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White shell
White shell The recently described cowry E. rabaulensis (Schilder, 1964, Arch. Moll., 93:141-144, fig.1) has been recorded only from New Britain and is known from less than a dozen specimens.
Mr. Mick Laurent collected a specimen of E. rabaulensis in 2 feet of water on Lilisiana reef, Malaita, Solomons, and forwarded the shell including the preserved animal for examination through Mr. 1. Gower. The shell measured 19.2 mm in length, 9.6 mm in width, labial teeth numbered 20, columellar ones 19. The shell is creamy-fawn with 4 narrow, brownish, interrupted and somewhat obsolete transverse zones, small spots and a dilacerated dark brown dorsal blotch; extremities have a pair of blackish-brown terminal blotches and teeth are dull and short. The radula shows that the species would be more properly assigned to the genus Erronea Tröschel, instead [of] Notadusta Schilder.
The recently described Erronea stohleri Cate & Schilder, 1968 (The Veliger, 10:382-383, pl. 54) bears a great resemblance to the Solomon Island rabaulensis. Erronea stohleri is said to differ from rabaulensis in characters of coarser anterior columellar teeth and a dorsum which is not zonate but has a central dorsal blotch which according to the authors has not been observed in species of Notadusta. The Solomon Island rabaulensis does show a dilacerated dorsal blotch, and the presence or absence of dorsal blotches or zones in cowry species appears to be a variable feature. Erronea errones (Linnaeus) or E. subviridis (Reeve), both occur with or without a dorsal blotch, and Notadusta species may prove to be just as variable in this feature once more specimens become known.
Although encountering a consistent westerly set, limited veliger distribution from the periodically proximal counter-equatorial current distinguishes the Phoenix Group as a western limit for most Indo-Pacific shell species. Oceanographic separation apparently prevents introduction of South American and Eastern Pacific species. Situated in the midst of the Phoenix Group, McKean Island lies approximately one hundred miles from its nearest neighbor, Gardner Island. Isolation by distance is perhaps not so significant as that imposed by the great depth of surrounding water, averaging 2800 fathoms on all sides. Idealized current flow and consistent dry climate characterize this isolation geologically. Ecologically, such forms of natural isolation create boundaries to various marine life, thus providing other marine life forms the opportunity to develop and interact in a unique environment the influence of which is emphasized by uniformity. Consequently, the prevalence, distribution and evolution of an established species can be studied with greater validity when these three variables are regarded as a sole function of a particular isolated environment; usually produced artificially by the restriction of scientific method, but in the case of McKean Island, more perfectly imposed by natural forces.
Amongst the coral rubble 278 Cypraea depressa, 87 Conus ebraeus, and 62 Cypraea caputserpentis were collected in one hour from the study area. Scarcity of live specimens on adjacent reef platform offers the following explanations of study area beach shell abundances: 1. location leeward of trades, current and heavy surf, 2. narrowing of barren coralline platform with increased occurrence of deep sand-filled channels, and 3. gradual slope of sand beach steepening north and south where a 17 foot continuous coral shingle land rim intervenes, rising directly from the platform.
White shell On October 24th, on the open reef, in about fifteen feet of Makaha water, the catch was two Conus distans, 93 and 83.5mm high. The smaller had a Hipponix pilosus attached to the spire, and, as it had moved a number of times, here was considerable erosion.
The thirteenth, and final dive of the month, off the rocks near the Makai Range yielded me fine exercise, as the water was fairly rough and not too clear.
So, it seems that my type diving nets about the good shell per water-hour. Wish every month was as good.
I wonder how long satellite-live football games on TV will keep the diving shell collectors away from the many "favorite" collecting spots? Or the rains? And the air temperatures in the 60's? And water temperature at 78 degrees? [Typo – 68 degrees is typical of 'winter' around Oahu; 78 degrees is typical of 'summer'. – B. Dayle] Only a very few collectors reported finds this past month.
Wes Thorsson, George Cook, and Dave Gonsalve all found Cypraea tessellata plus many other good shells in Moanalua Bay. All were collected in 40 to 50 foot depth using scuba.
New collector Francis Shitabata found the rare (for Philippines) Cypraea carneola on his first collecting trip with scuba. Francis also collected a large Terebra maculata (uncommon during winter months) and Cassis cornuta. These, too, were found in Moanalua Bay in 40 to 50 feet while diving with scuba.
Scuba diving for shells gives the collector the opportunity to be selective in his collecting. The habitat can be studied and in a short time the place to look for each shell is known. Now, with charter boats available economically from the dive shop (see ad below) new, off-shore, areas for collectors are available.
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