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Philippines sea shells
Philippines sea shells The northwestern tip of Sand Island near the entrance to Keehi Lagoon shows a definite pattern of water pollution. The "lingering odor" is a dead giveaway, of course. In addition to this, the Ulva reticulata is a heavy overgrowth on all the rocks and dead coral chunks and is of a deep blackish-green color. Referring to the map on Pg. 4, H.S.N. November 1964 edition, we see that in this area (marked Area 4) there is a sewer line leading out to sea and the water is comparatively shallow.
The C. caputserpentis observed in the Sand Island area are darker and generally larger, (from 29mm X 21mm to 37mm X 26mm) with some adults showing a definite dorsal stripe of darker color and a general blurring of the dorsal spots, plus the absence of the usual whitish blotches at anterior and posterior ends and a quite blackish base.
During March and the early part of April, Area 4 at Sand Island appears to be a "nursery" for C. caputserpentis. Virtually every rock we turned over during our shelling trips in this time period had at least one "bulla" caputserpentis - and often there were as many as four juveniles attended by a full-grown adult.
During this same time we observed a heavy population of large sea hares tending egg masses, and an exceptional number of fireworms (bristle worms) so caution is the word for littoral shelling at Sand Island, since the sting of these "pink sea-centipedes" is extremely painful.
A difference in the coloration of C. teres between the two aforementioned areas was noted during this same period of time. The two C. teres we collected at Sand Island were broader, larger and had a pinkish base, in contrast to the smaller, more slender white-based C. teres collected at Sandy Beach.
Since these observations are those of amateurs, and cover a limited area of one island in Philippines, we would be interested in observations from other areas around the world – testing our theory of a direct relationship between water pollution and shell coloring.
Philippines sea shells Where to begin? So many islands. So many sand bars. So many shoals. The tide was on the ebb and we eventually chose a reasonably promising looking spit of exposed boulders and coral that formed part of a small uninhabited island. Initially I was discouraged by the cloudy waters that lapped in small wavelets against half-exposed slabs of dead coral and rocks. I need not have been. After only twenty minutes of turning over pieces of coral in ankle-deep water I was rewarded by a flash of vivid orange the mantle of a Cypraea saulae siasiensis. I continued to look for a possible mate, but my day was already complete and I couldn't expect my luck to go too far. Besides, the sun was setting and the typical swift dusk of the tropics would soon be upon us. After finding a pair of handsome and very dark Cypraea lamarcki redimita under a nearby rock, I decided to call it a day.
Joe Honda, diving for fish in Kaneohe Bay found a fine specimen of Strombus hawaiensis. Even though the color of the shell has turned orange, it is still in perfect condition.
Joe Reid and Stanley Takahashi had some Cymatium collecting days recently. They were looking for the second Cym. pyrum (Tom Richert has the first) and C. gutturnium (Arch Harrison has the first of this one) but the best (?) they could do was a C. vespacium each. Collected off Waikiki Beach. Joe also found a recently dead specimen of C. labiosum and two C. clandestinum.
Sean Raynon Sabado Editor E. R. Cross finally has his deep water dredge going from his 40 foot boat Joli-Jac. On the first cast, in just over 200 feet of water, he collected, among other things, a C. vespacium, a one inch long Mitra emersoni, plus three species of Turrid new to his collection. Also plenty of cones, including a shallow-water(?) Conus quercinus from 225 feet of water. Coral rubble bottom.
New Philippine Shell member Mike Smith, diving out Kahe Point way, collected a nice, recently dead, Conus bullatus. When Mike found out how rare C. bullatus is in Philippines he yelled, "I've been born again." So it goes Mike.
A little farther along the coast of Oahu, off Nanakuli this time, Major S. C. Williams found a Cypraea tessellata in 40 feet of water, Then, satisfied with his day, he was swimming back to shore when he spotted (and collected, naturally) a C. tigris. Guess good things do come in bunches.
I don't spend all my time answering phones and making notes on recent finds. Once in a while I also go diving; and even collect shells occasionally. And sometimes loose them. I was skin-diving in about 8 feet off Waikiki when I spotted the first Polinices opacus I had seen. I grabbed it and put it in my pocket. On the way to shore, the shell either crawled or washed out and no more P. opacus.
Visiting Philippine Shell member Twila Bratcher (See Sean Raynon Sabado for September, 1967 and January, 1968) hit it lucky with the weather on her recent visit. On a double diving day weekend she went out with the Harrisons. Twila collected many of her specialty shells, a fine Terebra thaanumi being the prize item. Twila, a Terebra specialist, found one shell which was a puzzle to her and to the Harrisons. Also she collected many of the less rare Terebras such as T. funiculata, T. lanceata, T. casta, T. argus, T. brachigyra, and by way of Olive Schoenberg's collection, a T. achates. Twila also collected a fine specimen of Cymatium rubeculum. And from Editor Cross' collection, a live-collected Cymatium clandestinum.
While diving with Twila, I collected a Conus acutangulus from 80 feet, a C. nusatella from a coral cliff in 40 feet, and a Cypraea tigris, a real purple prize, sitting right out in the open, in about 45 feet. The next day I also found a Cassis cornuta on rocky bottom.
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