. 23 can be confused ,the textile complex as the most "C'lnf"~ini "nd ~eL sides which are individually different. Of the three with archiepiscopus, and No. 25 and 26 as most fascinating, of all the groups within the Con- with pink apertures, the straight tapering sides of pennaceus.No. 24 would be more typical and cer- tainly closer to Conus tigrinus Sowerby, 1857, a id;;e':"-- Inave s~rted and e~amined thousands of C. dalli are unmistakable. The "squarish" synonym, particularly when Kohn concludes that specimens. They are usually hard to tell apart appearanceofC. canonicuswill set it apart fromC. this is a valid species.) when spread out all at once but, after eight years of panniculus with its convex bulging sides. A solid shell, with reddish-brown reticulations constant observation, certain fixed characteristics Another important factor is the locality where widely interspersed with white triangular mark- begin to emerge and to become recognizable as the shell is found. Except for canonicus,ranges are ings, with one or more bands of brown axial flam- reliable guides to 1he identity of any species or somewhat limited. There is no evidence that any mules; pyramidal spire slightly concave, rising to "ev-efi a form of it. two are sympatric. Therefore, a specimen found a sharp point; cylindrical body with straight sides; ~confusing than most are the five species in the Marquesas is more likely to be panniculus aperture wide, but always faint rose or peach I have selected for review here - Conus abbas than canonicus. Iffrom Sri Lanka, it is more likely color, thickened outer lips. Hwass in Bruguiere, 1792;C. dalli Stearns, 1873; to be abbas than archiepiscopus. Specimen reviewed is 63mm x 32mm. C. canonicus Hwass in Bruguiere, 1792; C. Now for the details: 4. Conus panniculus Lamarck, 1810. panniculus Lamarck, 1810; and C. archiepiscopus I. Conus abbas Hwass in Bruguiere, 1792. Not a heavy shell, with reddish-brown partly A solid, bluish-brown body with distinctive honeycomb reticulations interspersed with white Hwass in Bruguiere, 1792. honeycomb reticulations; one or more interrupted tent markings, usually with 3 irregular bands of Some are almost impossible to distinguish when brown axial flammules; flat exserted spire; shoul- brown flammules; spire pyramidal rising to a still immature, as the telltale clues do not appear ders angulated with bulbous sides; aperture white sharp point; rounded shoulders with pronounced with thick outer lips. prominently until fully adult. All five are valid convex sides; aperture wide and always pink. Range: confined to Sri Lanka, South India and Range: Tuamotu Archipelago & Central Pa- species except for C. archiepiscopuswhich is con- Maldives. cific. specific with C. textile Linne, 1758. All five have Specimen reviewed is 72mm x 4Omm. Specimen reviewed is 63mm x 34mm. tent reticulations with areas of honeycomb mark- 2. Conus dolli Stearns, 1873. 5. Conus archiepiscopus Hwass in Bruguiere, A light shell, with reddish-brown reticulations, 1792. (See Kohn Pl. 2 f. 2.) ings plus one or more bands of brown flammules. interspersed with white tent markings, usually A form of textile, with bluish-brown close-knit The silhouettes reproduced above are all of with 3 bands of brown flammules; spire turbinated reticulations, usually having 3 bands of inter- fully mature specimens so that the differences are with pronounced rounded shoulders and straight rupted brown axial flammules; spire pyramidal, tapering sides; aperture wide and always rose- very slightly concave, rising to a sharp point; outlined sufficiently clearly to be recognizable. tinted. round shoulders with convex sides arching in to- Shells Nos. 1 and 5 do not have a pink aperture, so Range: California, Central America and wards the base; characteristic wide aperture of this feature should be checked out first. The spires Galapagos. textile, gray-white. of Nos. 1 and 2 are unlike the other three, so that Specimen reviewed is 7Omm x 36mm. Range: confined to Madagascar, Reunion and 3. Conus canonicus Hwass in Bruguiere, 1792 Mauritius. on these two points C. abbascan readily be picked (of the 4 illustrations reproduced by Dr. Kohn in Specimen reviewed is 58mm x 3Ommfrom Nose out. his "Type specimens of the described species of Be, Madagascar. Page 6 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS July, 1978
shells from Australia's northwestern coast, which I would like to exchange for C. tessellata and SHELLS FOR SALE perhaps other cowries endemic to Hawaii," writes Mike Lapwood, Lot 38 McCormick St., Seabird via Balga 6061, Western Australia. He Hawaii's ~eQ8Rell f:1'aradise Peter Papakyriakov, P. O. Box 603, Muscat, adds that he might also be interested in uncommon is now in Georgia! Sultanate of Oman (near the mouth of the Persian shells from other parts of the Pacific. Send your want list Gult) , writes that he has shells from the Oman and * * * Persian Gulf area that he would like to exchange SEA ATLANTA Dr. Luigi Raybaudi wants a Murex loebbeckei for specimens from other regions. Lenox Square and offers any of the following live-taken volutes Atlanta, Georgia 30326 in exchange: Voluta adcocki, V. adcocki guntheri, "I have about 200 species of North Sea shells V. rossiniana (New Caledonia), V. verconis. that I would like to exchange," writes Henry van Address: Casella Postale 756, Rome, Italy. CHARLES J. GEERTS Wijk, Homerusstraat 509, 3076 LC Rotterdam, 28 Avenue Bertaux The Netherlands. "Are you interested?" 1070 Brussels, Belgium " \, * * * Phone: 522,72,02 or 511,89,15 We can't vouch for this one, but it sounds inter- Rare shellsand all other sealife. est~ It came in the form of ahlina';writt~r PERSONAL ADS Fossils, mineralsand butterflies. -£;;;m"tlleCulion L~ony, Culion,P-aiawan-- Langfordi moretonensis66.6mm gem for sale or -W3, Philippin~s. exchange for rare Cypraea. Please make offer. YEA DER ENTERPRISE CO., \ ':.1-writethis letter to l~t you know that our place Also available other Cape Moreton shells. J. A. Wilson, 110 Palm Ave., Shorncliffe, Queensland, ~ of shells and if you are interested 1 will gather LTD. Australia, 4017. P.O. Box 456, Kaohsiung, Taiwan them for you. Culion is an island which includes Fine and Rare Specimen Shells nearly a hundred islands and islets, many of whom For Sale: Cypraeaaurantium, 92mm,$250. Very fine with thin growth scar. Frances Ring, No.4. Cut mother-of-pearl, Decorative shells, Shark are not inhabited. On each island have almost Whiting Way, Y.B.I., San Francisco, CA94130. jaws, Shark teeth and Shell craft. Write for free beautiful sand beaches where you will find shells lists. Tel. (07)-284438 of different kinds and are truly beautiful. Club patches and pins wanted from any and all Retail and Wholesale "As far as 1 have observed, there are lots of worldwide shell clubs and societies. Please let me know what's available and price. Thanks. Chuck common shells, but you will also find uncommon Spradling, RR4 Box 170, Peru, Ind. 46970. B. M. Collection and ones. 1 know that shells are gathered alive and let Distribution Centre P. O. Box 106 the meat rot out before sending. Also avoid Use USN Personal Ads. Three dollars per 25 Miramare de Rimini, ITALY broken lips or tips in order to preserve the beauty. words, plus name and address. One time only. We offer rare and unusual species Dealers please use display ads. from West Africa, South Africa. New "I would be very glad if you were interested in Caledonia, the Mediterranean and the r Adriatic. We are Interested In trading all the shells within our area and the neighboring or buying. islands, and that you would like me to gather them for you. WEST AFR_-I C A WEST COAST CURIO CO. Iheminado Iway' CYPRAEA & CONUS 1940 Maple Ave., Costa Mesa, Calif. 92627 "13 miles south of Disneyland". Longestestab- Gunnar Rojner H. K. Dugdale, editor of the Chambered Limhamnsvagen42 lished shell dealer in the U.S.A. More than 2,000 Nautilus Newsletter, P. O. Box 3937, Greenville, 21774 MALMO - SWEDEN species stocked regularly. No lists - No mail DE 19807 seeks to trade some cypraea for his Large selection - Low prices order. Buy or browse - you're always welcome! spare cones and other species. He says he lacks Write for free price lists COME IN AND SEE US Hawaiian and some Indo-Pacific cowries. FOR SALE: 1 only! GEM "During my student years in the biology de- Cypraea aurantium, C. cruickshanki, C. gunata, partment of the University of Valle (Colombia) 1 C. surinamensis, C. valentia. developed a great interest in Mollusca," writes H. J. BATTLES, 502 Pinon Dr., Jaime R. Cantera K. of Cali, Colombia. "I ini- Morro Bay, CA 93442 tiated the university's reference collection of Pa- cific Coast specimens (presently approximately TAG SHELLS 10,000 specimens of 500 species). World Wide Specimen Shells "Having graduated and joined the staff of the From Cypraea annulus to aurantium, from Murex cornucervi to loebbeckei; and from Voluta biology department, 1 wish to begin the second vespertilio to perplicata. WE HAVE GOT or get phase of the collection - the addition of speci- THEM ALL. mens from other parts of the world, through inter- Ask for your free price list NOW. P. O. Box 13, Hampton, Vic. 3188 - Australia change, 1 will be grateful for indications of in- terest." Seashell, Jade, Agate & Coral Products - Cantera's address is Departmento de Biologia, Brooches, Pendants, Necklaces, Earrings, Key Chain, Shell Decorations & Carved Shells Universidad del Valle, A. A. 2188, Cali, Colom- Commercial Shells - Specimen Shells bia. Shark Jaws, Shark Teeth, Live-Red-Earth- worm & Flowers. Send for Free List- "I haveCypraeafriendi, C. marginata, C. rosselli YUN TAl TRADING CO. and Notocypraea species, plus more common P.O. Box30-l2, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 800, R.O.C. July. 1978 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS Page 7
by DIETER ROCKEL by all experts. Many found it difficult to believe covered after many decades of oblivion. HMS DARMST ADT - Every conecollector who in that the large C. prometheus and the smaller C. member Edmund Trippner brought back to Ger- the 1960sbought the then standard Cone Shells of papilionaceus should bear the same name. Radula many from a diving expedition to the Canary Is- the World by Marsh and Rippingale was no doubt investigations by Trovao, however, definitely lands a small series of "papilionaceus" specimens, enthralled by the Conus siamensis Hwass shown confirmed Kohn's view. But I shall let this ques- which he had found at a depth of twenty-five met- on Plate XXII. What beauty in color and pattern! tion rest and turn again to C. siamensis. ers. They differ strikingly from the usual West Large and striking, it would be a desirable addition No one wanted publicly to contradict Kohn's African examples of C. papilionaceus in form, to any collection. position that the similarity of C. siamensis to C. color and pattern, but they are in complete agree- But where could one get a specimen? No papilionaceus-prometheusis so striking that the ex- ment with the type of Conussiamensisand with the dealer's list included the name, and no collectors istence of an independent type can no longer be descriptions and illustrations in old literature. offered it in exchange. Although "Indian Ocean" seriously asserted. Nevertheless, doubts re- There can be no doubt. Conus siamensisexists was listed as the type locality, no one on the mained. and its geographic locality is now established as shores of that vast body of water ever seems to Specimens from West Africa - from Mauri- the Canary Islands. have owned a specimen. tania to Angola - lacked that impressive broad- As Dr. Kohn definitely established, we do not Cone collectors first became aware that a mis- shouldered aspect, the gently concave elevation have an independent species. Butsiamensis is evi- take was being carried through generations when of the spire, and above all the multiplicity and dently a clearly defined geographic type or sub- Dr. Kohn in his 1970 study of Hwass' types colorful variations of the narrow fillets. What ex- species of Conus pulcher, differing in both form
~-~--~-- 1. Conuspapilionaceus (= pulcher Lightfoot), Mauritania; 2. C. papilionaceus( = pulcher Lightfoot), Senegal; 3 .C. siamensis Hwass (= pulcher siamensis Hwass), Canary Is.; 4. C. siamensis(from Reeve PI, XXIX Sp 166). Photos: Rocker investigated C. siamensis. Kohn concluded that: amples did Reeve have when he described the and pattern. 1. C. siamensis is conspecific with C. prome- differences between Conus siamensis on the one In my opinion, the correct name is "Conus theus and C. papilionaceus; and, moreover hand and C. prometheus and C. papilionaceus on pulcher siamensis Hwass, 1792." 2. C. siamensis,C. prometheusand C. papiliona- the other? References: ceus are synonyms ofC. pulcher Lightfoot, 1786. "Conus siamensis may be chiefly distinguished Kohn, A, J. 1968. "Type specimens and identity Conus siamensis therefore did not exist. Dis- from its next allied species, the Conuspapiliona- of the described speciesof Conus, IV,"J. Linn. couraged collectors struck the name from their ceus and prometheus, by the number of narrow Msoch' (ZJooAI). &Lo OndoHn. R' . "want" lists. articulate. dfi lIlets whlc. h enclrc. 1 e Its'. entire sur- ars,..Shells of the World...Ippmgae. Brisbane. I 1964 .one C Tn h" o"r" Or. Kohn's the~i~nnr. nrnm"th",.. face." he wrote. R""v" T A 1~43-49. Cnnehnlnp;" T..nni..,,-
We need all kinds of shells, from craft mate. rial to specimens. State price and quantity. In case of specimens, please clarify size and grade. We are source of rare Japanese shells, crafts and shell materials of all kinds. The Fujisawa Trading Co. P. O. Box 5, Fujisawa.Kanagawa, Japan
Gill's Buy-Sell-Exchange tlm Specimen Quality Shells . Price List on Request
229 West 2nd Street Deer Park N..w Vnrk 11"Q IT ~ A Page 8 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS July. 1978
wide) with a specimen of Conuscrocatus Lamarck, Other Shell Clubs 1810 from Raya Island, Phuket, Thailand. The SANIBEL - The forty-first annual Sanibel Florida Shell of the Show award went to Reva Denson of Barrington, IL. Shell Fair was an outstanding show, according to S.L. the Sanibel Island Reporter. "People are being treated to shells they've never seenbefore," exhibits chairman Anne Joffe told the paper. "It's the best show I've seen." Central Florida Shell Club Two hundred seventeen displays were entered ORLANDO - In one of its most beautiful by 188 exhibitors. They were housed in the Sani- weekends weatherwise, the Central Florida Shell bel Community House, home of the Shell Fair Club held its sixth annual shell show early in since 1931. March at the John Young Museum and Plane- Judges were Fran Thorpe of Coconut Grove, tarium here. FL, Rudi and Gary Magnotte of Pompano Beach, The duPont Trophy was taken by Robert Fran Williams of Miami, and Dr. Donald Moore Beatty with his display of cones. The worldwide of Miami. Shell of the Show was Jerry Thompson's Cypraea Gene Everson of Fort Lauderdale received the marginata Gaskoin, 1848. The Self-Collected duPont Trophy for the outstanding exhibit in the Shell of the Show was Beatty's Cypraeaaurantium scientific division. His twenty-foot display of Gmelin, 1791, matched by Vera Roberts' Self- worldwide miniatures included "some very rare collected Florida Shell of the Show, an albino shells, good specimensall and well presented with Fasciolaria. a different approach," as one of the judges ex- Photo: Walker Other winners included: Most beautiful, John pressed it. John and Judy Van Buren, holding their People's and Judy Van Buren for a display of pectens. The City of Sanibel Trophy for Best Shell of the Choice and Exhibitor's Awards; being congratu- which also took two special awards - People's Show went to Rachael Preston of Traverse City, lated by Club President Grace Johns. Choice and Exhibitors' Award; One species, lone MI for her Pterynotus loebbeckeiKobelt, 1890. A Reed; One area, Les and Kay Easland; Self- special judges' award for a shell that vied with the & Matthews, 1968. Collected, Jim Cordy; and Most Beautiful Exhibit winner was given to Lowell DeVasure of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Armington of Cleveland, (Div. B), Minnie Lee and Con Campbell for their Tekamah, NB for his Perotrochus atlanticus Rios OR took the Shell of the Show rosette (world- Shells from the Kingdom of Tonga.
INDIA'S LARGEST EXPORTERS OF
WE SPECIALISE IN SPECIMEN SHELLS
Write for price list. coin shellcrafts COIN HOUSE, 20 TURNER ROAD, BANDRA, BOMBAY 400 050-INDIA PHONE: 534256,534359 CABLE: SHELLWORLD TELEX: 011-5498 SHELLS July, 1978 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS Page 9
Conus Confusion: CONUS BIL/OSUS AND CONUS IMPERATOR RECONSIDERED byJOHNK.TUCKER to Australian waters then it must be sympatric with C. biliosus (as in his figure 4. my figures 1-3 above). Herein lies a major problem. The problem consists of two related parts and may be stated in the following way: 1) are shells similar to Cemohorsky.s figures 2-3 and my fIg- ures 4-8 really sympatric with shells similar to his figure 4 and my figure 1-3?and (2) are these shells the same species and, if not, what are the correct names? From the specimens that I have seen I would say that the answer to the first question is no. I have seen specimens of C. imperator (figs. 4-8) from the Western Pacific ranging from Queens- land to Luzon in the Philippines and from Pacific Ocean localities in Indonesia. However, I have never seen specimens similar to C. biliosus (figs. 1-3)from anywhere in the Pacific. I have only seen this species from Indian Ocean localities. There are, of course, a number of localities in the literature but since the names C. imperator, C. biliosus, C. piperatus (commonly used before Dr. Kohn pointed out that C. biliosus was the correct name), and C. parvulus were loosely applied it is not possible to determine the identity of the shells under question without a figure or a precise de- scription. As to the second problem I find several differ- ences between specimens from the Indian and Pacific Oceans (Table 1) which suggest that two species or subspecies are present. The precise level of relationship cannot be determined from Figures 1-3 Conus biliosus (localities: 1 and 2 - R,amaswaran, India; 3 - Ceylon); figures 4-8 Conus what I know as I have not seen specimens from imperator(localities:4 and 6 -Grande Island Subic Bay, Philippines; 5 -Cairns, Queensland; 7 -North areas where Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean Australia; 8 - Cantilan, Surigao, Philippines). All specimens 0.90 life size. faunas meet. Thus I do not know whether these two forms intergrade or maintain their distinct- EFFINGHAM, IL- I read the recent articles is calling C. imperator and C. biliosus and also does ness. At present I prefer to recognize them as by G. Thornley, (HSN Oct. 1977)and WaIter O. not define her concept of C. biliosus. She implies separate species. thatC. imperator is restricted to Australian waters. The earliest name for the Indian Ocean species Cernohorsky (HSN Jan. 1978) on the Conus Cemohorsky shows this to be incorrect, as Hin- is without doubt C. biliosus, as Kohn showed. C. biliosus-imperator complex with great interest. ton (1972) did earlier. But then Cemohorsky piperatus is a synonym of biliosus and cannot be Since I believe that both authors made some makes what I consider to be an unsupported sup- used for the Pacific species. C. imperator was cer- tainly applied to Australian populations of the Pa- statements that were correct and others that will position that becauseC. imperator is not confined require confirmation, I would like to make some TABLE 1. Comparison of C. biliosus and C. imperator comments that seem appropriate. First, Thornley correctly pointed out that while C. hiliosus (figs. 1-3). c. imperator (figs. 4-8). Martini's figure 707 could be identified as C. mus it Commonly exceeds 6Omm in length. 10 sexually mature Philippine individuals associated Anterior end slightly or not noticeably darker than the with egg masses averaged 25mm (range 2l-35mm). is difficult to reconcile this figure, on which Link area immediately posterior to it. Anterior end always noticeably and often greatly dar- based his C. parvulus, with Australian specimens Extensive development of black interrupted spiral kened compared to the area immediately posterior to it. lines present between midbody and shoulder. Interrupted spiral lines between shoulder and midbody subsequently described as C. imperator. She also Compared to Pacific species, nodes are small. reduced to scattered spots in most specimens. argues that C. biliosus is a related but allopatric Middle spire whorls have 4 and usually more equal-size Compared to Indian Ocean species, nodes are well spiral cords. developed. species. Middle spire whorls have 2-3 equal-size spiral cords Cernohorsky disagrees, stating that C. biliosus and mayor may not have numerous small or minute and C. imperator are sympatric in the Indonesian cords. area. He acknowledges the inadequacy of Martini's figure 707 and considers C. roseus cific species and is the earliest available name that can be unequivocally applied to the Pacific Lamarck (Thornley identified Lamarck's species . Supplier of: with C. mus), which is based in part on Martini's Seashells, Shark Jaws, species. C. pigmentatus may be based onC. impera- figure 707, a specimen of the Indonesian C. im- Shell Jewelry, tor and would be the correct name if this could be Other Curios proved. The description is inadequate to tell perator. The problems that these two papers leave unan- Galen Chi-Tsair Lyn whether the type is aC. imperator or aC. balteatus. swered are important. In the first place Link's C. Until someone can examine the holotype of C. P. O. Box 29-42 Kaohsiung 812, Taiwan pigmentatus and unequivocally establish its iden- parvulus must be considered with Martini's figure Phone 821-865 707 in mind. I agree with Thornley that this figure WHOLESALE RETAIL tity, I believe that C. imperator should be used for cannot be identified with C. imperator and is very Full Satisfaction Guaranteed the Pacific species. likely C. mus. The fact that Lamarck cited two figures, one of which represents C. imperator and M()NTILLA ENTERPRISE the other Martini's 707, has no bearing on the SOURCE FOR RED SEA SPECIMEN identity of C. parvulus. Spl'eiml'l1 Shl'lIs of the Philippines - Free Conusroseus Lamarck is ajunior synonym ofC. AND COMMERCIAL SHELLS Li,;l - Shl'lI & Sel'dNecklaces - Monkey Pod roseusG. Fischer. Consequently, establishing the DOV PELED & Wooden Ware - Black Coral Bracelets& Earrings - Fibercraft - Artificial Flowers - identity of C. roseus Lamarck - while of interest Hazalafim 6, Haifa, 34-739, Israel - has nothing to do with Thornley's argument. Shell Craft - Windchimes - Puka Shells. Buys, sellsand exchangesshells. Price list on The problem with Thornley's paper is that she 39 Maria Clara, Quezon City 0-503 does not adeQuatelydefine the ranltes of what she request. Philippines Page 10 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS July, 1978
AN OLD 'NEW CONE' Correspondence with Dr. Kohn over the past morphometric study of this wayward species. Continued from Page 1 year and a half has developed the following infor- Thus, the present status of our mystery story is mation: as follows: To Dr. Kohn's knowledge, no specimens have The species is extinct, probably endemic to ever been found alive, and no description of the Hawaii and possibly confined to a small area of species has ever been published. W. H. Dall Oahu. How long the living species persisted into wrote a description and gave it a name - recent geological time and can probably only be Alexander's cone in the 1930s, but his manu- - determined by modem radiogenic dating methods. script on the gastropods of Hawaii was never pub- lished. At least seven major ice ages have occurred during the past 800,000 years. Five major glacial At some time thousands of years ago larvae stages have been defined in the northern hemi- from some Indo-Pacific species arrived at Oahu, sphere, with the periods of glacial ice sheet ad- grew up into adults, maintained breeding popu- vances (and consequent lowering of the sea level) lations, and differentiated into this species, Dr. each lasting some 100,000years on average, and Kohn went on. i~terglacial warm periods with sea level rises from about 10,000 to 15,000 years duration. (The last Later, presumably with the relatively rapid fall major glacial advance peaked about 20,000 years in sea level that occurred 110,000-120,
<=mal ae <=me~ e"terpri~ 946Ralpl1Avenue .e,,"*iyn NewVo," "236 USA PtIone Area (212) 085-3550 J".c,."", "' ,.,. ,".",
adBm.o..i,1iG: SpecimensM.nx d t...bb.,k.i,sold ti: Cypnr..recently p/tY//°p'.r.. brod.ripii, include and Co POlmany
others Free price list on request Special attention given to your want lists.
WEST AFRICAN SHELLS GUILHERME E. SOARES AV. COMB. GRANDE GUERRA. 88-). AMADORA - PORTUGAL WEST AFRICAN CONUS IS OUR SPECIALTY! More than 20 speciesavailable! - Free list on request- July, 1978 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS Page 11 for at least 5,000 years, and any fringing reefs around Oahu that have developed to the normal position of coral reefs in relation to present sea by EDWIN DeVAUL fifty feet. I could not identify it from any shell level have grown within this time. During the summerof 1970,while scubadiving book I owned,nor couldHMS membersto whom As to the paleozoic history of this conus species, off Upper Makua Beach,Leeward Oahu (Hono- I showedit. some clues are available. Living members were lulu), I found a smallTurridrupa in sand,at about Finally, I found a photo of a similar shell in evidently present at the time of the explosive erup- Indo-Pacific Mollusca (p. 23-127, Pl. 305, fig. 4). tions of Ulupau volcano (a tuff cone) through an The accompanying description of Turridrupa as- ancient reef submerged some fifteen to forty feet tricta ss astricta (Reeve, 1843) fit my specimen. at the time of eruption. All specimens I collected Only one thing threw me. The subspecieswas not were intermingled with lava bombs and frag- supposed to be found outside the Tuamotu Archi- ments, coral fragments, etc. However, there is pelago. little agreement on the date of this event, which A year later, a second specimen was found off various authors place some time between 80,000 Koko Head (Honolulu) in sand at sixty feet. My and 400,000 years ago. effort to query Dr. A. W. B. Powell, the veteran Likewise, there is no assurancethat the species malacologist at the Auckland Institute and Mu- did not survive after the formation of Ulupau. Did , on the shell's range failed. the lava heat and violence of the eruptions cause Recently I wrote to HSN Science Consultant extinction or was it the relative sudden cooling period, and rapid fall of sea level, during a middle or late Pleistocene glacial epoch? Schoenberg. "There is absolutely no doubt that the two Ha- In any case, as an old saying almost goes, it's an ..~ ~ specimens on your photograph are the ill blast that doesn't spread some goodies. species Turridrupa astricta Reeve, and that the An Informal Description species lives from the Hawaiian Islands to Poly- Length: 33mm. nesia," Cemohorsky wrote in reply. Width at shoulder,body whorl: 22mm. "In addition, Powell's T. astricta consobrinais a Shell small but robust, sides straight, conoid full species and should be shown as T. consobrina except parallel near shoulder. Body whorl smooth, often with collabral growth lines; trans- Powell. versely striate, with tenuous striae becoming ob- "In my Vol. III of Marine Shellsof the Paciftc, I soletely nodose or grained raised ridges toward am listing T. astrica together with illustrations, and basal tip. Shoulder coronate, tubercles continuing am showing the distribution as Hawaii to Poly- attenuated on the contiguous spire whorls, nodules often obtusely elongated in direction of nesia. whorl growth. Aperture narrow, sides parallel, Turridrupa astricta Photo: Schoenberg "I have retained (one photo) to show to Dr. interior white, outer lip thin at edge. Spire mod- Powell, who rarely comes to the office at the Mu- erately elevated and obtuse, apex usually eroded or decollate, sutures obscure. Color orange- seum. I will draw his attention to its existence in brown or dark reddish brown, as many longi- Hawaii and will suggest that he make changes in tudinal thin lines, often wavy and randomly inter- his manuscript." rupted or branching, separated by light yellow or cream filiform lines, all extending over shoulder and onto spire. Nodules on shoulder and spire often white or cream, but may be due to erosion. TRAUNSTEIN - Which shell would I save Body whorl usually zonate or obsoletely fasciated first? It is difficult to say, but one shell in my with two broad, darker bands separated by a collection has a particular story and I believe I lighter band superimposed on the foregoing pat- tern, basally merging into solid dark color at tip. A would save that one, It is my Chicoreusbrunneus thin cream-color line may encircle the body whorl Link, 1807, just below and touching the shoulder. Perios- Why just that shell? It was the beginning of my tracum probably thick or very dense. collection, my first shell. References: One Sunday morning in 1975 I found this shell Wentworth, C. K. "Pyroclastic Geology of beside my place at the breakfast table. My parents Oahu". Bishop Museum Bulletin No. 30. 1926. Pollack, J. B. "Fringing and Fossil Coral Reefs of had put it there for me, In my surprise, I asked Oahu". Bishop Museum Bulletin No. 55. 1928. them where they had got such a beautiful thing. Miller, W. J. An Introduction to Historical Geol. "In Salzburg, at a small zoo shop," they told ogy. 1916-1952. Moore, R. C. Introduction to Historical Geology. me, "There are many more shells there which can 1958. be bought at cheap prices," Steams, H. T. Geology of the State of Hawaii. From that beginning I have built up my shell 1956. Fairbridge, R., Columbia University. Cited in collection which today counts about 250 different National Oceanographic Data Center Publi- species, Without thatChicoreus brunneus, I would cation G-13, pg. 6. 1968. have no shell collection today. MacDonald, G. A. and Abbott, A. T. Volcanoes This is the shell I would save first, but there are In the Sea: The Geology of Hawaii. 1970. so many beauties in my collection - Tibia lusus, Matthews, S. W. "What's Happening to Our Climate", National Geographic Magazine, Vol. Thatcheria mirabilis, Scaphellajunonia, Cymbolio- 150, No.5, Nov., 1976. lista hunteri and many more - that I feel it would Calder, N. "Head South - Ice May Return in a Few Thousand Years", Smithsonian, Vol. 8, be much better that my house not burn down! No. 10. Jan.. 1978. Florian Rauen Page 12 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS July, 1978
Conchologists Of America Making Convention Plans Officers and members of the Conchologists of by ELMER G. LEEHMAN America (COA) are preparing for their annual A gem, live-taken specimen of Conus thomae meeting, to be held this year in Westbury, Long Gmelin, 1791 was collected recently by HMS Island, Convention Chairman Martin Lerner has member Roger Berthe on one of his trawlers work- reminded HMS. Many Society members also be- ing in the Andaman Sea off Thailand near the long to COA. Burma border. As far as I can ascertain, this is the The program of lectures, field trips, social first gem specimen of this extremely rare shell to events, business meetings and award presen- be collected in the past 150 years. I personally tations will run from Wednesday morning, 27 examined this shell and can testify to its pheno- September, through Saturday, 30 September. The menal quality and beauty. Long Island Shell Club will be host this year. The Conchologists of America, a nationwide Subsequently,the shell was sold to a U.S. organization formed in 1972, is oriented to the collectorfor what I believeis a recordhigh price collector interested in the beauty of shells, the for a shell- in excessof five thousanddollars! scientific aspects of collecting, and conservation. Activities are primarily directed toward people There are probably less than ten specimens of interested in shelling as a hobby, but the member- C. thomae known in world collections. although ship includes scientists, advanced amateurs, be- the species has been known since 1719. In- ginning collectors and dealers. terestingly , Linneaus did not bother to name and The COA Bulletin is sent to members several describe the shell, although he knew of its exis- times a year. Membership costs $3. tence. "Our annual meeting is held in a different local- The old specimens generally have "Moluccas" ity each year," Lerner explained. "This year's as their locality. will be at the Island Inn, Westbury, Long Island, New York, and it promises to be the best ever. Two fine specimensof C. thomaeare in the "Registration will take place Wednesday morn- collection of Helene Boswell in South Africa. ing and the convention will officially start Wed- Rear Admiral W. S. Bitler in New Jerseyhas Conus thomae nesday afternoon. Wednesday evening a Get Ac- anotherfrom an old collection.Two or three are quainted cocktail party will be hosted by the Long saidto lie in the British Museum,with possiblya Island Shell Club. coupleof othersin private collections. "Weather permitting, a collecting field trip is planned for Thursday to Orient Beach State P'iJ:Tk, Welcome to Hawaii! The new shell measures 78mm. It is a light on the extreme northern tip of Long Island, 125 cream with numerous reddish-brown horizontal miles out into the Atlantic Ocean. Thursday eve- HMS members visiting Hawaii are invited to contact the Society while in Honolulu. Please lines, dots and dashes. These brown markings ning, the Long Island Shell Club has planned a keep in mind, however, that the Society office is tend to band around the body. shell exhibit followed by a color film on the Great open only two days a week; and that it does not Barrier Reef. have a telephone. Society officers are listed indi- The spire is moderately tall and sharp, with vidually in the telephone book. If in doubt, ask the " Another field trip is scheduled for Friday, this brown blotches. Inside, the aperture is creamy Waikiki Aquarium for names. Better still, write time to the American Museum of Natural History the Society in advance. white. to see the famous Hall of Mollusks. The after- noon will be spent at the Coney Island Aquarium where we hope to see the live chambered nautilus. THE VALUE OF OBSERVATIONS "Friday evening will feature our annual shell auction. Shell dealers throughout the world have by WES THORSSON The "Oahu Observations"that Bob Purtymun been contacted for specimen contributions. The Hawaiian Malacological Society is a non- used to contribute is an excellent model. So, too, Whether or not you attend, we hope you will profit educational organization. The key word is are the reports that Scott Johnson has been writing contribute specimen shells for our auction." "educational." Our incorporation papers use it, on the shells of Kwajalein. You can do the same Saturday morning the presentations will con- our bylaws repeat it, and it appears on the front for your own area. tinue, followed by the business meeting. The con- page of each issue of Hawaiian Shell News. "Observations" need not be profound, but they vention will conclude with a banquet Saturday should be brief and accurate, and preferably based night with Dr. R. Tucker Abbott as the guest But education is not something doled out by the on your own experience. Such things as habitats Societ~ president, or created by the public.ation of individual species, feeding habits, dates when speaker. committee. It must come from our members In the egg-laying was noted, length of time between "Throughout the convention and due to the efforts of member R. Wayne Stevens, we will be form of articles for HSN. This is an organ for various growth stages, age at apparent maturity, giving away, as door prizes, dozens of brand new exchanging information among shell collectors, and total age span are worth reporting. Be as shell books donated by their publishers. Re- semiskilled naturalists, and professional sci- specific as possible. Clearly identify the species, entists. locality and date or season. member, however, you have to be there to be lucky," Lerner concluded. For more informa- Brief notes on field observations are particu- Don't be put off by the fact that your obser- tion contact the Convention Chairman, Martin larly welcome in these columns. They are what, vation matches that of someone else - nor that it Lerner, 64 Thompson Avenue, Oceanside, New above all else, the amateur usually can best con- contradicts it. After all, one report may be only York, 11572. tribute. interestin.lt. but two reports may establish a fact! July, 1978 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS Page 13
A Rare Volute Specimen SHELLS FOR SALE From Japanese Waters by L ¥MAN ffiGA
Futenma, Okinawa Celebrating a decade in shells Dear Lyman: 1iJestl-alian I have a little story for you. I was diving for - shells off Serigaki beach here in April. looking for . SlfElLS Importers/Exporters of Quality Sea Shells COitUSpertusus at about 120feet. While turning the Fine shells from around the world specialising in those endemic to the Western Australian Coast -C,-- ",s./li, _m.~i , Vol- small rocks, I noted a different cone right out in u18 ~04ipliclll_. Also rare H."... while they last - costilla, doris, the open about ten feet to my left. I could not "&0";, ...,uiIiI8, etc., and the Abbottsmith Volute CoDection. Send for price list: Free by sea: AS2 by air. identify it immediately. Box T1738. G.P.O. Perth 6001 Western Australian As I approached the shell, I could see some tent markings through the thick brown periostracum. "COitUS magltijicus, or something similar." I thought. But when I picked it up, I knew I had something else. Back home. Phil Crandall confirmed that I had a live-taken 53mm gem COitUScrocatus Lamarck, 1810. Incidentally. I found a gem C. pertusus right next to it. Phillip Bellin * * * Specimens of Cypraea musumea Kuroda & Habe, 1961and C. teramachii Kuroda, 1938 have been found for the first time in New Caledonia Specializing in Hawaiian Molluscs waters, according to word reaching Elmer HAWAIIAN ISLANDS SPECIMEN SHELLS Leehman. The C. mllsumea was taken alive, while 54-0400 Karn Highway the C. teramachii was found dead. ~ Hauula (Oahu). HI 96717 Both shells were dredged by the French re- NEW YORK CITY - Recently I obtained a search vessel Vauban, under the direction of the Tel: 808-293-8682 nice specimen of FlIlgorarlD (Kllrodi_) .rmithi BenthicLaboratoryinNoumea,nearthesouthern P. O. Box 618-C (Sowerby III, 1901). It was trawled on April 19, reefs of the Isle of Pines in April 1978.The water Honolulu, Hawaii 96818 While in Honolulu. Stop and See our Shop. 1977by a local fishing boat at a depth of 300 meters was 390 meters deep. Wonderful Worldwide Selection: Write for List. southeast of Choshi, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. HMS members Bob and Gina Pierson wrote to The fishermen forwarded it immediate~y to Mr. Leehman that many other shells were collected by T.Watanabe,alocalcollectorandagoodfriendof the dredge, but that identification will require the author. He took a snapshot of the shell with further study. animal and later sent both the specimen and snap- shot to me. It measures 175mm. * * * Rare specimens now in stock: Cypraea Ia/lg- Masao Tabakotani Meanwhile, back in Honolulu, noncollector fordi, C. cruickshanki, C. hirasei, C. suri/lamensis, Dick Miyashiro has lent me a paper nautilus shell C. cf!/ltrarfa, "co. marg~nata~ C. o. nymphae, CO/lU~ . . glonamarrs5 +, C. kintokl, C, crocatus,C. archl- he found In the stomachofa bonItothat he caught tDlassus,C. kimioi, Volutataiwanica, V. perplicata, Hawaiian Specimens Needed while trolling off WindwardOahu. The stomach V. hargreavesi,V. thatcheri, Harpa pU/lctata, "I am culTently working on a muricid group also contained four recently swallowed sea Strombushawaiiensis, Pleurotomaria africana, P. h h. h ... . teramachii, Acteon elaisae, and many more! Fal'artia," writes USN Science Consultant W. O. orses, w IC are uncommon In HawaiI. DIck No catalogue - send us your wants. Cernohorsky. "I would like to bolTow, either tells me he always studies the stomach contents of Shellsgraded according to HMS-ISGS from you or any of your friends, some specimens his catches to determine fish eating habits. 22762 Pacific Coast Highway of FaNrtia occurring in Hawaii like F. garretti Malibu, California 90265 Pease, and probably others. You will find what I'm talking about in Ruth Fair's Murex Book . ~ w (Plate 20, figs 299 and 299-2). I will return the . . specimens within a couple of days after receipt by . RICHARD M. KURZ, INC. insured air-mail and will acknowledge the loan and . . . WAUWATOSA, WIS. 53226 U.S.A. also send a reprint of my paper when it is printed. . 1575 NO. 118 ST. . Can you help? . . DEALER IN FINE & RARE SPECIMEN SHELLS OF SUPERIOR QUALITY "I am also working on a monograph of the . . SHELLS BOUGHT, SOLD & TRADED families NDSSlIriiIlDeand Mitridae, as well as . . Costellariitkle (formerly J/e~). Any spare . Write for Free Price Lists . specimens of these families from Hawaii would be . welcome." . House of Quality and Service . Cernohorsky's address is: Auckland Institute . . Largest Mail Order Shell Dealer in the U.S.A. and Museum. Private Bag, Auckland I, New Zea- . w land. Ed DeVaul Page14 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS July, 1978
by ELMER G. LEEHMAN The "hottest" spot for cones in mid-I978 un- doubtedly is the area around Raya Island, in the Bay of Bengal near Phuket, Thailand. As most conus enthusiasts are aware, several attractive "new species" have been collected there in the past year or so (see HSN April 1978). There is worldwide interest in these specimens, but little agreement on their identity. It seemsas if every expert has his own opinion. Several Hawaii members of HMS had an opportunity not long ago to closely examine some specimens of the new shells being carried by H. Roger Berthe, of Gulf Sea Shells in Phuket. After the viewing, there still was no consensus as to identifications, but it was quite easy to see why there has been so much interest regarding these beautiful shells. The four most important of the new Raya cones are figured here. The shell on the left (1) seemsto be a new species, not yet validly described and Photo: Schoenberg named, but known in Thailand as the "Chusak cone" for its discoverer. It has features that re- to the normal yellow. In Thailand this is being Rare Shells Received semble both Conus striatus Linne, 1758 and C. called the "acicularis variation," on what basis I For HMS October Auction circumcisus Born, 1778. According to Berthe, do not know. Some time ago cone expert William HMS Shell Auction Chairman Andy Adams however, the Chusak cone's animal is black, Old Jr. of the American Museum of Natural His- reports that some very desirable shells have been whereasC. striatus is red. The interior of the aper- tory in New York examined a comparable speci- received from Society members in far corners of ture is golden yellow, which is not true ofeitherC. men from Mozambique. He called it merely C. striatus or C. circumcisus. bullatus, not recognizing any difference becauseof the world, but that Hawaii folks have been slow to send in their contributions to the forthcoming sale. The second specimen (2) is a Conus bullatus the interior coloration. Linne, 1758with a blood-red interior as opposed " )"We could use more endemic Hawaiian spe- SMINo. - 'es," he said. "I realize that there's 'plenty of - me,' but we need to get lists made up and public- _!!!.I!2ai divers contracted ~d~," frnm which at least five subsequently died~ Both Old and Walter / ity prepared. O. Cernohorsky in Auckland consider this shell t