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February  2016 


side: 


he  Talostolida  pellucens  Complex 

I  New  Subspecies  of  Oliva  from  Java 


olving  the  Haliotis  multiperforata  Puzzle 
utant  Sinistral  Polygyridae 


Quarterly  Publication  of  the  San  Diego  Shell  Club 


ISSN  0738-9388 


THE  FESTIVUS 

A  publication  of  the  San  Diego  Shell  Club 


Volume:  48 


February  2016 


ISSUE  1 


CLUB  OFFICERS 

President 

Vice-President 

Corresp.  Secretary 

Recording  Secretary 

Treasurer 

Past  President 


David  Berschauer 
David  Waller 
Bob  Abela 
Rick  Negus 
Bill  Schramm 
Larry  Buck 


COMMITTEE  CHAIRPERSONS 


Librarian 
Historian 
Parliamentarian 
Co-Editor 
Co-Editor 
Art  Editor 
Publicity  Chair 
Botanical  Garden  Rep. 


Dr.  Paul  Tuskes 
Dr.  Paul  Tuskes 
David  Waller 
David  Berschauer 
David  Waller 
Martin  Schuler 
David  Berschauer 
Dr.  Wes  Farmer 


MEMBERSHIP  AND  SUBSCRIPTION 
Annual  dues  are  payable  to  the  San  Diego  Shell  Club 
Membership:  Domestic/Foreign  $20  (receive  e-mail  copy 
of  The  Festivm );  Domestic  $35  (receive  The  Festivus  by 
mail),  Foreign/outside  the  continental  United  States  $55 
(receive  a  copy  of  The  Festivus  by  mail).  Single  copies  of 
each  regular  issue  are  $10.00  plus  postage. 


MISSION  STATEMENT 

The  San  Diego  Shell  Club  was  founded  in  1961  as  a  non¬ 
profit  organization  for  educational  and  scientific  purposes. 
More  particularly  to  enjoy,  study  and  promote  the 
conservation  of  Mollusca  and  associated  marine  life 
through  lectures,  club  meetings  and  field  trips.  Our 
membership  is  diverse  and  includes  beginning  collectors, 
scientists,  divers,  underwater  photographers  and  dealers. 

THE  FESTIVUS  is  the  official  quarterly  publication  of  the 
San  Diego  Shell  Club,  Inc.  and  is  issued  as  part  of 
membership  dues  in  February,  May,  August  and 
November.  The  Festivus  publishes  articles  that  are  peer 
reviewed  by  our  volunteer  Scientific  Peer  Review  Board, 
as  well  as  articles  of  general  interest  to  malacologists, 
conchologists,  and  shell  collectors  of  every  level. 

Members  of  the  Peer  Review  Board  are  selected  to  review 
individual  articles  based  upon  their  chosen  field  of 
expertise  and  preference.  Available  by  request  or  on  our 
website  are: 

•  Guidelines  for  Authors 

•  Guidelines  for  the  Description  of  New  Taxa 

Submit  articles  to  Editor,  David  Berschauer,  at 

shellcollection@hotmail.com 


Address  all  correspondence  to: 

The  San  Diego  Shell  Club,  Inc. 

P.O.  Box  230988,  Encinitas,  CA  92023 


All  correspondence  pertaining  to  articles,  including  all 
submissions  and  artwork  should  be  addressed  to  the 
Editorial  Board. 


REGULAR  CLUB  MEETINGS 

Club  meetings  are  held  on  the  third  Thursday  or  Saturday 
of  the  month,  except  April,  September  and  December,  at 
either  7:30  p.m.  In  Room  104,  Casa  del  Prado,  Balboa 
Park,  San  Diego,  or  at  12:00  noon  at  Holiday  Inn  Express, 
751  Raintree  Dr.,  Carlsbad,  conference  room  or  as  noticed. 

FACEBOOK 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/62072427 1 2994 1 0/ 

WEBSITE 

http://www.sandiegoshellclub.com 

Submit  comments  or  suggestions  regarding  our  website  to 
our  Webmaster  David  Waller  at  dwaller@dbwipmg.com. 


FRONT  COVER: 

Live  animal  photo  of  Talostolida  pellucens  sumeihoae 
Daughenbaugh  &  Beals,  2013.  Photo  courtesy  of  Dr.  Henry 
Chaney.  (Cover  artistic  credit:  Martin  Schuler) 


ADVERTISING  in  The  Festivus  is  presented  as  a  service 
to  our  membership  and  to  supplement  publication  costs. 
Advertising  does  not  imply  endorsement  by  the  San 
Diego  Shell  Club,  Inc.  or  its  officers.  Advertising  space  is 
available  at  the  following  rates:  Black  and  White  -  Vi 
page  $300,  %  page  $150,  or  %  page  $75,  Color  -  Vi  page 
$500,  %  page  $205,  or  Vs  page  $125.  Deadline  for 
submitting  advertisements  is  the  1 5th  of  the  month  prior  to 
publication.  Submit  advertisements  to  our  Advertising 
Director,  at:  dwaller@dbwipmg.com 

UPCOMING  CLUB  EVENTS: 

April  Auction:  4/15/16 
West  Coast  Shell  Show:  5/21-22/16 
San  Diego  Co.  Fair:  6/5  -  7/4/16 
Bizarre  Bazaar:  7/16/16 
Balboa  Park  Show:  8/20/16 
September  Party:  TBD 
November  Auction:  11/19/16 


Publication  date:  February  1  ,  2016 


San  Diego  11^  Shell  Club 


Membership  Renewal  Form 

Annual  Membership  Fees  (Please  select  one): 

I  I  Domestic/Outside  the  U.S.  Electronic  Version  $20 
I  I  Domestic  Hard  Copy  Version  $35 
I  I  Outside  the  U.S.  Hard  Copy  Version  $55 

Individual  Member  Name _ 

Address _ 

City  _ _ _ State _ Zip  Code _ Country  _ 

Phone  Number  (  ) _  E-Mail _ 

Main  Interests _ 

Dear  Club  member. 

It  is  THAT  time  of  year  again.  Our  Treasurer  has  looked  at  his  "naughty  and  nice"  lists  to 
determine  who  has  paid  their  2016  annual  dues  and  who  has  not.  Sadly  you  are  one  of  the  few 
who  has  not  paid  your  2016  Club  dues.  Please  note  that  your  reasonable  dues  help  keep  our 
little  non-profit  organization  afloat,  paying  for  such  things  as  facility  rentals,  insurance,  and 
printing  and  postage  to  send  our  quarterly  journal  to  you  and  the  other  members.  Annual  dues 
renewal  notices  were  mailed  out  in  November.  We  have  printed  140  copies  of  the  current  issue 
of  The  Festivus  based  upon  the  good  faith  belief  that  our  membership  is  remaining  at  our 
current  level,  and  that  you  intend  to  renew.  Should  you  not  pay  your  2016  dues  this  will  be  your 
last  issue  and  you  will  be  removed  from  the  active  member  Roster  in  March.  We  assume  that 
your  non-payment  of  dues  is  merely  an  oversight  and  that  you  wish  to  remain  a  member  of  the 
San  Diego  Shell  Club. 

Please  print  and  remit  this  form  with  membership  check  to: 

Bill  Schramm,  Treasurer 
The  San  Diego  Shell  Club 
P.O.  Box  230988 
Encinitas,  CA  92023 


P.O.  Box  230988,  Encinitas,  California  92023-0988 


San  Diego  18^  Shell  Club 


2015  San  Diego  Shell  Club  Membership  List 

USA  Individual  Members 

Abela,  Bob,  4066  Brant  Street  Unit  1,  San  Diego,  CA  92103 
(619)  709-7790  bob.abela@gmail.com 
Akin,  Priscilla,  5173  Teton  Lane,  Ventura,  CA  93003 
(805)  234-7188  pakin@twc.com 
Anderson,  Don,  47-132  Nukupu  Place,  Kaneohe,  HI  96744 
(808)  239-4614  vmcadoc@mac.com 
Baer,  Dixie,  5454  Rear  Country  Road  30,  Mount  Gilead,  OH  43338 
No  phone  number  dixiestanlev@vahoo.com 
Ban  wart,  Mary,  2224  Navarro  Drive,  Claremont,  CA  9171 1 
(909)  624-5297  mb  fmeart@hotmail.com 
Barwick,  Kelvin,  16391  Del  Oro  Circle,  Huntington  Beach,  CA  92649 
No  phone  number  rictaxis@gmail.com 
Beals,  Marty,  c/o  Tideline,  640  S.  Isis  Avenue, Inglewood,  CA  90301 
(310)  641-9106  martv@tidelineusa.com 
Bedell,  Harry,  23852  Pacific  Coast  Highway  #178,  Malibu,  CA  90265 
(714)  968-5662  malibuone@aol.com 
Berschauer,  David,  25461  Barents  St.,  Laguna  Hills,  CA  92653 
(949)  581-9979  shellcollection@hotmail.com 
Bertsch,  Hans,  192  Imperial  Beach  Blvd,  Unit  A,  Imperial  Beach,  CA  91932 
(6 1 9)  423-  8900  hansmarvida@sbcglobal.net 
Bieler,  Rudiger,  Field  Museum  of  Natural  History,  Dept,  of  Zoology 
1400  S.  Lake  Shore  Drive,  Chicago,  IL  60605-2496 
(312)  665-7720  Rbieler@fieldmuseum.org 
Bogen,  George,  321  N.  Larchmont  Blvd.,  Los  Angeles,  CA  90004 
(323)  465-3 1 1 6  rohbogen@att.net 
Brewster,  Brian,  4142  Adams  Ave.  #316,  San  Diego,  CA  921 16 
(619)  210-3910  he  sits@cox.net 
Bridges,  Randy,  11837N.  22nd  Place,  Phoenix,  AZ  85028-1005 
No  phone  number,  rbridges@rbridges.com 
Brown,  Chris,  4575  N  Ave.  del  Cazador,  Tucson,  AZ  85718 
(520)  229-3011  flashcove@msn.com 
Brunken,  Jeffrey,  108  14th  Street,  Delano,  MN  55328 
No  phone  number  isiinbrunk@aol.com 
Buck,  Larry,  3649  Sage  Canyon  Drive,  Encinitas,  CA  92024 
(760)  580- 1726  larrv@glbuckplumbing.com 
Cargile,  William  P.,  16500  Skyline  Blvd.,  Woodside,  CA  94062 
(650)  851-8700  bill@cargile.com 


P.O.  Box  230988,  Encinitas,  California  92023-0988 


Catarius,  Larry  &  Debbie,  4173  Galt  St.,  San  Diego,  CA  921 17 
(858)  270-4376  catarius@sbcglobal.net 
Chaney,  Henry  W.,  170  La  Vista  Grande,  Santa  Barbara,  CA  93103 
(805)  682-  47 1 1  hchanev@sbnature2.org 
Clark,  Roger,  3808  Pinehurst  Dr.,  Eagle  Mountain,  UT  84005 
No  phone  number,  insignis  one@vahoo.com 
Clement,  John,  10934  Evening  Creek  Dr.  East,  Apt.  90,  San  Diego,  CA  92128 
(619)  851-2536  iohnclement@cox.net 
Coan,  Eugene  V.,  P.O.  Box  420495,  Summerland  Key,  FL  33042-  0495 
(650)  283-  8959  gene.coan@, sierraclub.org 
Daughenbaugh,  John,  203  N.  Wilton  PL,  Los  Angeles,  CA  90004-4025 
(323)  465-3718  shoduflv@ca.rr.com 
Dayton,  Paul  K.,  608  Barbara  Avenue,  Solana  Beach,  CA  92075 
(858)  755-7492  pdavton@ucsd.edu 
Dees,  Robert  and  Van,  399  Dorset,  Cambria,  CA  93428 
(805)  927-2520  rdees37@vahoo.com 
Des  Chaine,  Lewis,  3029  Silver  Lake  Road,  St.  Anthony,  MN  55418 
(612)  789-4070  lewisdeschaine@vahoo.com 
Doi,  Matthew,  16209  Taylor  Court,  Torrance,  CA  90504- 1901 
(310)  324-3201  No  e-mail  address 
Eernisse,  Douglas  J.,  Dept,  of  Biological  Science,  MH  282 

California  State  University,  Fullerton,  CA  92834-6850 
3413  Madonna  Dr.,  Fullerton,  CA  92835,  (714)  871-5574 
(657)  278-3749  deemisse@fiillerton.edu 
Emerson,  William  K.,  10  E  Avenue,  Apt  18E,  New  York,  NY  10075- 1 18 
(212)  879-7645  no  email  address 
Enright,  Wendy,  7474  Ashford  Place,  San  Diego,  CA  92111 
(619)  379- 1470  wenright@sandiego.gov 
Everson,  Gene,  500  Nottingham  Parkway,  Louisville,  KY  40222-5026 
(502)  429-  5788  gene.everson@gmail.com 
Farmer,  Wes,  3591  Ruffin  Road.  #226,  San  Diego,  CA  92123-2561 
(858)  576-2143  wmfarmer  1 3 @adnc.com 
Fenzan,  William,  401  Sinclair  Street,  Norfolk,  VA  23505 

(757)  489-4736  hm.,  (757)  651-0943  bill@fenzan.com 
Fletcher,  Karin,  6074  Wynn  Jones  Rd.  E,  Port  Orchard,  WA  98366 
(206)  459-0249  karin@milltech.com 

Frank,  William  M.,  1865  Debutante  Drive,  Jacksonville,  FL  32246-8645 
(904)  724-  5326  strombus@bellsouth.net 
Frein,  Michael,  1231  Pineridge  Drive,  Cambria,  CA  93428 
(805)  464-8828  msfshells@gmail.com 
Friedman,  David  M.,  9400  Robinson  Street,  Overland  Park,  KS  66212 
(8 1 6)  289-652 1  dfriedman@kc.rr.com  gerontius78@gmail.com 
Gettleman,  Alan,  2225  Tanglewood  Lane,  Merritt  Island,  FL  32953-4287 
(321)  536-289 6  Lychee@cfl.rr.com 

Gilbertson,  Lance,  1806  Dover  Drive,  Newport  Beach,  CA  92660-4419 
(949)  631-3591  lngilbert@gmail.com 
Goldammer,  Marilyn  &  Jim,  10051  Sheba  Way,  San  Diego,  CA  92129 
(858)  484-0575  mgoldammer  1  @att.net 
Hale,  Nancy,  2004  Rosecrans  St.,  San  Diego,  CA  92106 
(619)  222-0049  tomnan  12@att.net 


Hamilton,  Ian,  P.O.  Box  6082,  San  Diego,  CA  92166 
(619)  376-5002  imh3 1 5@,gmailcom 

Herrmann,  Richard  &  Ginny,  12545  Mustang  Drive,  Poway,  CA  92064 
(858)  679-7017  rbherrmann@cox.net 

Hertz,  Jules  &  Carole  M.,  3883  Mt.  Blackburn  Avenue,  San  Diego,  CA  92111 
(858)  277- 6259  ihertz@,san .rr.com 

Inouye,  Rick  &  Sheri,  1042B  N.  El  Camino  Real  #266,  Encinitas,  CA  92024 
No  phone  number  winnerscirde4vou@gmail.com 
Ituarte,  Daniel  A.,  10786  Riderwood  Terrace,  Unit  B,  Santee,  CA  92071 
(619)  758-2330  dituarte@cox.net 
Jackson,  Bobbi,  2258  Via  Tesoro,  Alpine,  CA  91901 
(619)  445-3796  rciackson@earthlink.net 
Jensen,  Robert  &  Denise,  77-6496  Maile  St.,  Kailua-Kona,  HI  96740 

(808)  989-055 1  iensenr005@hawaii.rr.com  iamunderdc@vahoo.com 
Johnston,  Bernard,  51 1  E.  San  Ysidro  Blvd.  #2006,  San  Ysidro,  CA  92143 
(619)  730-2352  shellsafeinc@gmail.com 
Kalohi,  Kathy  &  Joseph,  13901  Wilkie  Avenue,  Gardena,  CA  90249-2816 
(310)  719- 1816  wreckdiver77@vahoo.com 
Kanner,  Paul,  10609  Ester  Avenue,  Los  Angeles,  CA  90064 
(310)  863-2427  pkann@ca.rr.com 

Kaufman,  Murray,  9911  W.  Pico  Blvd.,  Ste.  780,  Los  Angeles,  CA  90035 
(310)  569-3899  murrav300@aol.com 
Keefe,  Maureen,  254  Fremont  Rd.,  Chester,  NH  03036 
(603)  887-1953  pinotgrigio@comcast.net 
Kemp,  Bruce,  9420  Carlton  Oaks  Dr.  Unit  D,  Santee,  CA  92071-2527 
(619)  449-7610  bruce.kemp@navy.mil 
Keppel,  Erica,  514  Overhill  Drive,  Edgewater,  MD  21037 
(443)  905-6452  keppelerica@gmail.com 
LaFollette,  Patrick,  38700  Vista  Dr.,  Cathedral  City,  CA  92234 
(760)  770-3753  pat@lafollette.com 
LaGrange,  John,  533  N.  Rios  Ave.,  Solana  Beach,  CA  92075 
(858)  255-72 1 5  iohn.LaGrange@vahoo.com 
Lanni,  Lauren,  1245  San  Elejo  Road  S,  San  Marcos,  CA  92078-1073 
(760)  815-7563  lauren@lanniinsurance.com 
Lee,  Julian  K.,  1630  N.  Fuller  Avenue,  Apt.  1,  Los  Angeles,  CA  90046 
(323)  899-1081  ikl912@sbcglobal.net 
Leighton,  David,  315  Walnut  Avenue  #B,  Carlsbad,  CA  92008 
(760)  637-5210  dlleighton7 1  @vahoo.com 
Lewis,  Scot,  660  W.  3rd  Street,  Tustin,  CA  92780 
(714)  743-9932  slewis@lewcon.net 
Lindahl,  Lisa  Dawn,  27041  Val  Deane  Way,  Hemet,  CA  92544 
(95 1)  929-0990  barabronze@vahoo.com 
Lum,  David,  91-1 134  Hoowalea  St.,  Ewa  Beach,  HI  96706 
(808)  306-2108  davidkwlum@hawaii.rr.com 
Lutan,  Robert,  8003  Presidio  Court,  Universal  City,  MO  63130 
No  phone  number  rlutan2008@vahoo.com 
Luther,  Doug  &  Mary,  1535  Ipukula  Street,  Honolulu,  HI  96821- 1419 
(808)  377-5173  dluther@soest.hawaii.edu 
Lyons,  William  G.,  4227  Porpoise  Drive  SE,  St.  Petersburg,  FL  33705-4328 
No  phone  number  w.lyons9@knology.net 


Martin,  Scott  D.,  2611  East  Lake  Ave.  E.  #102,  Seattle,  WA  98102 
No  phone  number  scottdouglasmartin@comcase.net 
McBride,  Danny,  18334  Collins  St.,  Unit  D,  Tarzana,  CA  91356 
(818)  345-9238,  ScuubaDude@aol.com 
McClincy,  Richard  J.,  2332  West  Calle  Ceja,  Green  Valley,  AZ  85614-8067 
(520)  625-5697  rimcclincv@gmail.com 
McLean,  James  H.,  c/o  The  Residence  at  South  Windsor  Farms 
200  Deming  Road,  South  Windsor,  CT  06074 
(860)  670-95 1 0  iamesmclean58@icloud.com 
Martinsen,  Rob,  124  Oxnard  Avenue,  Oxnard,  CA  93035 
(818)  606-3855,  martinsenshells@vahoo.com 
Metz,  George  E.,  121  Wild  Horse  Valley  Drive,  Novato,  CA  94947-3615 
(415)  892-4960  romageometz@comcast.net 
Michalski,  David,  43535  Kirkland  Avenue  #71,  Lancaster,  CA  93535 
(805)  551-2752  dtaxmandm@gmail.com 
Moore,  Robert,  15539  Shefford  Street,  Hacienda  Heights,  CA  91745 
(626)  336-0553  rmoorel3@roadrunner.com 
Myers,  John,  3761  Mt.  Augustus  Avenue,  San  Diego,  CA  921 1 1 
(858)  279-9806  No  e-mail  address 
Myers,  Tammy  L.,  6237  Wailes  Avenue,  Norfolk,  VA  23502 
(757)  455-0789  henrylimpet@cox.net 
Nash,  Cole  and  Layla,  3383  Calle  Cancuna,  Calrsbad,  CA  92009 
(760)  978-5350,  ms.monicanash@gmail.com 
Negus,  Richard  H.,  3401  Woodland  Way,  Carlsbad,  CA  92008 
(760)  434-9808  megus@roadrunner.com 
Owen,  Buzz  &  Miriam,  P.O.  Box  601,  Gualala,  California  95445-0601 
(707)  884-3388,  (415)  292-3459  buzabman@mcn.org 
Pasqua,  Robert  A.,  2326  Via  Chalupa,  San  Clemente,  CA  92673 
(949)  842-2761  pasqua@cox.net 

Petuch,  Edward,  Florida  Atlantic  University  /  Dept.  Of  Geosciences 
777  Glades  Road,  Boca  Raton,  FL  33431 
(561)  308-1492  epetuch@fau.edu 

Phillips,  Tony  &  Charles,  17  Vista  del  Canon,  Aliso  Viejo,  CA  92656 
(714)  397-0014  CUMACEA@vahoo.com 
Pisor,  Don  &  Jeanne,  10373  El  Honcho  Place,  San  Diego,  CA  92124- 1219 
(858)  279-  9342  dpisor@earthlink.net 
Poremski,  Andre,  51  S.  Street  NW,  Washington,  DC  20001 
No  phone  number  aporemski@gmail.com 
Powell,  Charles,  2932  Sunburst  Dr.,  San  Jose,  CA  95111 
(408)  363-0926  powell2@sbcglobal.net 

Raffety,  John  Arjay,  13214  Fiji  Way,  Unit  A,  Marina  del  Rey,  California  90292 
(650)  903-9836  JAriavR@aol.com 
Reitz,  Chuck,  410  Orpheus  Avenue,  Leucadia,  CA  92024 
(760)  419-0424  crreitz@aol.com 

Reeve,  Barbara  A.,  1319  W.  29th  Terrace,  Independence,  MO  64052 
No  phone  number  baireeve@vahoo.com 
Ritter,  William  J.,  1005  Exchange  Apt  13,  Astoria,  OR  97103-0900 
(503)  325-7948  bulwinkl  29@msn.com 

Roberts,  Dale  and  Kimberly,  28402  Harvest  View  Lane,  Trabuco  Canyon,  CA  92679 
No  phone  number,  No  e-  mail  address 


Sassi,  Alexander  P.,  2617  College  Avenue  Apt.  12,  Berkeley,  CA  94704 
(510)  206-8757  sfalexander@hotmail .com 
Schoening,  Robert  C,  P.O.  Box  634,  Coupeville,  WA  98239-0634 
(360)  678-3951  rschoening@aol .com 

Schramm,  William,  24151  LasNiranjas  Drive,  Laguna  Niguel,  CA  92677 
(949)  495-6971  bsehramm@ivc.edu 
Schroeder,  Linda,  5953  Artist  Drive,  Femdale,  WA  98248-  8303 
No  phone  number  sheller60@hotmail.com 
Schroeder,  Walter,  8101  La  Palma  Drive,  Huntington  Beach,  CA  92646 
(714)  654-9682,  No  e-mail  address 
Schuler,  Marty,  747  Ash  Avenue,  Chula  Vista,  CA  91910 
(619)  420-8347  tagdot@cox.net 
Sisco,  Jeff,  P.O.  Box  2303,  Carlsbad,  CA  92018 
(619)  578-1144,  isisco24@gmail.com 

Smith,  Evelyn  J.  &  Don,  1710  Avenida  del  Mundo,  Unit  1506,  Coronado,  CA  92118-3037 
(619)  435-3073  smithdonevelvn@sbcglobal.net 
Stilwill,  Rex  &  Lauren  Cole,  2054  Celadon  Dr.  NE,  Grand  Rapids,  MI  49525, 

(616)  240-3970  contactRBS5@gmail.com 
Thomas,  Diane,  992  Railbome  Drive,  Sparks,  NV  89434 
(775)  742-4555  funlab2@aol.com 
Tucker,  John,  731  Cantonment,  Rantoul,  IL  61866 
No  phone  number  iohntucker@gtewc.com 
Tuskes,  Paul  &  Ann,  3808  Sioux  Avenue,  San  Diego,  CA  92117 
(858)  274-5829  tuskes@aol.com 

Valentkh-  Scott,  Paul,  Santa  Barbara  Museum  of  Natural  History, 

2559  Puesta,  del  Sol,  Santa  Barbara,  CA  93105, 

(805)  682-4711  extn.  146  pvscott@sbnature2.org 
Vawter,  Doris,  3208  Bonita  Mesa  Road,  Bonita,  CA  91902 
(619)  479-7687  vevawter@cox.net 

Voilero,  Silvana  &  Bob  Petroski,  5613  Carnegie  Street,  San  Diego,  CA  92122 
(858)  625-0756  svollero@san.rr.com 
Waayers,  Robyn,  5893  Mountain  Meadow  Road,  Julian,  CA  92036, 

(760)  765-1624  rwaavers@gmail.com 

Waller,  David  &  Vivian  e,  505  North  Willowspring  Drive,  Encinitas,  CA  92024, 

(858)  768- 1 864  dwaller@dbwipmg.com 
Waters,  Charlie,  P.O.  Box  189010  #227,  Coronado,  CA  92178 
(619)  675-7092  waterwoodie@hotmail.com 
Webster,  Herb  &  Mella,  4403  Sierra  Morena  Avenue,  Carlsbad,  CA  92010 

(760)  730-3648  mellamella@roadmnner.com  herbiewebster@roadrunner.com 
Wiedriek,  Shawn  G.,  5351  Glenstone  Drive,  Huntington  Beach,  CA  92649 
(714)  235-0633  shawnwiedrick@hotmail.com 
Wilder,  Chuck,  ASG  KU  DOC,  APO  AE  09366,  USA 
flv2thec@vahoo.com 

Willoughby,  Dennis  &  Laura,  4438  Pescadero  Ave.,  San  Diego,  CA  92107 
(6 1 9)  224-25 1 6  tpicante@cox.net 

Woolsey,  Jody,  3717  Bagley  Avenue  #206,  Los  Angeles,  CA  90034-4148 
(3 1 0)  839- 1 604  m .wool sev@att.net 

Wright,  Joel  E.,  7918  El  Cajon  Blvd.,  Unite  N327,  La  Mesa,  CA  91942-2515 
(619)  947-5744  iwbavla@gmaii.com 


Foreign  Members 


Amigo,  Jean-Pierre,  41  rue  Pierre  de  Coubertin,  66000  Perpignan,  France 
No  phone  number,  ieanDierreamigo@vahoo.fr 
Boorman,  Ken,  33  Courtyard  Walk,  Chatham,  ONN7L553,  Canada 
No  phone  number  lisas  lair  bookstore@kent.net 
Crayssac,  Vincent,  665  Rue  des  Hirondelles,  Lot.  Leoni,  98809  Mont  Sud,  New  Caledonia 
Home:  687-460-461,  vitiga@canl.nc 

Fernie,  Charles,  “Swansong”  Crescent  Palace,  Lyford  Cay,  Nassau,  Bahamas 
No  phone  number  charlesfemie@gmail.com 
Gori,  Sandro,  Via  Semesi  7,  57123  Livorno,  Italy 
39-3383676433  sandrogori53@fastweb.it 
Gra-tes,  Chorchat,  83  Mu.  4  Ramintra  5,  Yak  18,  Ramintra  Rd.,  Ta-raeng, 

Bangken,  Bangkok,  Thailand  10220 
chorchat@hotmail.com 

Hiscock,  Marin,  32  North  Road,  Brighton,  Victoria  3186,  Australia 
martinhiscock@hotmai  1  .com 

Hollmann,  Michael,  Stockumer  Heide  44,  D- 58454  Witten  Germany 
49-02302-944-255  michael.hollmann@mb.de 
Jacques,  Janine,  7  Rue  Benoit  Cassin,  Terre  de  Haut,  Guadeloupe 
ianine.iacques@wanadoo.fr 

Kronenberg,  Gijs  C.,  Den  Bult  98,  NL-  5616,  Eindhoven, 

The  Netherlands,  No  phone  number  giis.kronenberg@ziggo.nl 
Lorenz,  Felix,  Fr-Ebert-Str.  12,  35418  Buseck,  Germany 
Home:  49-64086-4442,  Felix.lorenz@t-online.de 
Nguyen,  Dr.  Thach,  267  Thong  Nhat  Street,  Nha  Trang  City,  Vietnam 
No  phone  number  kurodashvietnam@vahoo.com 
Pape,  Robert,  Fiirsthof  14a,  24535  Neumunster,  Germany 
No  phone  number  robipape@yahoo.de 

Passamonti,  Marco,  Dipartimento  di  Scienze  Biologiche  Geologiche  e  Ambiental, 
Universita  di  Bologna  via  Selmi  3,40126  Bologna, Italy 
marco.passamonti@unibo.it 

Poppe,  Guido,  Conchology,  Inc.,  Cebu  Light  Industrial  Park,  Basak, 

Lapu-lapu  City,  Cebu  6015,  Philippines 
(+63)  32-495-9990  philippe@conchology.be 
Pras,  Stephane,  15  Rue  Marbeau,  75116  Paris  France 
No  phone  number  stephane.pras@noos.fr 
Strano,  Giorgio,  c/o  Museo  Galileo,  Piazza  dei  Giudici  1, 

50122  Firenze,  Italy  g.strano@museogalileo.it 
Tiago,  Nelson,  Rua  da  Boa  Nova  n°143,  4°  dto,  Valardes,  4405-535,  V.N.  Gaia,  Portugal 
Nelson  tyagoh@hotmail.com 

Vulliet,  Thierry,  78  Golden  Bear  Drive,  Arundel,  Queensland,  Australia  4214 
thierrwulliet@gmail.com 


Institutional  Members 


AFC  /  Xenophora,  c/o  Alain  Robin,  3  Rue  de  la  Croix  au  Beau,  F-78320 
Le  Mesnil  St.  Denis,  France  alrob38@orange.fr 
American  Museum  of  Natural  History,  Library  /  Serials  -  M  Bolin 
Central  Park  W.  At  79th  St,  New  York,  NY  10024 
Bouchet,  Philippe,  MNHN  /  Malacologie,  57  rue  Cuvier  75231  Paris  Cedex  05,  France 
No  phone  number,  pboiicfaet@mnhn.fr 
California  Academy  of  Sciences,  J.W.  Mailliard  Jr.  Librarian, 

Golden  Gate  Park,  55  Concourse  Drive,  San.  Francisco,  CA  941 18 
No  phone  number,  No  e-mail  address 
Conchologists  of  America,  c/o  Anne  Ioffe,  1157  Periwinkle  Way, 

Sanibel  Island,  FL  33957 
(239)  472-6991,  sanibelseashells@aol.com 
EBSCO  Industries,  P.O.  Box  1953,  Birmingham,  AL  35201-1943 
(205)  991-1234,  No  e-mail  address 
Hatsfield  Marine  Science  Center  /  OSU,  Marilyn  Potts  Guin  Library 

c/o  Anja  Bauer,  2030  S.  Marine  Science  Drive,  Newport,  OR  97365-5296 
No  phone  number  abauer@harassowitz.de 
Leal,  Jose  H  ,  The  Bailey- Matthews  Shell  Museum, 

3075  Sanibel- Captiva  Road,  Sanibel,  FL  33957 
(239)395-2233  ileal@shellmuseum.org 
Mazatlan  Library,  PB3/000 16747,  P.O.  Box  830470,  Birmingham,  AL  35283 
Museum  of  New  Zealand,  Te  Aka  Matua  Library,  P.O.  Box  467, 

Wellington  6140,  New  Zealand 
Natural  History  Museum  of  Los  Angeles  County,  ■ 
c/o  Lindsey  Groves  Malacology  Section 
900  Exposition  Blvd.,  Los  Angeles,  CA  90007 
(213)  763-3376  lgroves@nhm.org 

Naturalis  Bibliotheek,  Postbus  9517,  2300  Ra  Leiden,  The  Netherlands 
Novapex,  c/o  Roland  Houart,  St.  Jobsstraat,  8  B-340G  Landen  (Ezemaal),  Belgium 
roland.hoiiart@skvnet.be 

Royal  Belgium  Institute  of  Natural  Sciences,  Library  -  Bibliotheek,  Vantierstraat  29, 
B-1000,  Brussels,  Belgium 

Santa  Barbara  Museum  of  Natural  History,  Department  of 

Invertebrate  Zoology,  2559  Puesta  del  Sol,  Santa  Barbara,  CA  93105-2936 
(805)  682-4711  No  e-mail  address 
Scripps  Institute  of  Oceanography,  SIO  Library  0219 
9500  Gilman  Drive,  La  Jolla,  CA  92093-  02 1 9 
No  phone  number,  No  e-mail  address 
Smithsonian  Institute  Library,  NHB  25  MRC  154,  P.O.  Box  37012 
Washington,  D.C.  20013 

Universitaetsbibliothek,  Johann  Christan  Senckenberg, 

Zeitschriftenabteilung/DFG,  Bockenheimer  Landstr.  134-138 
60325  Frankfort  am  Main,  Germany, 

+41  61  306  15  56  g.dietz@libri.ch  (Gisela  Dietz) 


. 


' 

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"Club 


The  Living  and  Fossil  Busycon  Whelks: 
Iconic  Mollusks  of  Eastern  North  America 


iigf§g 


ISSN  0738-9388 


Volume:  48  THE  FESTIVUS  ISSUE  1 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


President’s  Corner  . . .  p.  3 

Peer  Reviewed  Articles 

•  The  Talostolida pellucens  Complex  in  the  Tropical  Eastern  Pacific:  In  Perspective  . . p.  4 

(Mollusca:  Gastropoda:  Cypraeidae) 

By  John  D.  Daughenbaugh  and  Marty  Beals 

•  Corbicula fluminea  (O.  F.  Muller,  1774),  an  Invasive  Bivalve  Mollusk,  First ..................  p.  17 

Identified  at  Numerous  Sites  in  Bangladesh 

By  Gulshan  Ara  Latifa,  Abu  Tweb  Abu  Ahmed,  Md.  Sagir  Ahmed,  Mohammed 
Abdul  Baki,  and  Md.  Muzammel  Hossain 

•  A  Study  on  Olive  Shells  -  2:  Oliva  hirasei  Kuroda  &  Habe,  1952,  and  Its  New . . . p.  23 

Subspecies  from  Pangandaran  Bay,  Java,  Indonesia 

By  Giorgio  Strano 

•  Pteropurpura festiva  (Hinds,  1844)  in  Monterey  Bay  p.  32 

By  Roger  N.  Clark 

•  A  Review  of  the  Haliotis  rugosa  Lamarck,  1822,  Complex  of  the  Western  Indian  . p.  33 

Ocean,  with  Notes  on  the  Subspecific  Status  of  Haliotis  multiperforata  Reeve,  1846 

By  Buzz  Owen  and  Aaron  D.  Pan 

•  Mutant  Sinistrality  in  the  Polygyridae;  an  Update  .............................................................  p.  44 

By  Harry  G.  Lee 

•  Commercially  Driven  Taxonomy:  the  Necessity  of  Knowing  “Species”  . . . . p.  52 

By  Stephen  J.  Maxwell  and  Tasmin  L.  Rymer 

Club  News  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.  54 

Articles  of  General  Interest 

•  Shelling  on  the  Gulf  Coast  of  Florida  (Part  2  of  2) . . . .  p.  56 

By  Robyn  Waayers 

•  Bulla  gouldiana  Pilsbury,  1895  off  Santa  Barbara  Island  . . . . . . . . p.  62 

By  Laurel  Silver-Valker 

•  How  I  Started  Collecting  Cowries  . . . . . . . . . . p.  63 

By  William  Schramm 

•  Book  Review:  Molluscan  Communities  of  the  Florida  Keys  and  Adjacent  Areas:  ............  p.  65 

Their  Ecology  and  Biodiversity 

By  David  P.  Berschauer 

•  Uncle  David  Left  Me  What?  . . . . . . . . . . .  p.  66 

By  David  Waller 

•  In  Memoriam  -  Laurel  Silver-Valker  . . .  p.  68 

By  David  P.  Berschauer 


'gjtfTHSO iV% 

FEB  24Z016 

'-~4iBRAR'S§^ 


ISSN  0738-9388 


Volume:  48 


THE  FESTIVU8 


ISSUE! 


President’s  Corner 


The  2016  Board  of  the  San  Diego  Shell  Club  welcomes  you,  our 
members,  to  an  exciting  new  year  filled  with  interesting  speakers, 
activities  and  events.  Our  first  two  general  meetings  will  continue 
with  the  student  graduate  speaker  program,  which  we  started  in 
2015  -  with  cutting  edge  molluscan  studies.  We  will  also  be  adding 
short  Club  member  presentations  on  useful  skills,  techniques  and 
tricks  for  shellers,  and  a  “show  and  tell”  style  portion  of  each 
meeting  on  a  different  group  of  shells  each  month.  The  end  goal  is 
to  make  our  meetings  more  fun,  relevant  to  all  members,  and  to 
improve  attendance.  More  shells,  fun  and  people. 


The  Club’s  event  schedule  for  2016  will  include  all  of  the  old  favorites  -  our  April  Potluck  and  Shell 
Auction,  San  Diego  County  Fair  display,  “Bizarre  Bazaar”,  Balboa  Park  Show  &  Sale,  end  of 
summer  party,  November  Auction,  and  holiday  party. Your  Board  has  also  decided  to  spice  things  up 
this  year  and  hold  our  first  shell  show  in  decades.  Why  should  the  east  coast  have  all  the  fan?  We 
have  been  in  discussions  with  our  friends  at  the  Pacific  Conchological  Club  in  Los  Angeles  about 
joining  forces  to  put  together  a  great  show  with  displays  and  entries  from  the  membership  of  both 
clubs.  The  “West  Coast  Shell  Show”  has  been  planned  for  May  of  this  year  and  will  be  advertised 
both  locally  and  nationally;  we  were  careful  to  calendar  around  CO  A  and  other  major  shell  shows  so 
that  there  would  be  no  conflicts.  We  will  have  our  new  Club  coffee/tea  collectible  mugs,  new  Club 
pins,  supplements  and  special  publications  for  sale,  and  hope  that  all  of  you  participate  and/or  attend. 
We  will  also  be  organizing  a  shell  fossil  collecting  field  trip  this  year  -  please  plan  enjoining  us. 


This  calendar  year  is  about  teamwork  and  inclusion.  Because  of  our  Past  President’s  vision,  and  our 
Board’s  dedication  we  have  grown  our  membership  in  the  last  two  years,  revived  some  nostalgic 
events,  added  new  events,  attracted  new  authors  to  our  journal,  and  revitalized  The  Festivus .  Our  new 
Board  is  committed  to  making  your  Club  better  and  stronger.  We  aim  to  increase  participation  in  our 
monthly  general  meetings  as  well  as  our  tried-and-tme  events,  and  our  new  events.  This  year  we 
welcome  Bob  Abela  to  the  Club’s  Board.  Bob  brings  with  him  a  ton  of  skills,  talent  and  new  ideas  to 
synergize  with  the  team,  Marty  Schuler  has  done  a  fantastic  job  as  art  editor  of  The  Festivus  and  will 
continue  to  work  with  the  editorial  staff  to  create  attractive  and  informative  covers.  We  welcome 
your  help  in  planning  Club  events  •  call  us. 


One  of  the  Club’s  most  important  contributions  to  our  mission  statement  is  to  produce  and  publish 
this  journal  More  members  have  been  submitting  interesting  and  informative  articles  in  the  past  two 
years  than  ever  before,  including  some  of  our  new  members  -  many  of  whom  have  never  written  an 
article  before.  Do  you  have  something  to  share,  like  a  neat  find  or  a  range  extension?  General  interest 
articles  need  not  be  scientific  in  nature  and  many  of  you  have  been  on  some  really  great,  fascinating 
trips  and  have  collected  shells  or  have  information,  photos,  skills  or  techniques  which  you  can  share 
with  your  fellow  members.  This  is  the  forum  for  just  that.  This  year  we  kick  off  with  Bill  Schramm’s 
beginner  article  “How  I  started  collecting  cowries.”  Hopefully  our  biggest  problems  will  continue  to 
be  that  there  simply  is  not  enough  space  to  publish  everybody’s  articles  in  our  future  issues. 


ISSN  0738-9388 


Volume:  48 


THE  FESTIVUS 


ISSUE  1 


The  Talostolida  pellucens  Complex  In  the  Tropical  Eastern  Pacific: 

In  Perspective  (Mollusca:  Gastropoda:  Cypraeidae) 

John  D.  Daughenbaugh  1  and  Marty  Beals  2 

1  203  North  Wilton  Place,  Los  Angeles,  CA.  90004 
shoduffv@ca.rr.com 

2  640  South  Isis  Avenue,  Inglewood,  CA.  90301 
martv@tidelineusa.com 

ABSTRACT  The  Tropical  Eastern  Pacific  (TEP)  stretches  south  from  the  Gulf  of  California  along 
the  west  American  mainland  and  the  adjacent  coastal  areas,  and  then  continues  to  its  terminus  in 
northern  Peru.  There  are  also  five  deep  water  oceanic  islands  within  the  TEP.  The  TEP  coastal  area 
encompasses  the  coast  to  the  edge  of  the  continental  shelf  and  includes  the  coastal  offshore  islands  in 
the  Gulf  of  Panama.  The  Gulf  of  California  and  the  Gulf  of  Panama  constitute  separate  sub-basins 
within  the  TEP  and  contain  the  greatest  diversity  of  molluscan  fauna  within  the  coastal  area.  The  five 
TEP  oceanic  islands  are  defined  as:  (1)  the  near  atoll  of  Clipperton,  and  the  islands  of  Cocos  and 
Malpelo  which  are  centered  in  the  region  and  (2)  the  two  archipelagos,  Revillagigedo  and  Galapagos 
which  are  on  the  northern  and  southern  peripheries  of  the  TEP.  Clipperton  is  the  furthest  of  the  five 
main  oceanic  islands  from  the  American  mainland  at  1,100  km,  while  Malpelo  is  the  closest  at  435 
km.  All  five  are  volcanic  and  are  separated  by  abyssal  depths  from  the  mainland  and  each  other,  and 
have  never  been  connected. 


The  Cypraeidae  of  the  TEP,  including  the  Talostolida  pellucens  (Melville,  1888)  complex,  have  only 
received  the  attention  of  scientists  in  relatively  recent  times,  and  only  on  a  sporadic  basis.  This  is  due 
to  the  remote  location  of  the  offshore  oceanic  islands  they  inhabit,  the  difficulty  of  access,  and  the 
challenging  collecting  conditions  which  limit  that  activity.  The  literature  is  sparse  and,  with  respect 
to  the  T.  pellucens  complex,  confusing.  While  the  description  of  the  populations  at  Clipperton  and 
Cocos  Islands  provided  much  current  information,  some  additional  perspective  will  hopefully  shed 
more  light  on  the  status  of  the  populations. 


INTRODUCTION 

The  First  Records  and  Reports 

Even  today,  the  1905-1906  Galapagos 
Expedition  of  the  California  Academy  of 
Sciences  is  regarded  as  a  landmark  in  our 
understanding  of  those  islands.  However,  stops 
at  Clipperton  Island  on  August  10  and  at  Cocos 
Island,  from  September  3  through  September  13, 
1905,  were  often  overlooked  as  little  of  the 
findings  were  published.  While  there  was  no 
malacologist  among  the  scientific  members  of 


the  expedition,  the  geologist,  Washington  Henry 
Ochsner,  collected  and  documented  both  land 
and  marine  shells  from  the  Galapagos  Islands. 
He  also  collected  and  recorded  Talostolida 
Iredale,  1931  from  both  Clipperton  and  Cocos 
Islands. 

L.  G.  Hertlein  first  reported  Ochsner’ s  1905 
Talosolida  finding  at  Clipperton  as  Cypraea 
teres  (Gmelin,  1791)  in  1937.  Subsequently,  he 
reported  C.  teres  among  the  specimens 
collected  during  the  1954  Acapulco  Trench 


ISSN  0738-9388 


Volume:  48  THE  FESTIVUS  ISSUE  1 


Expedition  of  the  Scripps  Institution  of 
Oceanography  (Hertlein  &  Emerson,  1957). 
Thereafter,  the  population  was  referred  to  as  C. 
teres ,  C.  t.  pellucens  or  Blasicrura  alisonae 
(Burgess,  1983)  by  various  authors.  Note: 
Blasicrura  Iredale  1930  was  changed  to 
Talostolida  by  C.  Meyer  in  2003  and  will  be 
used  in  this  paper  throughout,  unless  quoting 
other  authors.  Lorenz  &  Hubert  (1993) 
preferred  T.  pellucens  for  the  Clipperton 
population  while  Emerson  &  Chaney  (1995) 
preferred  T.  alisonae. 

W.  H.  Ingram  reported  Ochsner’s  1905  Cocos 
Island  find  in  1945.  He  had  found  a  specimen  of 
Talostolida  rashleighana  (Melvill,  1888)  “while 
arranging  the  Cypraeidae  collection  of  the 
California  Academy  of  Sciences,  Golden  Gate 
Park,  San  Francisco,  California.”  He  noted  that 
“It  is  a  beach  shell.  The  dorsal  pattern  and 
coloring  are  well  preserved,  and  the  shell  is  but 
slightly  eroded.” 

He  wrote:  "To  date  there  are  two  general  widely 
separated  areas  from  which  specimens  of  C. 
rashleighana  Melvill  have  been  reported:  one  of 
these  areas  is  the  Hawaiian  Archipelago  and  the 
other  is  New  Caledonia  and  the  Loyality  Islands, 
Schilder,  1939.  The  writer  has  never  seen 
specimens  from  the  latter  area  but  has  collected 
beach  shells  of  this  species  from  the  dredgings 
of  Honolulu  Harbor,  Oahu,  Hawaiian  Islands, 
Ingram,  1937.  The  Cocos  Island  record  extends 
the  range  of  this  species  several  hundreds  of 
miles  eastward  and  southward  from  the 
Hawaiian  Islands  and  brings  it  into  the  fauna  of 
the  Western  Americas.  A  close  relative  of  this 
species,  and  one  found  with  it  in  the  Hawaiian 
Islands,  is  Cypraea  teres  Gmelin,  reported 
earlier  from  the  Western  Americas  on 
Clipperton  Island,  Hertlein,  1937”  (Ingram, 
1945). 


Ingram  clearly  believed  the  specimen  was 
synonymous  with  T.  rashleighana,  one  of  the 
most  distinctive  members  of  the  genus.  He  also 
noted  its  separation  from  T.  teres ,  also  found  in 
the  Hawaiian  Islands.  Ingram  repeated  his 
findings  in  1947. 

As  no  further  recorded  collecting  activities  took 
place  at  Cocos  Island  until  the  early  1980s,  all 
reports  prior  to  then  of  T.  rashleighana  from 
Cocos  are  based  on  Ingram’s  finding.  Note:  By 
the  mid  1980s,  based  on  additional  findings  and 
research,  it  was  apparent  that  Ingram’s 
attribution  of  the  Cocos  Island  population  of  T. 
pellucens  to  T.  rashleighana  was  incorrect. 

Emerson  &  Old  (1968)  figured  a  Talostolida 
specimen  from  Panama,  one  of  a  number 
collected  in  the  1930s  by  the  Allen  Hancock 
Pacific  Expedition.  They  were  a  small,  narrow 
form,  collected  alive  in  association  with  corals. 
This  population  was  named  Talostolida 
pellucens  panamensis  (Lorenz,  2002). 

Subsequent  Developments 

In  both  of  Burgess’s  publications  (1970,  p.  115, 
1985,  pp.  148-9),  the  range  of  T.  rashleighana 
was  extended  to  include  Cocos  Island.  Kay 
(1979,  pp.  197-199)  maintains  Cocos  Island 
within  the  distribution  of  T.  rashleighana. 
However,  Burgess  (1985)  states  that  “Dr  Kay 
does  not  believe  it  (71  rashleighana )  exists  as  a 
breeding  population  outside  of  the  Hawaiian 
Chain.”  This  must  have  been  based  on  personal 
communication  because  Kay  does  not  hold  that 
position  in  her  1979  publication  as  stated  by 
Burgess.  Further  confusing  the  issue,  Burgess 
(1985)  includes  Cocos  Island  in  the  distribution 
map  of  T.  rashleighana  while,  at  the  same  time, 
introducing  Talostolida  alisonae.  He  further 
notes  “I  have  seen  conchologically  similar 
cowries  from  . . .  Cocos  Island  off  Central 
America  (Dr.  D.  R.  Shasky).” 


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Talostolida  alisonae  (Burgess,  1983)  was 
proposed  almost  entirely  on  the  basis  of 
anatomical  differences  with  T.  teres. 
Differences  in  the  papillae  were  cited  as  the 
main  difference  between  the  two  species, 
adding  that  the  two  species  are  not  separable  on 
conchological  characters  alone.  In  addition, 
Burgess  stated  that  “Shells  collected  by 
Emerson  and  Old  in  the  eastern  Pacific  are 
conchologically  alisonae,  but  as  in  other  cases 
animal  studies  are  not  recorded”  (Hawaiian 
Shell  News,  1984).  Emerson  &  Old  (1968,  Plate 
12,  Figures  1  to  9)  figured  a  specimen  from  the 
Galapagos  along  with  the  Holotype  of  T. 
alisonae.  The  latter  is  also  pictured  in  the  HSN 
article  (p.  3)  and  Burgess  (1985,  p.  148).  The 
Holotype  bears  a  striking  resemblance  to 
Talostolida  from  Cocos  Island.  The  HSN  article 
and  Burgess  (1985)  formed  the  basis  for 
collectors  of  Talostolida  from  Cocos  Island  to 
label  them  T.  alisonae. 

However,  descriptions  of  a  species/subspecies 
on  the  basis  of  anatomical  characteristics, 
without  supporting  consistent  conchological 
characteristics,  are  problematic  at  best.  Not 
surprisingly,  Lorenz  &  Hubert  (1993)  placed  T. 
alisonae  in  synonymy  with  T.  teres  pellucens, 
treating  the  latter  as  an  ecological  subspecies. 
All  teres  complex  populations  in  the  TEP  were 
attributed  to  this  subspecies  while  giving  the 
population  from  Panama  the  varietal  name 
panamensis. 

Emerson  &  Chaney  (1995),  while 
acknowledging  Lorenz  &  Hubert’s  work, 
retained  the  use  of  T.  alisonae  for  TEP 
populations,  pending  further  elaboration  of  the 
characteristics  of  T.  alisonae  in  the  TEP.  Dr. 
Chaney’s  collecting  at  Cocos  Island  (1991-1992) 
and  on  the  offshore  islands  of  western  Panama 
(1993)  produced  a  significant  number  of 
specimens  of  the  T.  teres  complex.  On  that  basis, 
the  authors  wrote:  “All  of  these  cowries  had  the 


mantle  characters  of  B.  alisonae  and  not  of  B. 
teres ,  even  though  there  was  considerable 
variation  in  shell  morphology,  expressed  as 
differences  in  color  pattern,  growth  form,  or 
most  importantly,  sexual  dimorphism. 
Populations  from  Cocos  Island  and  western 
Panama  have  a  similar  radular  morphology 
{teste  Hugh  Bradner,  June  26,  1993).” 

At  this  point,  the  Cocos  Island  population  of  T. 
pellucens  had  competing  classifications,  both  of 
which  needed  further  study  and  elaboration. 

Lorenz  (2002,  p.  107)  elevated  T.  teres  and  T. 
pellucens  to  separate  species  status.  He  also 
described  T.  p.  panamensis,  elevating  the 
variety  to  subspecies  status.  The  distribution  of 
the  subspecies  was  listed  as  “Panama,  Costa 
Rica,  Mexico  and  Galapagos.”  It  was  further 
noted  that  “Shells  from  Clipperton  Is.  and 
Cocos  Is.  may  resemble  either  typical  teres, 
pellucens  or  even  latior.  Their  animal 
characteristics  are  so  far  poorly  documented.  . . . 
Particular  attention  should  be  paid  to  the 
populations  of  this  species  from  Natal,  the  Red 
Sea,  Cocos  Is.,  Clipperton  Island,  and  the 
Marquesas  all  of  which  show  subtle  features 
which  might  indicate  validity  on  some  relevant 
level”  (pp.  122-3). 

Elaboration  and  Clarification 

Up  until  2011,  the  study  of  the  Cocos  Island 
Talostolida  population,  as  well  as  other  TEP 
populations,  had  been  precluded  by  a  lack  of 
sufficient  available  specimens  with  reliable 
collection  data.  The  exception  was  specimens 
from  the  Panamanian  population  which  became 
widely  available  prior  to  Lorenz  (2002).  By 
2011,  the  authors  had  accumulated  sufficient 
specimens  from  the  1994  Clipperton  Island 
Expedition  and  the  1980s/90s  Expeditions  to 
Cocos  Island  for  a  comparative  study 
(Daughenbaugh  &  Beals,  2013).  These 


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specimens,  coupled  with  the  holdings  of  the 
Santa  Barbara  Museum  of  Natural  History, 
formed  the  basis  for  the  descriptions  of 
Talostolida  pellucens  jacksoni  Daughenbaugh 
&  Beals,  2013  and  Talostolida  pellucens 
sumeihoae  Daughenbaugh  &  Beals,  2013. 

Based  on  a  number  of  factors  which  led  to  the 
Divergent  Evolution  of  the  T.  pellucens 
populations  in  the  region  (see  below),  these  two 
new  subspecies  were  described  in  addition  to 
the  subspecies  previously  described.  The 
distinct  conchological  features  of  the  individual 
populations  supported  subspecies  recognition. 
The  features  of  and  holotype  photos  of  each  of 
the  subspecies  are  provided  below: 

•  Talostolida  pellucens  jacksoni  (Figure  1)  are 
callous/heavy  and  oval/cylindrical.  Embryonal 
bands  are  not  visible  through  the  thick  basal 
callus.  The  labral  margin  is  slightly  stepped,  the 
colurnellar  margin  mostly  well  produced  with  a 
slightly  upturned  marginal  edge.  The  aperture  is 
narrow  throughout  and  the  peristome  concave 
with  a  serrated  edge  at  its  inner  edge.  Marginal 
spotting  is  distinct  and  mostly  profuse.  Dorsal 
ground  coloration  pale  blue/green. 


Talostolida  pellucens  sumeihoae  (Figure 
2)  are  callous/heavy  and  oval/pyriform. 
Embryonal  bands  are  not  visible  through 
the  thick  basal  callus.  The  labral  groove 
is  stepped;  the  colurnellar  margin 
calloused,  produced  and  slightly 
upturned.  The  aperture  is  of  intermediate 
width  throughout  and  the  peristome 
distinct.  Marginal  spotting  is  distinct  and 
profuse,  especially  on  the  colurnellar 
side.  Dorsal  ground  coloration  pale 
blue/green. 

Talostolida  pellucens  panamensis 
(Figure  3)  are  lightweight  and  slender, 
and  nearly  cylindrical.  Embryonal  bands 
are  visible  through  the  thin  basal  callus. 
The  labral  groove  is  shallow,  the 
columeller  margin  not  calloused.  The 
aperture  is  wide  throughout  and  the 
peristome  indistinctly  ribbed.  Marginal 
spotting  is  distinct  but  sparse.  Dorsal 
ground  coloration  greenish.  (Lorenz,  pp. 
106-7). 


Figure  1.  T.  p.  jacksoni  holotype 


Figure  2.  T.  p.  sumeihoae  holotype 


Figure  3.  T.  p.  panamensis  holotype 


Volume:  48 


THE  FESTIVUS 


ISSUE  1 


Mantle 

Papillae 

Siphon 

T.  p.  jacksoni 

orange  to 
orange/red,  faint 
lighter  blotches, 
thick/slightly  rough 

mostly  small  to 
large,  sparse,  light 
gray  to  grayish 
white,  banded, 
slightly  tapered,  few 
blunt  but  mostly  2-4 
white  or  white 
tipped  branches 

light  orange, 
translucent,  fringed 
w/  white  tips, 
orange  ringed 

T.  p.  sumeihoae 

orange/red  to  red, 
faint  lighter 
blotches,  orange/ 
brown  flecked, 
thick/slightly  rough 

large,  sparse, 
grayish  white  to 
white,  banded, 
mixture  of  tapered 
blunt,  and  complex 
white  branches 

light  orange, 
translucent,  fringed 

T.  p.  panamensis 

orange/red  to  red, 
faint  lighter 
blotches,  dark 
flecked, 

thick/slightly  rough 

large,  sparse,  dark, 
banded,  few  blunt 
but  mostly 
numerous,  complex 
white  branches 

light  orange, 
translucent,  fringed, 
orange/brown 
ringed 

Prior  to  the  2013  paper,  the  animal 
characteristics  of  the  three  subspecies  were 
poorly  documented.  Fortunately,  Dr.  Henry 
Chaney,  Santa  Barbara  Museum  of  Natural 
istory  (SBMNH),  was  able  to  provide  excellent 
animal  photos  of  all  three  subspecies  taken  by 
him  on  his  trips  to  the  region  (Figures  4-6).  The 
characteristics  are  distinct  as  shown  in  the  table 
above. 

As  of  2013,  the  known  distribution  for  each 
subspecies  was  noted  as:  1.  T.  p.  jacksoni  is 
restricted  to  Clipperton  Island,  2.  T.  p. 
sumeihoae  is  restricted  to  Cocos  and  Malpelo 
Islands  with  the  latter  likely  representing  down 
stream  migrants  from  Cocos,  and  3.  per  Lorenz 
(2002,  p.  107),  T.  p.  panamensis  ranges  from 
Panama,  Costa,  Rica,  Mexico  and  Galapagos. 
However,  the  authors  are  not  aware  of  any 
records  or  evidence  of  T.  pellucens  from  either 
Mexico  or  the  Revillagigedo  Archipelago. 


From  the  above,  one  could  be  forgiven  for 
believing  that  the  taxonomy  of  the  three 
subspecies  is  clear  cut  and  not  controversial. 
This  would  be  true  for  specimens  from  the  type 
localities  of  Clipperton  Island  and  Cocos/ 
Malpelo  Islands.  However,  nature  conforms  to 
its  own  rules  which  do  not  necessarily  align 
with  those  of  man. 

There  has  been  a  recent  report  of  a  specimen 
closely  resembling  T.  p,  sumeihoae  from  the 
coast  of  Costa  Rica  (Lorenz,  pers.  comm.). 
While  we  have  not  examined  the  specimen,  nor 
verified  the  accuracy  of  the  collection  data,  it  is 
possible  that  this  could  be  a  migrant  from  the 
Cocos  Island  population.  We  would  not  be 
surprised  if  other  isolated  specimens  were  found 
down  stream  or  in  areas  adjacent  to  the  island. 
However,  there  is  no  indication  that  this 
represents  a  viable  population,  but  is  probably  a 
migrant. 


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Volume:  48  THE  FESTIVU3  ISSUE  1 


Talostolida  pellucens  panamensis  Elaborated 

Along  with  specimens  whose  features  align  with 
those  of  the  type  species,  there  are  specimens 
which  do  not  align  with  the  description  of  T.  p. 
panamensis  at  the  type  locality  of  Cebaco  Island 
and  in  the  type  habitat  of  “depths  between  2  and 
15  m  among  rocks  and  sponges”  (Lorenz,  p. 
107).  At  Cebaco  Island  and  the  adjacent  islands 
in  the  Gulf  of  Panama,  there  are  shells  which 
retain  the  nearly  cylindrical  shape  of  T.  p. 
panamensis  but  have  a  callous  base  with  the 
callosity  extending  up  onto  the  margins  in  some 
instances.  When  this  occurs,  the  shape  of  the 
shell  is  extended  somewhat  laterally  and  the 
shell  is  heavier,  but  still  retains  the  nearly 
cylindrical  shape  of  the  subspecies.  In  addition, 
the  marginal  spotting  is  distinct  and  dense. 
Some  of  these  shells  are  noticeably  elongate 
while  others  more  truncated.  In  all  other 
respects,  the  shells  conform  to  the  type.  While 
relatively  rare,  these  are  probably  more  mature 
specimens  of  T.  p.  panamensis. 

In  addition,  there  are  two  specimens  in  the 
second  author’s  collection  which  are  similar  to 
T.  p.  sumeihoae.  They  were  collected  in  1993 
following  the  moderate  1991-1992  El  Nino- 
Southern  Oscillation  (ENSO)  event.  ENSO 
events  result  in  stronger,  faster  currents  albeit 
along  their  normal  trajectory.  One  specimen 
was  collected  at  Ladrones  Island,  Panama  in 
January  and  is  indistinguishable  from  T.  p. 
sumeihoae.  The  other  specimen  was  collected 
on  a  seamount  off  Ladrones  Island  in  April.  It 
shares  the  features  of  both  T.  p.  sumeihoae  and 
T.  p.  panamensis  with  the  callosity  of  the  former 
and  the  elongate  shape  and  coloration  of  the 
latter.  The  authors  believe  that  this  specimen 
represents  a  hybrid  of  the  two  subspecies.  The 
former  is  a  likely  migrant  from  Cocos  Island. 
This  hybrid  likely  represents  an  early  stage  of 
integration  into  the  T.  p.  panamensis  gene  pool. 
These  are  the  only  two  such  specimens  known 


to  the  authors.  The  authors  are  not  aware  of  any 
evidence  that  a  population  of  T.  p.  sumeihoae 
has  established  itself  in  Panama. 

Does  the  range  of  T.  p.  panamensis  extend  to 
the  Galapagos  Islands?  From  February  to  April 
each  year,  the  downstream  Panama  Current 
flows  from  the  Gulf  of  Panama  to  the  Galapagos 
where  the  molluscan  fauna  is  primarily  Panamic 
(Daughenbaugh  &  Beals,  2013).  As  such,  one 
could  expect  that  to  find  T.  p.  panamensis  in  the 
Galapagos.  In  fact,  they  are  there.  While 
verified  Talostolida  specimens  from  the 
Galapagos  Islands  are  rare,  the  authors  have 
examined  six  verified  specimens  (Beals,  pers. 
comm.). 

Four  specimens  were  collected  at  Wolf  Island  in 
March,  2005.  Two  of  the  specimens  align  with 
the  description  of  T.  p.  panamensis ,  while  the 
other  two  align  more  closely  with  the  callous 
form  from  the  Gulf  of  Panama.  The  two  callous 
shells  were  found  under  one  rock,  one  is 
elongate  and  over  40  mm  in  length  while  the 
other  is  more  truncated.  This  probably 
represents  sexual  dimorphism.  Of  note,  one  of 
the  non-callous  shells  is  also  over  40  mm  in 
length.  In  addition  to  the  four  Wolf  Island  shells, 
two  additional  specimens  were  collected  on  the 
same  trip.  One  was  collected  at  Cousins  Rock 
while  the  other  was  collected  at  Cape  Marshall, 
Isabella  Island.  Both  shells  are  the  callous  form. 
All  six  specimens  were  collected  at  6-10  meters, 
under  rocks. 

An  additional  specimen  is  illustrated  by 
Emerson  &  Old  (1968,  Plate  12,  Figures  1  to  9) 
as  Cypraea  (Talostolida)  teres.  The  specimen 
was  reported  to  have  been  collected  fresh  dead 
off  Sombrero,  Isla  San  Salvador,  Galapagos 
Islands  at  a  depth  of  two  fathoms.  The  specimen 
is  very  large  at  50  mm  and  appears  to  be  the 
callous  form  of  T.  p.  panamensis. 


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10 


Volume:  48  THE  FESTIVUS  ISSUE  1 


Divergent  Evolution 

There  are  three  T.  pellucens  subspecies  in  the 
TEP,  a  relatively  compact,  end  of  range  region. 
This  somewhat  surprising  happenstance  is  the 
result  of  a  number  of  factors: 

1 .  DNA  studies  of  two  T.  p.  jacksoni  showed 
that  the  Clipperton  population  had  been 
colonized  multiple  times  from  at  least  two 
different  closely  related  groups  from  a 
southwest  (Thailand,  Phuket,  Marquesas)  minor 
trajectory,  meaning  that  the  TEP  populations  are 
likely  not  a  single  lineage  (C.  Meyer,  pers. 
comm.). 

2.  The  populations  are  isolated  by: 

•  Biogeography.  The  TEP  islands  are 
separated  by  abyssal  depths  from  the 
mainland  and  each  other  and  have  never 
been  connected. 

•  Distance.  From  the  Line  Islands  to 
Clipperton  is  5,700km,  from  Clipperton 
to  Cocos  is  2,375km,  from  Cocos  to  the 
Galapagos  is  673km. 

•  Oceanography.  The  North  Equatorial 
Counter  Current  (NECC)  flows  from  the 
central  Pacific  Line  Islands  downstream 
into  the  TEP  through  Clipperton,  Cocos, 
Malpelo  and  the  Gulf  of  Panama  in 
seriatim.  There  is  little  upstream  current. 
However,  currents  do  flow  seasonally 
toward  Malpelo  Island  from  the  Gulf  of 
Panama  and  then  flow  onward  to  the 
Galapagos  Islands  (Glynn,  et  al.). 

3.  The  short  life  of  the  Erroneinae  Troschel, 
1863  lineage  larvae  in  general,  and  T.  pellucens 
specifically  (Pauley  &  Meyer),  limits  present 
day  dispersal  of  T.  pellucens  within  the  TEP. 

4.  Present  day  currents  are  relatively  stable  and 
predictable,  fostering  genetic  isolation. 


5.  The  Panama/Galapagos  populations  inhabit 
depths  between  1-10  meters  while  the 
Clipperton  and  Cocos/Malpelo  populations 
inhabit  depths  of  10  meters  or  greater  in  open 
ocean  settings. 

These  factors  and  conditions  set  the  stage  for 
the  Divergent  Evolution  of  populations  of  T. 
pellucens  at  distinct,  separate  locales  within  the 
TEP.  In  this  case,  it  is  likely  that  the  small 
number  of  individual  T.  pellucens  veligers 
which  survived  to  form  viable  populations  were 
the  survivors  of  a  larger  influx  from  a  different 
ecological  environment  (coral  reefs)  who  were 
able  to  adapt  to  the  challenging,  largely  volcanic 
conditions  existing  at  varied  locales  within  the 
TEP.  This  probably  occurred  over  a  relatively 
short  evolutionary  time  span. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

Dr.  Henry  Chaney,  SBMNH,  provided  the 
holotype  and  a  paratype  for  both  T.  p  jacksoni  n. 
ssp.  and  T.  p.  sumeihoae  n.  ssp.  as  well  as 
excellent  photos  of  live  T.  pellucens  from  the 
Clipperton,  Cocos  and  Panama  populations.  We 
are  also  indebted  to  Dr.  Chaney  for  his  review 
of  the  manuscript,  and  Virginie  Heros  of  the 
MNHN  in  France  for  images  of  the  T.  p. 
panamensis  holotype. 

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Burgess,  C.  M.  1983.  Another  new  Cypraea  in 
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Burgess,  C.  M.  1985.  Cowries  of  the  World. 
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Volume:  48  THE  FESITVUS  ISSUE  1 


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Hackenheim,  Germany.  584  pp.,  128  pis. 
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Conchbooks,  Hackenheim,  Germany.  292 
pp.,  40  pis. 

Meyer,  C.  P.  2003.  Molecular  Systematics  of 
Cowries  (Gastropoda: Cypraeidae)  and 
Diversification  Patterns  in  the  Tropics. 
Biological  Journal  of  the  Linnean  Society, 
79:401-459. 

Pauley,  G.  &  C.P.  Meyer.  2006.  Dispersal  and 

Divergence  Across  the  Greatest  Ocean 

Region:  Do  Larvae  Matter?  Integrative  and 
Comparative  Biology,  46(3):269-281. 
Schilder,  F.  A.  &  M.  Schilder.  1939.  Prodome 
of  a  Monograph  on  Living  Cypraeidae. 
Proceedings  of  the  Malacological  Society, 
23(5):  11 9-231. 


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Figure  7:  T.  pellucens  jacksoni  specimens.  A  =  holotype  34.8mm;  B  =  paratype  2, 32.0mm;  C  =  paratype  3, 38.7mm; 
D  =  paratype  5,  33.2mm. 


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Figure  8:  T.  pellucens  sumeikoae  specimens.  A  =  holotype  35.4mm,  B  =  paratype  2, 42.0mm,  C  =  paratype  6, 26.7mm, 
D  =  T.  pellucens  sumeihoae  paratype  9, 32.0mm. 


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Figure  9:  T.  pellucens panamensis  specimens.  Top  row  =  holotype,  26.8mm,  dorsal,  ventral  and  side  views;  Second  row  = 
Sebaco  Island  27.3mm,  Contreras  Island  34.9mm,  Contreras  Island  30.8mm  dorsal  and  ventral  views;  Third  row  =  Sebaco 
Island  42.1mm,  Sebaco  Island  35.0mm,  Secas  Island  41.5mm  dorsal  and  ventral  views;  Fourth  row  =  Sebaco  Island  34.6mm 
dorsal  and  ventral  views,  off  Ladrones  Island  38.1mm  dorsal  and  ventral  views. 


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Figure  10;  Top  row  =  T.  pellucens  sumeihoae  Cocos  Island  37.6mm,  T.  pellucens  sumeihoae  x  T.  pellucens  panamensis  off 
Ladrones  Island,  Panama  38.7mm,  T.  pellucens  sumeihoae  Ladrones  Island,  Panama  34.2mm;  Second  row  =  T.  pellucens 
panamensis  Las  Perlas  Islands,  Panama  38.0mm  and  34.1mm,  Wolf  Island,  Galapagos  44.2mm  and  34.4mm;  Third  row  =  T. 
pellucens  panamensis  Wolf  Island,  Galapagos  43.3mm  dorsal  and  ventral  views,  Cousins  Rock,  Galapagos  36.1mm,  and 
Isabella  Island,  Galapagos  33.3mm. 


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Corbicula  fluminea  (O.  F.  Muller,  1774),  an  Invasive  Bivalve  Mollusk,  First 
Identified  at  Numerous  Sites  in  Bangladesh 

Gulshan  Ara  Latifa1,  Abu  Tweb  Abu  Ahmed1,  Md.  Sagir  Ahmed1,  Mohammed  Abdul  Baki2,  and 
Md.  Muzammel  Hossain*1 

1  Department  of  Zoology,  University  of  Dhaka,  Dhaka- 1 000,  Bangladesh 

2  Department  of  Zoology,  Jagannath  University,  Dhaka- 1 100,  Bangladesh 

*  Corresponding  author:  muzammel3@gmail.com 

ABSTRACT  While  identifying  Invasive  Alien  Species  (IAS)  from  different  locations  and 
aquatic  habitats  in  Bangladesh,  Corbicula  fluminea  (O.  F.  Muller,  1774),  an  invasive  alien 
species  belonging  to  the  family  Cyrenidae  was  recorded  for  the  first  time.  Significant  impacts 
caused  by  this  invasive  species  were  detected  in  a  number  of  different  habitats  (river  side,  lake 
side,  wetland,  and  stream)  in  Bangladesh. 

KEY  WORDS:  Invasive  alien  species,  Mollusca,  Corbicula  fluminea,  Bangladesh. 


INTRODUCTION 

The  first  collection  of  Corbicula  fluminea  in 
the  United  States  occurred  in  1938  along  the 
banks  of  the  Columbia  River  near  Knappton, 
Washington  (Counts  1986).  The  original 
distribution  of  the  Corbicula  genus  was 
confined,  in  the  beginning  of  the  last  century, 
to  Asia,  Africa  and  Australia  and  since  then  it 
has  dispersed  worldwide  (Mouthon  1981, 
Counts  1986,  Araujo  et  al.  1993,  Ituarte  1994, 
McMahon  2000).  The  first  documented 
occurrence  of  this  genus  outside  its  original 
distribution  was  on  the  Pacific  coast  of  the 
United  States  in  the  1920s,  possibly  being 
introduced  by  Chinese  immigrants  as  a  food 
resource  (Counts  1981).  Alternatively,  it  may 
have  come  in  with  the  importation  of  the 
Giant  Pacific  oyster  also  from  Asia.  It  is 
known  mostly  as  a  biofouler  of  many 
electrical  and  nuclear  power  plants  across  the 
country.  As  water  is  drawn  from  rivers, 
streams,  and  reservoirs  for  cooling  purposes 
so  are  Corbicula  larvae.  Once  inside  the  plant, 
this  mussel  can  clog  condenser  tubes,  raw 
service  water  pipes,  and  firefighting 


equipment.  Economic  problems  can  result 
from  the  decreased  efficiency  of  energy 
generation.  Warm  water  effluents  at  these 
power  plants  make  a  hospitable  environment 
for  stabilizing  populations.  Humans  are  the 
primary  agent  of  dispersal,  and  no  large-scale 
geographic  features  function  as  barriers  to 
dispersal  (Counts  1986,  Isom  1986).  Current 
methods  of  introduction  include  bait  bucket 
introductions,  accidental  introductions 
associated  with  imported  aquaculture  species 
(Counts  1986),  and  intentional  introductions 
by  people  who  sell  them  as  a  food  item  in 
markets  (Devick  1991).  The  only  other 
significant  dispersal  agent  is  thought  to  be 
passive  movement  via  water  currents  (Isom 
1986);  fish  and  birds  are  not  considered  to  be 
significant  distribution  vectors  (Counts  1986, 
Isom  1986).  Corbicula  fluminea  is  consumed 
mainly  by  fish  and  crayfish.  An  account  of  the 
different  species  which  prey  on  C.  fluminea  in 
the  USA  was  presented  by  McMahon  in  1983. 
The  most  prominent  effect  of  the  introduction 
of  the  Asian  clam  has  been  biofouling, 
especially  of  complex  power  plant  and 
industrial  water  systems  (Isom,  etal.  1986; 


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Williams  and  McMahon  1986).  It  has  also 
been  documented  to  cause  problems  in 
irrigation  canals  and  pipes  (Prokopovich  and 
Hebert  1965;  Devick  1991)  and  drinking 
water  supplies  (Smith  et  al  1979).  It  also 
alters  benthic  substrates  (Sickel  1986),  and 
competes  with  native  species  for  limited 
resources  (Devick  1991).  Diver  assisted 
suction  removal  and  bottom  barriers  are  being 
researched  as  potential  methods  for  physical 
control  of  Corbicula  populations  in  Lake 
Tahoe  (UC  Davis  TERC,  2004).  Benthic 
barriers  have  been  demonstrated  to  be 
effective  for  short-term  control  of  C.  fluminea , 
but  non-target  mortality  to  other  benthic 
invertebrates  can  be  high  (Wittmann  et  al, 
2012). 

Invasive  species,  whether  called  normative, 
alien,  exotic,  non-indigenous  or  introduced  are 
those  life  forms  that  have  evolved  elsewhere 
and  been  purposely  or  accidentally  moved  to  a 
new  location.  The  invasive  species  spread 
quickly  and  easily  in  the  new  environment,  as 
there  are  no  natural  predators.  In  their  native 
habitats,  these  species  are  often  harmless. 
However,  when  they  enter  new  environment, 
for  example  water  where  natural  controls  are 
absent,  they  may  out-compete  native  plants 
and  animals.  So  far  22  freshwater  mollusk 
have  been  recorded  from  Bangladesh 
(Siddiqui  et  al,  2008).  During  2011  to  2012,  a 
total  of  15  freshwater  mollusk  (10  gastropod 
and  5  bivalve  species)  were  identified  in  the 
Old  Brahmaputra  river,  Mymensingh, 
Bangladesh  (Hossain  and  Baki  2014).  To  date 
there  has  been  no  evaluation  of  C.  fluminea  in 
the  tropical  Bangladesh  area,  until  this  study. 

MATERIALS  AND  METHODS 

Invertebrate  samples  were  collected  by  hand 
from  different  locations  in  Bangladesh  from 
May  2014  to  August  2015.  Invertebrate 
samples  were  also  collected  by  fishermen 


during  fishing  season  on  river  banks.  Samples 
were  identified  by  the  Department  of  Zoology, 
University  of  Dhaka;  Department  of  Zoology, 
Jagannath  University,  Bangladesh,  and  by  the 
authors  Sousa  et  al  2008.  Specimens  were 
photographed  with  a  Nikon  D3200  DSLR 
camera. 

RESULTS  AND  DISCUSSION 

This  study  was  the  first  to  record  and 
document  C.  fluminea  (O.  F.  Muller,  1774) 
from  a  variety  of  habitats  and  locations  in 
Bangladesh.  (VSN00 1 7/BR/FM/JnUZM; VSN 
006/FM/DUZM). 

Common  Name:  Asian  clam,  golden  clam. 
Classification:  Kingdom:  Animalia;  Phylum: 
Mollusca;  Class:  Bivalvia;  Subclass: 

Heterodonta;  Order:  Veneroida;  Super  Family: 
Cyrenoidea;  Family:  Cyrenidae;  Genus: 
Corbicula ;  Species:  Corbicula  fluminea. 

Morphology:  This  freshwater  bivalve 

mollusk  has  distinct  concentric  rows  of 
elevated  ridges  on  the  exterior  of  the  shell. 
The  shell  is  rounded  to  slightly  triangular. 
Each  valve  has  three  cardinal  teeth;  the 
outside  of  the  shell  is  transparent  or  yellow 
brown  in  color  while  alive;  the  inside  of  the 
shell  is  polished  and  a  grey  to  light  purple 
color  when  alive  and  dark  brown  when  dead; 
thick,  with  distinct  elevated  rings  on  the 
exterior  of  the  shell.  The  size  ranges  from 
approximately  2.5  to  3cm  in  length. 

Habitat  and  Ecology:  Corbicula  fluminea 
occurs  in  sandy,  muddy  or  gravel-bottomed 
streams,  rivers,  ponds  and  shallow  lake 
shorelines.  It  can  tolerate  a  wide  range  of 
environmental  conditions  in  tropical 
ecosystem.  It  lives  in  streams,  as  well  as  hilly 
areas  with  wetlands  at  depths  of  0.9  to  3m  and 
in  approximately  17.8  cm  of  sediment.  This 


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clam  is  a  filter  feeder  that  removes  particles 
from  the  water  column.  It  is  found  on  the 
benthic  sediment  surface  or  slightly  beneath  it. 
The  ability  of  Corhicula  to  reproduce  rapidly, 
coupled  with  its  low  tolerance  of  cold 
temperatures  (2-30°C),  can  produce  wild 
swings  in  population  sizes  from  year  to  year  in 
northern  water  bodies.  Both  yellow  and  brown 
morphs  occur  simultaneous  as  this  species  is 
hermaphroditic  and  broods  its  larvae  in  the 
inner  demibranchs  (Qiu  et  al  2001). 


Figure  1.  Corbicula  fluminea  (O.  F.  Muller,  1774) 
(shows  both  green  and  yellow-brown  morphs). 


Life  history:  Life  span  is  1  to  5  years,  age  at 
maturity  is  3  to  9  months,  fecundity  68  678, 
Juvenile  size  at  release  250  pm,  position  of 
broods  inner  demibranchs,  type  of  released 
larvae  (juveniles)  D-shaped  configuration, 
brooding  type  synchronous,  juvenile 
survivorship  low,  adult  survivorship  usually 
low,  number  of  reproductive  events  usually 
two  but  may  vary,  assimilated  energy  respired 
11  -  42  %,  non-respired  energy  transferred  to 
growth  58  -  71  %,  non-respired  energy 
transferred  to  reproduction  5  -  15  %  (Sousa  et 
al  2008). 

Habitat  requirements:  Tolerate  low  water 
temperatures  and  prefer  sandier  sediments 
mixed  with  silt  and  clay  (which  enhance  the 
organic  matter  content).  Intolerant  to  high 
salinity  and  even  moderate  hypoxia  conditions 
(this  species  is  usually  restricted  to  well- 
oxygenated  areas).  However,  in  some 
ecosystems  this  species  can  be  found  in  all 
types  of  sediments  (with  or  without 
submerged  vegetation)  (Sousa  et  al.  2008). 

Distribution:  Corbicula  fluminea  was  found 
in: 

Kamrangichar,  Buriganga  River  (GPS 
90°35'07.9"E  and  23°74'11.79"N)  and  the 
portion  of  Buriganga  River  flowing  through 
the  heart  of  the  Dhaka  city,  at  an  average 
depth  of  7.6  metres  (25  ft)  and  a  maximum 
depth  of  18  metres  (58  ft);  during  2012  to 
2013  under  the  MS  Research  grant  program  of 
Dept,  of  Zoology,  JnU. 

Old  Brahmaputra  River,  Mymensingh,  (GPS 
90°37'59.93"E  and  24°19'25.35"N) 
originates  from  the  left  bank  of  the 
Brahmaputra  to  the  north  of  Bahadurabad. 
Flowing  more  or  less  to  the  southeast  it  passes 
the  cities  of  Jamalpur  and  Mymensingh  and 
joins  into  the  Meghna  at  Bhairab  Bazar 
Kaptai  Lake,  Rangamati  (GPS  92°  12 '49.78 "E 


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Figure  2.  Distribution  of  Invasive  Species  Corbicula 
fluminea  (O.  F.  Mailer,  1774)  in  Banglasdesh. 

and  22°35'33.96"N),  a  man-made  lake  with 
an  average  depth  of  30  meters  in  south-eastern 
Bangladesh.  The  lake  is  located  in  the  Kaptai 
Upazila  under  Rangamati  District  of 
Chittagong  Division. 

Kamaphuli  River  (GPS  91°48'  E  and  22°15'  N; 
91  °52'  E  and  22°20'  N)  which  is  the  largest 

and  most  important  river  in  Chittagong,  and 
the  Chittagong  Hill  Tracts,  is  a  667-metre 
wide  river  in  the  south-eastern  region. 

Tanguar  Haor,  Sunamganj  (GPS 
91°04'12.7"E  and  25°08'45.3"N),  is  located 
in  the  Dharmapasha  and  Tahirpur  upazilas  of 
Sunamganj  District  in  Bangladesh.  This  is  a 
unique  wetland  ecosystem  of  national 
importance  and  has  come  into  international 
focus. 

Punarbhaba  River,  Dinajpur  (GPS 
88°37'20.39"E  and  25°37'33.18"N),  is 
situated  between  Bangladesh  and  West  Bengal 


in  India.  It  is  about  160  kilometres  in  length 
and  3  to  8  kilometres  wide,  having  a  mean 
depth  of  1 .96  meters,  and  originates  from  the 
lowlands  of  Thakurgaon  District  of 
Bangladesh  (Figures  1  &  2). 

Water  Quality:  During  October  2012  to 
August  2013,  the  water  quality  parameters  of 
the  Buriganga  River  namely  temperature,  pH, 
salinity,  TDS,  EC,  DO  and  COD  were  22.0- 
31.6°C,  6.2-7. 8,  69-642  mg/1,  97-871  mg/1, 
146-1309  ps,  1.1 -4.1  mg/1  and  140-800  mg/1 
respectively  (Sarkar  et  al,  2015).  In  April 
2008,  surface  water  quality  parameters  of 
Kaptai  reservoir  such  as,  pH,  TDS,  DO  and 
COD  were  5.7-6.4,  50-120  mg/1,  6.58-6.66 
mg/1  and  8.00-15.00  mg/1  (Karmaka  et.  al, 
2011).  In  May  to  June  2012,  the  water  quality 
in  this  region  specifically  the  temperature,  pH, 
DO  and  TDS  in  Tanguar  Haor,  were  27.8-28, 
6. 9-7. 6,  4. 5-5. 5  mg/1  and  670-1036  mg/1 
respectively  (Mamun  et.  al,  2013). 

CONCLUSION 

Corbicula  fluminea  has  become  a  major 
component  of  benthic  communities  in  several 
lotic  and  lentic  habitats  in  different  regions  of 
the  world  and,  thus,  has  wide  spatial 
distributions.  It  may  be  found  in  both  pristine 
and  polluted  environments,  and  presents  a 
very  strong  invasive  dynamics  in  rivers, 
channels  and  lakes  where  it  reaches  very  high 
abundance  (Phelps  1994,  Sousa  et  al  2008). 
Corbicula  fluminea  is  a  bioindicator  species 
for  ecotoxicological  studies  (Doherty  1990, 
Inza  et  al.  1997,  Cataldo  et  al  2001)  and  food 
resource  for  pelagic  and  benthic  species 
(Cantanhede  et  al.  2008).  Corbicula 
fluminea' s  abundance,  biomass  and  abiotic 
factors  will  be  important  for  future  risk 
analysis.  This  study  has  increased  our 
knowledge  about  an  important  ecological 
processes  mediated  by  C.  fluminea  that  can  be 
responsible  for  changes  in  the  functioning  of 


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the  aquatic  ecosystem.  In  spite  of  the 
information  presented  here  there  is  still 
considerable  need  for  further  research  on 
water  quality,  habitat,  population  and 
abundance  of  the  species. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

This  research  was  supported  by  Faunal  Survey 
and  Enrichment  of  Facilities  for  Biodiversity 
Research  Sub-Project  (CP  2216),  HEQEP, 
UGC,  Bangladesh  and  Department  of  Zoology, 
University  of  Dhaka.  Also,  acknowledgement 
is  extended  to  Department  of  Zoology, 
Jagannath  University,  Dhaka  that  provided 
information  about  Invasive  Alien  Species 
(IAS). 

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Jahan  &  M.  S.  Islam.  2013.  Status  of 
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Tanguar  Haor.  J.  Environ.  Sci.  &  Natural 
Resources ,  6(1):  103-106. 

McMahon,  R.F.  1983.  Ecology  of  an  invasive 
pest  bivalve,  Corbicula .  In  W.D.  Russell- 
Hunter  (ed.),  The  Mollusca,  Vol.  Ecology, 
Academic  Press,  NY,  pp.  505-561. 
McMahon  R.F.  2000.  Invasive  characteristics 
of  the  freshwater  bivalve  Corbicula 
fluminea.  Pages  315-343  in  Nonindigenous 
Freshwater  Organisms:  Vectors,  Biology 
and  Impacts.  Claudi  R.  &  Leach  J.  (eds). 
Lewis  Publishers,  Boca  Raton. 

Mouthon  J.  1981.  Sur  la  presence  en  France 
et  au  Portugal  de  Corbicula  (Bivalvia, 
Corbiculidae)  originaire  d’Asie.  Basteria, 
45:109-116. 

Prokopovich,  N.P.,  &  D.J.  Hebert.  1965. 
Sedimentation  in  the  Delta-Mendota  Canal. 
Journal  of  the  American  Water  Works 
Association  57:375-382. 

Phelps  H.L.  1994.  The  Asiatic  clam 

{Corbicula  fluminea )  invasion  and  system- 
level  ecological  change  in  the  Potomac 
River  Estuary  near  Washington,  D.C. 
Estuaries,  17:614-621. 

Qiu,  A.,  A.  Shi,  &  A.  Komaru.  2001. 

Yellow  and  brown  shell  color  morphs  of 
Corbicula  fluminea  (Bivalvia:  Corbiculidae) 
from  Sichuan  Province,  China,  are  triploids 
and  tetraploids.  Journal  of  Shellfish 
Research  20:323-328. 

Sarkar,  M.,  A.K.M.L.  Rahman,  J.B. 

Islam,  K.S.  Ahmed,  M.N.  Uddin,  &  N.  C. 
Bhoumik.  2015.  Study  of  hydrochemistry 
and  pollution  status  of  the  Buriganga  river, 


Bangladesh.  Bangladesh  J.  Sci.  Ind.  Res. 
50(2):  123-134. 

Siddiqui,  K.U.,  M.A.  Islam,  S.M.H.  Kabir, 
M.  Ahmed,  A.T.A.  Ahmed,  A.K.A. 
Rahman,  E.U.  Haque,  Z.U.  Ahmed, 
Z.N.T.  Begum,  M.A.  Hassan,  M. 
Khondker,  &  M.M.  Rahman  (eds.)  2008. 
Encyclopedia  of  Flora  and  Fauna  of 
Bangladesh,  Vol.  17.  Molluscs. Asiatic 
Society  of  Bangladesh,  Dhaka  415  pp. 
Sickel,  J.B.  1986.  Corbicula  population 
mortalities:  factors  influencing  population 
control.  Am.  Malacol.  Bull,  Special  Edition 
2:89-94. 

Smith,  A.L.,  A.  Mula,  J.P.  Farkas,  &  D.O. 
Bassett.  1979.  Clams  -  a  growing  threat  to 
in  plant  water  systems.  Plant  Engineering 
1979:165-167. 

Sousa,  R.,  C.  Antunes,  &  L.  Guilhermino. 
2008.  Ecology  of  the  invasive  Asian  clam 
Corbicula  fluminea  (Muller,  1774)  in 
aquatic  ecosystems:  an  overview.  Ann. 
Limnol.  -Int.  J.  Lim.  44(2):  85-94. 

UC  Davis  Tahoe  Environmental  Research 
Center.  2004.  Aquatic  Invasive  Species. 
Accessed,  1 0/28/13.  http://terc.ucdavis.edu/ 
research/aquaticinvasives.html. 

Williams,  C.J.,  &  R.F.  McMahon.  1986. 
Power  station  entrainment  of  Corbicula 
fluminea  (Muller)  in  relation  to  population 
dynamics,  reproductive  cycle  and  biotic  and 
abiotic  variables.  American  Malacological 
Bulletin,  Special  Edition  2:99-111. 
Wittmann,  M.E.  S.  Chandra,  J.E.  Reuter, 
S.G.  Schladow,  B.C.  Allen,  &  K.J.  Webb. 
2012.  The  control  of  an  invasive  bivalve, 
Corbicula  fluminea,  using  gas  impermeable 
benthic  barriers  in  a  large  natural  lake. 
Environmental  Management  49(6):  1 163-73. 


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Volume:  48 


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ISSUE  1 


A  Study  on  Olive  Shells  -  2: 

Oliva  hirasei  Kuroda  &  Habe,  1952,  and  Its  New  Subspecies 
from  Pangandaran  Bay,  Java,  Indonesia 

Giorgio  Strano 

Museo  Galileo:  Institute  and  Museum  of  History  of  Science 
Piazza  dei  Giudici  1,  50122  Firenze,  Italy 
g.strano@museogalileo.it 


23 


INTRODUCTION 

The  number  of  Oliva  species  varies 
continuously  from  one  author  to  another.  There 
is  perhaps  no  other  gastropod  group  where  the 
uncertainty  of  the  synonymy  is  proportional  to 
the  beauty  of  the  shells.  Whoever  studies  olives 
and  finds  something  neglected  in  the 
monographs  on  the  genus  should  pause  for  a 
while  and  then  carefully  reflect.  Is  what  one  has 
in  hand  a  new  species  or  subspecies,  or  just  a 
color  form  or  variety  already  described 
elsewhere? 

During  the  last  five  years,  a  few  dealers  offered 
a  total  of  about  thirty  noteworthy  specimens  of 
Oliva  hirasei  Kuroda  &  Habe,  1952.  Such 
specimens  share  two  features.  They  have  a 
bright  purple  aperture,  very  different  from  the 
off  white  aperture  of  the  species.  They  come 
from  Pangandaran  Bay,  S.W.  Java,  Indonesia,  a 
locality  outside  the  acknowledged  distribution 
range  of  O.  hirasei . 

The  availability  of  17  specimens  for  direct 
analysis  made  it  apparent  that  these  shells  differ 
from  the  typical  O.  hirasei  also  for  other 
morphometric  and  morphological  characters.  So 
far,  the  evidence  is  strong  enough  to  distinguish 
between  O.  hirasei  hirasei  and  a  new, 
geographically  secluded  new  subspecies,  O. 
hirasei  ameliae. 


Historical  background 

Several  common  and  bathymetrically  accessible 
Olives  had  to  wait  until  the  20th  century  to  gain 
the  specialist’s  attention.  The  case  of  O.  hirasei 
is  noteworthy  because,  in  addition  to  its  wide 
distribution  and  present  availability,  the  species 
is  of  medium  size  and  relatively  constant  in 
shape,  color  and  pattern. 

The  study  of  pre-20th-century  sources  confirms 
that  no  specimen  of  O.  hirasei  had  therein  been 
described  under  another  name.  The  first  figured 
specimen  appeared  in  1909,  in  one  of  Yoichiro 
Hirase’s  bilingual  articles  on  the  mollusks  of 
Japan  [Hirase,  1909:  pi.  4,  fig.  26]  (Figure  la). 
Hirase  guessed  that  this  “Kuchij  iro-makura” 
from  the  Okinawa  islands  could  be  a  variety  of 
O.  irisans  Lamarck,  1811.  He  also  remarked: 
“Somewhat  this  resembles  O.  scripta  Lam.,  but 
not  exact”  [Ibid. :  15].  A  short  description  and 
comparisons  with  “Judou-makura”  —  called  O. 
irisans,  but  being  O.  miniacea  miniacea 
(Roding,  1798)  —  and  “Numeri-makura”  —  the 
true  O.  irisans  —  were  placed  in  the  Japanese 
section  of  the  article  [Ibid. :  46]. 

The  name  O.  hirasei  was  coined  by  Tokubei 
Kuroda  and  Tadashige  Habe  in  their  Check  List 
of  the  marine  mollusks  of  Japan.  In  1952,  the 
two  authors  acknowledged  that  the  shell  was  the 
same  described  by  Hirase,  made  explicit 
reference  to  his  figure  of  1909,  and  implicitly 
dedicated  the  new  species  to  his  memory 
[Kuroda  &  Habe,  1952:  74]. 


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Volume:  48 


Two  years  later,  Tetsuaki  Kira  published  the 
first  edition  of  his  Coloured  Illustrations  of  the 
Shells  of  Japan.  The  volume  included  a  new 
description  of  “Kuchijiro-makura”,  or  “O. 
hirasei  Kuroda,  MS9’,  and  a  new  figure  [Kira, 
1954:  63  and  pi.  31,  fig.  8].  A  second  edition  of 
the  book  was  printed  in  1959  and,  again, 
included  the  description,  the  attribution  to 
Kuroda  and  the  figure  [Kira,  1959:  80  and  pi  31, 
fig.  8]  (Figure  lb).  It  is  uncertain  which  of  the 
two  editions  was  available  to  John  Q.  Burch  and 
Rose  L.  Burch.  On  the  basis  of  Hirase,  Kuroda 
and  Babe,  and  Kira,  they  suggested  that  the  new 
taxon,  to  be  called  O.  hirasei  Kuroda  &  Habe, 
1952,  could  be  a  synonym  of  O.  tremulina 
Lamarck,  1811  [Burch  &  Burch,  1959:  12;  and 
1960:  19].  In  fact,  before  the  revision  of  the 
genus  Oliva  Braguiere,  1789,  by  Edward  J. 
Petucfa  and  Dennis  M.  Sargent,  O.  tremulina 
was  usually  identified  with  the  present  O. 
concinna  Marrat,  1870  [Zeigler  &  Ponreca,  1969: 
pi  12,  figs.  1-7].  The  rough  similarity  between 
orange  specimens  of  O.  concinna  oldi  Zeigler, 
1969,  and  O.  hirasei  explains  the  perplexities  on 
the  past,  and  also  why  actual  specimens  of  O. 
hirasei  were  taken  for  O.  tremulina  fumosa 
Marrat,  1871  [Ibid:  pi.  12,  fig.  8]. 


Figure  1.  The  Japanese  shell  “Kuchijiro-makura”;  a.  The  first 
figured  specimen  [Hirase,  1909:  pi.  4,  fig.  26;  from 
www.biodiversitvlibrarv.orgl :  b.  The  second  figured  specimen 
[Kira,  1 954  and  1 959:  pi.  3 1 ,  fig.  8]. 


Even  if  the  shell  was  successively  neglected,  or 
perhaps  considered  a  Japanese  form  of  alleged 
O.  scripta  Lamarck,  1811  [Burch  &  Burch, 
1967:  516],  Rowland  F.  Zeigler  and  Humbert  C. 
Porreca  stated  that  O.  hirasei  was  a  valid 
species.  In  1969,  they  outlined  that  “apparently 
there  is  no  written  description  of  the  shell  by 
Kuroda  and  Habe”.  Kira  had  to  be  credited  for 
the  first  description  in  1959,  and  “Kuroda,  MS”, 
could  represent  an  incomplete  reference  to 
Kuroda  and  Habe.  As  a  consequence,  they 
coined  the  name:  O.  hirasei  “Kuroda  &  Habe, 
1952”  Kira,  1959  [Ibid:  71],  and  paved  the  way 
to  further  errors.  On  the  one  hand,  Petueh  and 
Sargent  split  the  name  into  O.  hirasei  Kuroda 
and  Habe,  1952  [Petueh  &  Sargent,  1986:  248] 
and  O.  hirasei  Kira,  1959  [Ibid:  52,  92  and 
181].  On  the  other  hand,  Bernard  Tursch  and 
Bietmar  Greifeneder  made  unsound  inferences. 
First:  Kuorda  and  Habe  did  not  describe  the 
species.  Therefore,  according  to  the  ICZN,  Art. 
13.1.1,  O.  hirasei  Kuorda  &  Habe,  1952,  was  a 
nomen  nudum .  Second:  the  attribution  of  O. 
hirasei  to  “Kuroda,  MS”  possibly  referred  to  a 
description  by  Kuroda  in  Kira's  journal  Yume- 
hamaguri .  According  to  the  ICZN ,  Art.  9.1, 
“after  1930  handwriting  reproduced  in  facsimile 
by  any  process” — as  it  was  the  case  of  Yume - 
hamaguri — do  not  constitute  publication. 
Therefore,  Kuroda's  contribution  to  the  taxon 
was  irrelevant  and  Kira  had  the  foil  merit  of  the 
first  description.  Third:  Tursch  and  Greifeneder 
examined  the  1959  second  edition  of  the 
Coloured  Illustrations ,  instead  of  the  1954  first 
edition.  As  a  result,  they  concluded  that  O. 
hirasei  Kira,  1959,  was  the  name  of  the  taxon 
[Tursch  &  Greifeneder,  1996:  23-24;  and  2001: 
447].  Such  a  name  was  blindly  accepted  in  the 
two  most  recent  monographs  on  Olive  shells 
[Sterba,  2003:  54;  Hunon,  Hoarau  &  Robin, 
2009:  106]. 


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It  is  important  to  note  that,  to  be  available,  any 
new  name  published  after  1930  must  be 
accompanied  either  “by  a  description  or 
definition  that  states  in  words  characters  that  are 
purported  to  differentiate  the  taxon”  [. ICZN :  Art. 
13.1.1],  or  “by  a  bibliographic  reference  to  such 
a  published  statement”  [ICZN:  Art.  13.1.2], 
When,  in  1952,  Kuroda  and  Habe  cited  Hirase’s 
figure  of  1909,  they  inevitably  included  the 
bibliographic  reference  to  Hirase’s  bilingual 
description  of  the  shell,  even  if  it  was 
considered  a  variety  of  O.  irisans.  In  this  way, 
they  accomplished  a  valid  taxonomical  act  in 
the  spirit  of  the  ICZN ,  Art.  13.1.2.  Such  an  act 
makes  O.  hirasei  Kuroda  &  Habe,  1952,  the 
correct  name  of  the  taxon  [Rudiger  &  Petit, 
1990:  139]. 

Oliva  hirasei  hirasei  Kuroda  &  Habe,  1952 
For  a  better  intelligibility  of  O.  hirasei  ameliae, 
new  subspecies,  I  resume  the  general  characters 
of  the  typical  subspecies  O.  hirasei  hirasei : 

Description:  Shell  elongated,  sub-cylindrical. 
Width/Hight  ratio  44.59  %  ±  1.79  %.  Nucleus 
formed  by  ca.  3.8  (usually  worn)  whorls.  Spire 
very  low,  6.79  %  ±  1.54  %  of  the  shell;  profile 
from  slightly  concave  to  sunken;  from  4.5  to  5.1 
whorls  (body  whorl  included).  Filament  channel 
open.  Spire/shoulder  transition  barely  telescopic. 
Aperture  narrow,  very  long,  91.65  %  ±  3.29  % 
of  the  shell.  Parietal  wall  straight  or  slightly 
concave.  From  22  to  38  usually  well-developed 
plicae,  rarely  smoothed;  sequence  [see  Tursch 
&  Greifeneder,  2001:  295]:  4-11/2-6/1-5/11-21. 
Shell’s  overall  color  cream.  Sub-channel  pattern 
formed  by  faint  irregular  marks  which  may 
develop  into  a  continuous  dark  line.  Pattern-less 
spire  callus,  tan.  Body-whorl  pattern  formed  by 
a  broad,  regular  reticulation  of  brown  speckles 
and  light  triangles.  Pattern-less  area  at  the 
shoulder.  Posterior  and  middle  bands  always 
present,  from  scantly  to  well  developed,  formed 
by  irregular  brown  blotches.  External  glaze 


usually  present,  from  yellow  to  tan.  Post- 
fasciole  band  bipartite,  posteriorly  translucent 
and  mostly  pattem-less,  anteriorly  with  dense 
regular  brown  strokes.  Parietal  callus  from 
translucent  towards  the  spire  to  off  white  around 
the  centre.  Fasciole  off  white.  Anterior  tip  with 
a  tan  diffuse  area.  Lip  from  cream  to  tan. 
Aperture  off  white,  sometimes  with  a  bluish  hue. 
Siphon  notch  white  (see  Figure  2). 

Size:  up  to  70.2  mm;  usually  around  50  mm. 

Type  material:  The  1909  figured  specimen,  ca. 
45  mm  high,  belonged  in  Hirase’s  collection, 
originally  placed  in  The  Hirase  Conchological 
Museum  of  Kyoto.  The  collection  was  moved  to 
the  Science  Museum  in  Ueno  Park  (today’s 
National  Museum  of  Nature  and  Science), 
Tokyo,  and  survived  World  War  II  [Clench, 
1948:  35].  The  present  existence  of  the  figured 
specimen  needs,  however,  confirmation. 

Type  locality:  Okinawa,  Ryukyu  Is.,  S.  Japan. 

Distribution:  S.  Japan,  Taiwan,  Vietnam, 
Philippines,  N.  Borneo,  Melanesia  up  to  New 
Caledonia. 

Bathymetric  range ;  From  shallow  to  deep  water, 
between  2  and  160  m. 


Have  shells  that  you  would 
like  to  donate? 


The  San  Diego  Shell  Club  would  like  to  be 
considered  for  your  donations.  Please  contact 
David  Waller,  SDSC  Acquisition  Chairperson 
at  dwaller@dbwipmg.com  to  schedule  a  time 
to  review  and  pick  up  your  donation. 


ISSN  0738-93S8 


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Volume:  48  THE  FESTIVUS  ISSUE  1 


Oliva  himsei  ameliae ,  new  subspecies 
For  the  sake  of  clarity,  I  will  describe  the  type 
material  of  O.  hirasei  ameliae ,  new  subspecies, 
along  the  same  lines  of  O.  hirasei  hirasei . 

Description:  Shell  elongated,  sub-cylindrical  or 
sub-conical  Width/Hight  ratio  44 J  2  %  ±  0.96 
%.  Nucleus  formed  by  about  3.7  (usually  worn) 
whorls.  Spire  low,  7.66  %  ±  1.14  %  of  the  shell; 
profile  slightly  concave;  from  4.1  to  5.0  whorls. 
Filament  channel  open.  Spire/shoulder 
transition  barely  telescopic.  Aperture  narrow, 
long,  88.97  %  ±  2.18  %  of  the  shell.  Parietal 
wall  straight  or  slightly  concave.  From  24  to  34 
well-developed  plicae;  sequence:  5-9/3 -5/2- 
4/11-19.  Shell's  overall  color  ivory  white.  Sub¬ 
channel  pattern  formed  by  faint  marks  which 
may  develop  into  an  interrupted  purple  line. 
Pattem-less  spire  callus,  from  tan  to  violet. 
Body-whorl  pattern  formed  by  a  broad,  regular 
reticulation  of  brown  speckles  and  light 
triangles.  Pattem-less  area  at  the  shoulder. 
Posterior  and  middle  bands  always  present, 
often  well  developed,  rarely  coalescing,  formed 
by  irregular  brown  blotches.  External  glaze 
seldom  present,  light  yellow.  Post-fasciole  band 
bipartite,  posteriorly  translucent  and  mostly 
pattem-less,  anteriorly  with  a  few  brown  strokes. 
Parietal  callus  from  translucent  towards  the 
spire  to  white  around  the  centre.  Fasciole  white. 
Anterior  tip  with  a  yellow  diffuse  area.  Lip  from 
light  cream  to  ivory  white  outside,  white  inside. 
Aperture  with  a  broad  bright  purple  longitudinal 
band.  Throat  white.  Siphon  notch  violet  (see 
Figures  3  and  4). 

Size :  up  to  45.6  mm;  usually  around  40  mm. 

Type  material :  Hoiotype:  collected  in  2009, 
41.2  mm;  Museum  of  Natural  History  t6La 
Specola”,  Firenze,  Italy,  no.  24934  MZUF; 
Paratype  1:  collected  on  May  2010,  42.0  mm, 
Author's  research  collection  no.  1722; 
Paratypes  2  and  3:  collected  on  August  2010,  by 


cm 

5  — 


0  — 


Figure  3.  Oliva  hirasei  ameliae,  new  subspecies.  Hoiotype,  41.2 
mm,  Pangandaran  Bay,  S.W.  Java,  Indonesia. 

local  fisherman,  5-10  m,  40.3  mm  and  43.6  mm, 
A.'s  res.  coll.  nos.  1938  and  1939;  Paratype  4: 
collected  in  2009,  44.0  mm,  A.'s  res.  coll.  no. 
2608;  Paratype  5:  collected  on  September  2009, 
by  local  fisherman,  3-5  m,  37.3  mm,  A.'s  res. 
coll.  no.  1907;  Paratype  6:  collected  on  January 
2011,  by  local  fisherman,  15-20  m,  38.2  mm, 
A.'s  res.  coll.  no.  2770;  Paratype  7:  collected  in 
2014,  39.2  mm,  A.'s  res.  coll  no.  2881; 
Paratypes  8  to  13  and  15:  collected  in  2014,  2-3 
m,  41.2  mm,  39.9  mm,  38.7  mm,  36.9  mm,  37.9 
mm,  32.5  mm  and  41.5  mm,  A.'s  res.  coll  nos. 
2888  to  2893  and  2895;  Specimen  1:  collected 
in  2014,  2-3  m,  41.0  mm,  Giovanni  Confortini's 
coll.,  Firenze,  Italy;  Specimen  2:  collected  on 
September  2009,  by  local  fisherman,  3-5  m, 
45.6  mm,  Cesare  Brizio's  coll,  Poggio  Renatico, 
Ferrara,  Italy. 

Type  locality i  Pangandaran  Bay,  S.W.  Java, 
Indonesia. 


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Distribution :  Restricted  to  the  type  locality. 

Bathymetric  range :  Shallow  water,  between  2 
and  20  m. 

Etymology :  It  would  not  be  fair  to  dedicate  a 
mere  subspecies  to  a  scholar.  In  addition,  too 
many  people  were  involved  in  the  gathering  of 
the  type  material.  Therefore,  I  humbly  dedicate 
the  new  subspecies  to  my  niece,  Amelia  Strano. 
I  hope  that,  in  due  time,  the  dedication  might 
inspire  her  to  study  the  genus  Oliva.  The  new 
name  is  not  a  homonym  of  Oliva  amelia  Duclos, 
1845,  which  is  a  fossil  Olivella  Swainson,  1831, 
and,  as  such,  it  does  not  belong  in  the  family 
Olividae  Latreille,  1825,  but  in  the  family 
Olivellidae  Troschel,  1869  [see  Duclos,  1844- 
1845,  pi.  36,  figs.  1-2]. 

DISCUSSION 

At  first  sight,  O.  hirasei  ameliae ,  new 
subspecies,  resembles  O.  hirasei  hirasei  Kuroda 
&  Habe,  1952,  and  rarely  O.  pacifica  Marrat, 
1870.  The  morphometric  analysis  suggests  that 
O.  h.  ameliae  and  O.  h.  hirasei  are  similar,  the 
first  being  a  less  developed  morph  of  the  second 
(Table  1).  In  particular,  the  distal  (from  top  of 
protoconch  to  anterior  end  of  lip)  and  ab-axial 
(maximum  width)  growth  factors  are  Lk  =  1.258 
±  0.020  and  Lw  =  1.886  ±  0.065  for  O.  h. 
ameliae,  and  Lk  =  1 .223  ±  0.036  and  Lw  =  1 .970 
±  0.106  for  O.  h.  hirasei.  The  plot  graph  of 
these  factors  reveals  that  O.  h.  ameliae,  does  not 
escape  the  continuum  of  O.  h.  hirasei. 
Nevertheless,  being  more  slender,  it  occupies  a 
marginal  area  of  the  continuum,  a  fact  which 
justifies  the  sub-specific  status.  To  emphasize 
the  significance  of  the  data,  the  graph  includes 
O.  pacifica,  whose  growth  factors  are  Lk  = 
1.243  ±  0.023  and  Lw  =  1.609  ±  0.065  {Figure 
5). 


The  primary  morphological  character  which 
separates  the  two  subspecies  is  the  color  of  the 
aperture.  Adults  and  sub-adults  of  O.  h.  hirasei 
always  display  an  off  white  aperture,  which  may 
occasionally  present  a  bluish  hue.  Adults  of  O.  h. 
ameliae  always  display  a  bright  purple  aperture, 
which  is  paler  in  the  sub-adults.  The  purple  tint 
is  not  uniformly  distributed  from  the  lip  to  the 
throat,  as  in  O.  pacifica,  but  restricted  to  a 
longitudinal  band,  as  in  O.  coerulea  (Roding, 
1798)  and  in  O.  emeliodina  Duclos,  1845. 
Differently  from  those  two,  the  tint  of  the 
aperture  slightly  affects  the  siphon  notch  of  O.  h. 
ameliae. 

There  are  other  morphological  differences.  The 
shells  of  O.  h.  ameliae  display  a  light-colored 
lip  and  an  ivory  body-whorl  background.  They 
usually  lack  the  yellow,  orange  or  tan  glaze  of  O. 
h.  hirasei.  For  such  a  reason,  in  dorsal  view,  O. 
h.  ameliae  may  look  similar  to  small  specimens 
of  O.  pacifica.  Finally,  the  anterior  half  of  the 
post-fasciole  band  of  O.  h.  ameliae  displays  a 
few  brown  strokes  instead  of  the  dense  brown 
strokes  of  O.  h.  hirasei  {Figure  6 ). 

Up  to  the  present,  O.  h.  ameliae  is  only  found  in 
the  Pangandaran  Bay,  S.W.  Java,  Indonesia. 
This  locality  is  outside  the  acknowledged 
distribution  range  of  O.  h.  hirasei.  The  distinct 
geographic  isolation  of  this  Indonesian  olive 
supports  its  description  as  a  new  subspecies. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS  AND 
APOLOGIES 

I  would  like  to  thank  Karen  Giacobassi  for  her 
very  kind  revision  of  the  English  text.  I  am 
grateful  to  Cesare  Brizio  and  Giovanni 
Confortini  for  their  comments  upon  the  first 
draft  of  the  article.  I  owe  special  thanks  to 
Sandra  Lucore,  Naomi  Ogawa  and  Reiko 
Tsubaki  for  their  invaluable  assistance  in 
translating  Hirase’s  and  Kira's  Japanese  texts. 


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Regrettably,  for  the  sake  of  brevity,  I  cannot 
explain  here  the  theory  and  practice  of  the  distal 
and  ab-axial  growth  factors.  As  such  factors 
appear  useful  to  the  study  of  Olives  and,  in 
prospects,  of  other  shell  genera,  I  will  soon 
dedicate  another  article  to  this  topic. 

REFERENCES 

Burch,  J.Q.  &  R.L.  Burch.  1959.  Olividae, 

Minutes  of  the  Conchological  Club  of  Southern 
California,  192:2-13 

Burch,  J.Q.  &  R.L.  Burch.  1960.  Catalogue 
of  Recent  and  Fossil  Olives ,  Minutes  of  the 
Conchological  Club  of  Southern  California, 
196:1-46 

Burch,  J.Q.  &  R.L.  Burch.  1967.  The  Family 
Olividae ,  Pacific  Science,  21:  503-522 
Clench,  W.J.  1948.  The  Hirase  Collection  of 
Mollusks ,  The  Nautilus,  62(l):34-35 
Dudos,  P.L.  1844-1845.  Oliva ,  in  J.C.  Chenu, 
1844-1848,  Illustrations  Conchyliologiques,  ou 
description  et  figures  de  toutes  les  coquilles 
connues,  vivants  et  fossiles,  Paris,  Fortin,  2  vols.; 
vol.  1 ,  pis.  1-15  (1844),  pis.  16-36  (1845) 

Hirase,  Y.,1909.  On  Japanese  Marine 

Mollusca  (XXV),  The  Conchological  Magazine,  3- 
2:13-15,41-46 

Hunon,  C.,  A.  Hoarau  &  A.  Robin.  2009. 

Olividae  (Mollusca,  Gastropoda):  Revue 
Exhaustive  des  Especes  Recentes  du  Genre 


‘Oliva  ’  -  A  Complete  Survey  of  Recent  Species  of 
the  Genus  ‘Oliva  ’,  Hackenheim,  ConchBooks 
Kira  T.,  1954  (Is*  ed.)  and  T.  Kira.  1959  (2nd 
ed.).  Coloured  Illustrations  of  the  Shells  of  Japan, 
Osaka,  Hoikusha  Publishing 
Kuroda,  T.  &  T.  Habe.  1952.  Check  List  and 
Bibliography  of  the  Recent  Marine  Mollusca  of 
Japan,  Tokyo,  L.W.  Stach 
Petuch,  E.J.  &  D.M.  Sargent.  1986.  Atlas  of 
the  Living  Olive  Shells  of  the  World, 
Charlottesville  (Virginia),  The  Coastal  Education 
&  Research  Foundation  (CERF) 

Rudiger,  B.  &  R.E.  Petit.  1990.  On  the 

Various  Editions  ofTetsuaki  Kira ’s  ‘Coloured 
Illustrations  of  the  Shells  of  Japan  ’  and  ‘Shells  of 
the  Western  Pacific  in  Color  Vol.  F,  with  an 
Annotated  List  of  New  Names  Introduced, 
Malacologia,  3 1(1):  13 1-145 
Sterba,  G.H.  2003.  Olividae:  Fiebel  der 

Schalen,  Kiel,  Sterba;  English  translation:  2004, 
Olividae:  A  Collectors  Guide,  Hackenheim, 
ConchBooks 

Tursch,  B.  &  D.  Greifeneder.  1996.  “ The 

'Oliva  miniacea  complex  with  the  description  of 
a  familiar,  unnamed  species  (Studies  on  Olividae, 
25)”,  Apex,  11(1):  1-49 
Tursch,  B.  &  D.  Greifeneder.  2001.  Oliva 
Shells.  The  genus  ‘Oliva  ’  and  the  Species 
problem,  Recanati  (Italy),  Tecnostampa 
Zeigler,  R.F.  &  H.C.  Porreca.  1969.  Olive 
Shells  of  the  World,  Rochester  (N.Y),  Rochester 
Polychrome  Press  Inc. 


NW 

TW 

W/H 

(%) 

Lk 

Lw 

Plicae 
( means ) 

O.  h.  hirasei 

ca.  3.8 

4.87 

±0.17 

44.59 
±  1.79 

1.223 
±  0.036 

1.970 

±0.106 

7.2/3.5/3.1/15.5 

O.  h.  ameliae 

ca.  3.7 

4.54 

±0.21 

44.12 

±0.96 

1.258 
±  0.020 

1.886 

0.065 

6.74.0/2.8/13.9 

O.  pacifica 

ca.  4.3 

5.49 
±  0.37 

40.20 
±  1.82 

1.243 

±  0.023 

1.609 
±  0.065 

5.2/2.9/1.8/10.8 

Table  1.  Data  comparison  between  of  O.  hirasei  hirasei  Kuroda  &  Habe,  1952,  O.  hirasei  ameliae,  new  subspecies,  and  O.  pacifica 
Marrat,  1870  (NW  =  Nuclear  whorls;  TW  =  Teleoconch  whorls;  W/H  =  Width/High  ratio;  Lk  =  Distal  growth  factor;  Lw  =  Ab-axial 
growth  factor). 


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Figure  2.  Oliva  hirasei  hirasei  Kuroda  &  Habe,  1952.  Specimens  from:  a.  Yonaguni  Is,  Japan;  b.  and  c.  Kaohsiung,  Taiwan;  d.  Nha 
Thrang,  Vietnam;  e.  Siasi  Is.,  Philippines;  f.  Tara  Is.,  Coron,  Mimaro,  Philippines;  g.  Marinduque,  Mimaro,  Philippines;  h.  Zamboanga, 
Philippines;  L  N’Do  Reef,  Noumea,  New  Caledonia. 


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Figure  4.  Oliva  hirasei  ametiae,  new  subspecies.  Paratypes  1-13,  from  32.5  mm  to  44.0  mm,  and  additional  specimens  1  and  2, 41.0 
mm  and  45.6  mm;  Pangandaran  Bay,  S.W.  Java,  Indonesia. 


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Figure  5.  Plot  graph  of  the  growth  factors  Lw  and  Lk  for  Oliva  hirasei  hirasei  Kuroda  &  Habe,  1952  (blue  dots),  Oliva 
hirasei  ameliae,  new  subspecies  (orange  dots),  and  Oliva  pacifica  Marrat,  1870  (green  dots). 


cm 
5  — 


Yellow 

background 


Ivory 

background 


3 — E 

2  — = 


0  — 


fo  tan  glaze 


Faint 

yellow  glaze 


Dense  dark 
storkes  /  White 

Tan  siphon  notch 


Violet 

siphon  notch 


Figure  6.  Morphological  comparison  between  O.  hirasei  hirasei  Kuroda  &  Habe,  1952,  specimen  from  Zamboanga, 
Philippines,  and  O.  hirasei  ameliae,  new  subspecies,  from  Pangandaran  Bay,  S.W.  Java,  Indonesia. 


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Pteropurpura  f estiva  (Hinds,  1844)  in  Monterey  Bay 

Roger  N.  Clark1  Research  Associate, 

Santa  Barbara  Museum  of  Natural  History 
1  3808  Pinehurst  Dr.,  Eagle  Mountain,  Utah  84005 
insignis  one@vahoo.com 

McLean,  1978  records  Santa  Barbara,  estimated  to  be  about  3  cm  in  length.  These 


California  as  the  northern  extent  of  the  range  of 
Pteropurpura  /estiva  (Hinds,  1844).  Lonhart 
and  Tupen,  2001  extended  the  range  112  km 
north  to  Moro  Bay,  based  on  several  museum 
records.  On  May  7,  2011  while  diving  at  12  m, 
along  the  USCG  breakwater  at  Monterey, 
California,  a  beautiful  young  specimen  of  P. 
/estiva  was  found  (Figure  1).  The  specimen  was 
collected  and  is  deposited  at  the  Santa  Barbara 
Museum  of  Natural  History  (SBMNH  235771), 
the  specimen  measures  28.21  mm  in  length.  The 
specimen  was  found  in  association  with 
specimens  of  the  related  Pteropurpura 
macroptera  (Deshayes,  1839).  On  April  8,  2015, 
a  second  specimen  was  photographed  (Figure  2) 
at  8  m,  at  the  same  site,  the  specimen  was 


Figure  1.  Pteropurpura  festiva.  USCG  Breakwater,  Monterey  Bay, 
California,  12  m.  May  7, 201 1. 


records  extend  the  range  of  P.  /estiva  about  320 
km  to  the  north.  No  dives  were  made  at  the  site 
between  May  201 1  and  April  2015. 

REFERENCES 

McLean,  J.  H.  1978.  Marine  Shells  o/ southern 
California.  Natural  History  Museum,  Los 
Angeles  County,  104  pp. 

Lonhart,  S.  I.  &  J.W.  Tupen.  2001.  New 

Range  Records  o/ 12  Marine  Invertebrates: 
The  Role  o/ El  Nino  and  Other  Mechanisms 
in  Southern  and  Central  California.  Bulletin 
of  the  Southern  California  Academy  of 
Science  100(3):238-248. 


Figure  2.  Pteropurpura  festiva.  USCG  Breakwater,  Monterey 
Bay,  California,  8  m.  April  8, 2015. 


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A  Review  of  the  Haliotis  rugosa  Lamarck,  1822,  Complex  of  the  Western  Indian 
Ocean,  with  Notes  on  the  Subspecific  Status  of  Haliotis  multiperforata  Reeve,  1846 

Buzz  Owen1  &  Aaron  D.  Pan2 


1  P.O.  Box  601,  Gualala,  CA  95445,  buzabman@mcn.org 
2  Don  Harrington  Discovery  Center,  1200  Streit  Drive,  Amarillo,  TX  79106,  anan@dhdc.org 

ABSTRACT  The  three  taxa  Haliotis  rugosa  rugosa  Lamarck,  1822,  Haliotis  rugosa  pustulata 
Reeve,  1846,  and  H.  rugosa  rodriguensis  Owen,  2013,  are  reviewed  and  illustrated.  The  confusing 
taxon  Haliotis  multiperforata  Reeve,  1846,  recently  discovered  to  be  from  eastern  Yemen,  is 
validated  as  a  fourth  subspecies  and  is  illustrated.  Possible  explanations  for  the  restricted  distribution 
of  this  subspecies  are  also  explored.  A  map  of  the  distribution  of  these  taxa  is  included. 


INTRODUCTION 

The  abalones  (Haliotidae)  are  a  family  of 
marine  vetigastropod  gastropods  that  include  55 
extant  species  (Geiger  &  Owen  2012;  Owen 
2014).  Most  species  are  endemic  taxa  restricted 
to  narrow  geographic  areas.  Some  species  have 
extensive  distributions  with  little  phenotypic 
variation  amongst  individuals  (i.e.,  Haliotis 
asinina ).  However,  some  widespread  species 
have  a  tendency  to  form  isolated  subpopulations, 
representing  multiple  subspecies,  within  the 
larger  context  of  the  species.  In  the  Western 
Indian  Ocean  Haliotis  rugosa  represents  the 
latter,  and  consists  of  three  subspecies:  H. 
rugosa  pustulata ,  distributed  from  the  Red  Sea, 
along  the  eastern  coast  of  Africa,  and  extending 
to  Madagascar,  H.  rugosa  rugosa  in  coastal 
areas  of  Mauritius  and  Reunion,  excluding  the 
island  of  Rodrigues,  where  another  subspecies, 
H.  rugosa  rodriguensis,  occurs  (Owen  2013). 
Here  we  recognize  a  new  subspecies  of  Haliotis 
rugosa  which  is  restricted  in  distribution  to  the 
Yemeni  Coast  in  the  northern  Gulf  of  Aden.  In 
addition,  this  new  subspecies  finally  provides  a 
concrete  identification  and  distribution  of  the 
taxon,  Haliotis  multiperforata,  described  in 
Reeve  (1846). 


Abbreviations  of  Collections:  BOC:  Buzz 
Owen  Collection,  Gualala,  California,  USA; 
FFC:  Franck  Frydman  Collection,  Paris,  France; 
HDC:  Henk  Dekker  Collection,  Winkel,  The 
Netherlands;  NGC:  Norbert  Gobi  Collection, 
Gerasdorf  near  Vienna,  Austria;  NHMUK: 
Natural  History  Museum  United  Kingdom, 
London,  UK;  RKC:  Robert  Kershaw  Collection, 
Narooma,  New  South  Wales,  Australia; 
SBMNH:  Santa  Barbara  Museum  of  Natural 
History,  Santa  Barbara,  California,  USA. 

Shells  examined:  H.  rugosa  multiperforata  n. 
ssp.  (Figure  1),  Broom,  Mukalla,  to  Jabut, 
Nishtun,  Yemen,  NHMUK  1950.3.16.32 
(Lectotype;  Figure  5.A),  NHMUK  1950.3.16. 
33-34  (Paralectotypes;  Figures  5.B-C);  26;  H. 
rugosa  rugosa  (Figure  2),  Mauritius  and 
Reunion,  >200;  H.  rugosa  pustulata  (Figure  3), 
Red  Sea  to  Mozambique,  including  Madagascar, 
>200;  Tobruk,  Libya,  1;  H.  rugosa  rodriguensis 
(Figure  4),  various  locations,  Rodrigues  Island, 
15. 

Genus  Haliotis  Linnaeus,  1758 

Type  species.  Haliotis  asinina  Linnaeus,  1758 
(subsequent  designation  Montfort,  1810) 


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Haliotis  rugosa  multiperforata  (Reeve,  1846) 
ssp.  nov. 

Type  material  (as  H.  multiperforata  Reeve, 
1846):  Lectotype:  NHMUK  1950.3.16.32 
(Figure  5.A),  63  mm.  Paralectotypes:  NHMUK 
1950.  3.16  33-34  (Figure  5.B-C).  35.2  mm,  41.2 
mm.  Additional  non-type  specimens  as  H. 
rugosa  multiperforata  collected  at  Broom, 
Mukalla,  Yemen,  in  2005  (Figure  1),  and  Jabut, 
Nishtun,  Yemen,  in  2000  (Figure  5.D). 

Type  locality:  H.  multiperforata  Reeve,  1846, 
Habitat  unknown.  Locality  (other):  H.  rugosa 
multiperforata  Reeve,  1846.  Near  Broom, 
Yemen,  14°  18’30”N,  48°  57’40”E;  Nishtun, 
Yemen,  15° 49’  14”N,  52°  1 1 *49”E. 

Distribution  and  habitat:  The  subspecies  is 
distributed  along  Yemen’s  Hadhramaut  and  A1 
Mahrah  coasts  between  Beer  Ali  and  just  north 
and  east  of  Ras  Fartak.  Specimens  taken  on 
encrusted  rocks  and  crevices  in  0.5-5  m  mostly, 
by  snorkel  ing.  Animals  were  preserved  but  not 
studied  for  epipodial  or  radulae  morphology. 

Description  (diagnostic  characters 
underlined):  Shell  small  to  medium  (to  ~63 
mm),  medium-weight,  oblong,  hardly  arched, 
somewhat  convex.  Anterior  margin  straight  to 
slightly  curved.  Spire  somewhat  elevated  and 
tilted,  located  approximately  70%  towards 
posterior  margin  of  shell;  partially  visible  in 
ventral  view  (Figure  1,  top  row).  Holes  fairly 
small  only  slightly  elevated,  round,  usually  7-8 

open,  rarely  6  or  9.  Dorsal  surface  smooth, 
spiral  ribbing  weak  to  absent  -  when  present 

usually  very  narrow,  with  an  occasional  broader 

thread.  Spiral  ribs  with  bumps  not  present  on 
early  portion  of  shell  Periphery  between  row  of 
holes  and  columella  smooth  or  with  4-5 

extremely  weak  narrow  threads  closest  to  holes. 

Columella  medium  width  to  narrow.  Color 
medium  to  dark  brown  often  marked  with 


greenish  to  yellow-white  prosocline  rays  and 
random  patches  of  same  color.  No  reddish 
colored  specimens  observed  which  are 
commonly  seen  in  the  other  three  subspecies. 
Ventral  surface  highly  iridescent  silver  nacre 
with  reflections  of  green,  pink,  and  steel  blue. 
Usually  very  smooth  with  no  visible  ribbing 

present.  No  muscle  scar. 

Description  of  other  H.  rugosa  subspecies: 

Haliotis  rugosa  rugosa  (diagnostic  characters 
underlined):  (Endemic  to  Mauritius  and 
Reunion).  Shell  small  (to  ~58  mm),  oblong, 
depressed,  light  to  medium  weight,  hardly 
arched,  somewhat  convex.  Anterior  margin 
straight  to  slightly  curved.  Spire  low  to 
somewhat  elevated,  visible  in  ventral  view 
(Figure  2,  top  row),  located  approximately  70% 
towards  posterior  margin.  Holes  slightly  larger 
than  average,  round,  slightly  raised,  usually  5-6 
open.  Dorsal  surface  with  very  distinct  and 
often  deeply  cut,  square-profile  spiral  cords 

differing  in  width  up  to  three-fold,  cords  often 
more  pronounced  and  tightly  spaced  close  to 
suture,  with  irregular  radial  growth  marks. 
Spiral  ribs  with  bumps  often  present  on  early 
portion  of  shell  Periphery  between  row  of  holes 
and  columella  with  2-3  very  strong  thick  cords. 

occasionally  with  1  -2  weak  threads  immediately 
below  holes.  Central  cord  usually  largest,  often 
expanding  to  create  a  slight  shelf-like  ridge. 
Columella  wide.  Coloration  variable;  often 
brown  to  reddish-brown  with  fairly  large  areas 
of  white,  green  and  occasionally  purple  and  red. 
Weak  prosocline  rays  visible  on  some 
specimens.  Interior  usually  with  strong  wide 
ribbing  pattern  showing  through  from  dorsum. 

Nacre  bright  silver-white.  No  muscle  scar. 
Shells  from  Mauritius  (Figure  2.1-12)  often 
have  deeper  cut,  more  pronounced  cords  than 
those  from  Reunion  (Figure  2.13-15). 


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H.  rugosa  pustulata  (diagnostic  characters 
underlined):  (Distributed  from  Red  Sea  down 
east  coast  of  Africa,  including  Madagascar,  to 
Park  Rynie,  South  Africa.  Very  rarely  migrates 
into  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  though  most 
accounts  may  be  spurious  [F.  Crocetta,  pers. 
comm.].  May  occur  in  Socotra  and  extend  east 
into  Oman  and  Muscat,  but  confirmation  awaits 
positive  identification  of  material  collected  from 
these  areas  [Bosch,  et  al ,  1995]).  Shell  small  (to 
-56  mm),  oblong,  depressed,  light  to  medium 
weight,  hardly  arched,  somewhat  convex. 
Anterior  margin  straight  to  slightly  curved. 
Spire  low  to  somewhat  elevated,  visible  in 
ventral  view  (Figure  3,  top  row),  located  more 
towards  center  of  shell  (-60%  towards  posterior 
margin).  Holes  slightly  larger  than  average, 
round,  slightly  raised,  usually  5-6  open.  Dorsal 
surface  usually  with  spiral  cords  differing  in 
width  up  to  three  fold  (in  a  few  specimens  cords 
are  hardly  visible),  cords  often  being  more 
pronounced  and  tighter  spaced  close  to  suture, 
may  bear  regularly  spaced  pustules:  pustules 

may  be  lined  up  radially  to  form  prosocline 

radial  folds.  Periphery  between  row  of  holes  and 

columella  with  2-3  rather  prominent  cords. 

occasionally  with  1-2  weak  threads  immediately 
below  holes.  Central  cord  often  largest, 
sometimes  expanding  to  create  a  slight  shelf¬ 
like  ridge.  Columella  medium  width.  Coloration 
variable;  most  frequently  sepia  to  dark  olive 
base  color  with  sharp  transitions  to  sand  and 
creamy  blotchy  markings  with  superimposed 
tenting  and  fine  spiral  mottling.  Other  known 
colors  include  orange,  red,  rust,  grass  green, 
dark  cyan.  Entire  shell  usually  of  same 
coloration;  occasionally  changing  during 
ontogeny.  Color  pattern  also  has  fine  tenting 
only,  watercolor  transitions,  no  pattern.  Weak 
prosocline  rays  seen  on  some  specimens. 
Interior  often  irregular  with  protuberances  and 
cording  showing  through  from  dorsum.  Nacre 
bright  white.  No  muscle  scar. 


H.  rugosa  rodriguensis  (diagnostic  characters 
underlined):  (Endemic  to  Rodrigues  Island). 
Shell  small  (to  -50  mm),  fairly  light-weight, 
oblong,  hardly  arched,  somewhat  convex. 
Anterior  margin  straight  to  slightly  curved. 
Spire  somewhat  elevated  and  tilted,  located 
approximately  70%  towards  the  posterior 
margin  of  shell;  partially  visible  in  ventral  view 
(Figure  4,  top  row).  Holes  medium  large,  fairly 
elevated,  somewhat  elongate,  usually  5-6  open. 
Dorsal  surface  usually  with  strong  bumpy  spiral 
cords  alternating  with  narrower  ribs  crossing 

deep,  prominent  lamellae-like  folded  ridges. 

giving  shells  very  jagged  irregular  sculpture 

(ribs  may  appear  slightly  scaly  on  some 

specimens).  Periphery  between  row  of  holes  and 

columella  with  2-3  very  strong  thick  cords. 

occasionally  with  1-2  weak  threads  immediately 
below  holes.  Central  cord  usually  largest,  often 
expanding  to  create  a  wide  shelf-like  ridge. 
Columella  quite  narrow.  Shell  very  brightly 
colored  with  lime  green,  bright  white,  and 

purple-maroon  brown:  occasional  specimens 

bright  red  or  yellow.  Colors  arranged  as 
irregular  banding  or  patches.  No  prosocline  rays. 
Ventral  surface  highly  iridescent  silver  nacre 
with  reflections  of  steel  blue,  pink,  and  green; 
usually  highly  irregular  due  to  very  jagged 
sculpture  on  dorsum.  No  muscle  scar. 

Comparison  of  H.  rugosa  multiperforata  to 
other  H<  rugosa  subspecies: 

Haliotis  rugosa  rugosa  (Figure  2)  has  wide  and 
often  deep  spiral  cords,  sometimes  interspaced 
with  narrow  ribbing  which  is  often  deep,  flat, 
and  has  a  squarish  profile.  The  columella  is 
wide.  The  periphery  between  the  row  of  holes 
and  colu'mella  has  a  strong  major  cord  and 
several  narrower  ribs.  The  colors  are  widely 
variable  and  often  include  white,  red,  maroon, 
and  green.  There  are  usually  5-6  open  holes. 
The  ventral  surface  is  marked  with  smooth  but 


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strong  parallel  ribs  that  normally  show  weakly 
developed  irregular  bumps  or  folded  ridges. 

Halims  rugosa  pustulata  (Figure  3)  often  has 
spiral  cords,  which  frequently  may  bear 
regularly  spaced  pustules  which  are  often  lined 
up  radially  to  form  prosocline  radial  folds.  The 
periphery  between  the  row  of  holes  and 
columella  has  a  strong  major  cord  and  several 
narrower  ribs.  The  colors  are  widely  variable 
and  often  include  orange,  red,  and  green.  There 
are  usually  5-6  open  holes.  The  ventral  surface 
is  usually  irregular  with  bumps,  folded  ridges 
and  parallel  ribs  visible  from  dorsal  surface. 

H.  rugosa  rodriguensis  (Figure  4)  has  strong 
bumpy  spiral  cords  alternating  with  narrower 
ribs  crossing  deep,  prominent  lamellae-like 
folded  ridges,  giving  shells  very  jagged 
irregular  sculpture.  Most  specimens  have  spiral 
ribs  with  bumps  present  on  early  spire.  The 
periphery  between  the  row  of  holes  and 
columella  has  a  strong  major  cord  and  several 
narrower  ribs.  The  colors  are  widely  variable 
and  often  include  white,  red,  green,  and  yellow. 
There  are  usually  5-6  open  holes.  The  ventral 
surface  is  extremely  irregular  due  to  very  jagged 
sculpture  on  dorsum. 

DISCUSSION  /  REMARKS 

The  distribution  of  Haliotis  rugosa 
multiperforata  is  relatively  unusual,  being 
located  within  a  very  restricted  area  along  the 
continental  coastline,  as  opposed  to  an  isolated 
island  (or  island  group)  like  the  majority  of 
Haliotis  subspecies.  The  subspecies5  location  in 
the  northern  portion  of  the  Gulf  of  Aden  along 
Yemen’s  Hadhramaut  and  A1  Mahrah  coasts, 
lies  within  an  area  that  is  not  as  greatly  affected 
by  the  Somali  Current  as  other  portions  of  the 
southern  coastline  of  the  Arabian  Peninsula 
further'  east  (Schott  &  McCreary  2001;  A) 
Saafani  2008;  Ah,  et  al  2009).  Part  of  this  may 


Figure  7.  Map  showing  distribution  of  the  four  H.  rugosa 
subspecies. 


be  attributed  to  the  presence  of  the  anticyclonic 
Socotra  Gyre  and  'Great  Whirl’,  which  direct 
waters  during  the  summer  months  along  the 
southern  coast  of  the  Horn  of  Africa,  eastward 
past  Socotra  towards  the  coast  of  Oman, 
diverting  currents  from  the  Yemeni  Coast. 
These  strong  eddies  may  prevent  the  mixture  of 
Haliotis  rugosa  pustulata  populations  along  the 
East  Coast  of  Africa  with  H.  rugosa 
multiperforata.  This  portion  of  the  northwestern 
Gulf  of  Aden  is  also  generally  isolated  from  the 
Red  Sea  by  the  narrow  strait  of  Bab-el  Mandeb. 
In  addition,  the  study  on  reproductive  biology  of 
this  subspecies,  considered  H.  pustulata  at  the 
time  (AM,  et  al  2009),  noted  that  the  majority  of 
gravid  individuals  spawn  between  March  and 


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April.  Interestingly,  this  time  period  coincides 
with  shallow  Ekman  drifts,  within  the  western 
Gulf  of  Aden,  flowing  towards  the  Yemeni 
Coast  (A1  Saafani  2008).  The  co-occurrence  of 
the  synchronized  spawning  with  the  onshore 
Ekman  Drifts  may  provide  a  mechanism  that 
prevents  dispersal  of  this  subspecies  from 
expanding  to  the  Omani  coast  further  east. 
However,  more  studies  need  to  be  done  on  the 
reproductive  biology  of  H.  rugosa  pustulata 
along  the  East  African  coast  and  the  Red  Sea  to 
determine  if  spawning  times  are  similar  to  those 
of  H.  rugosa  multiperforata,  or  if  differences  in 
spawning  times  may  maintain  the  Yemeni 
subspecies. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

We  thank  Atalla  Ali  for  providing  the 
specimens  and  information  that  made  this  study 
possible.  We  also  thank  David  Berschauer  and 
Dr.  Edward  Petuch  for  editorial  guidance  in 
writing  the  manuscript,  Robert  Kershaw  for 
providing  many  of  the  images  used  on  Figures  2 
and  3,  and  Arjay  Raffety  for  providing  insight 
in  review  of  the  figures. 

REFERENCES 

Ali.  A.  M.,  A.  A.  Basmidi,  M.  Sh.  Aideed,  & 
Al-Quffail  A.  Saeed.  2009.  First  Remarks  on 
Abalone  Biology  ( Haliotis  pustulata )  on  the 
Northern  Coast  of  Aden  Gulf,  Yemen. 

Journal  of  Fisheries  and  Aquatic  Science,  4: 
210-227. 


A1  Saafani,  M.A.  2008.  Physical  Oceanography 
of  the  Gulf  of  Aden.  Doctoral  Dissertation, 
Goa  University,  Goa,  India.  213  pp. 

Bosch,  D.  T.,  S.  P.  Dance,  R.  H.  Moolenbeek,  &  P. 
G.  Oliver.  1995.  Seashells  of  Eastern  Arabia. 
Motivate  Publishing,  Abu  Dhabi,  UAE.  296  pp. 
Geiger,  D.  L.  1998.  Recent  Genera  and  Species 
of  the  Family  Haliotidae  Rafinesque,  1815 
Gastropoda:  Vetigastropoda).  The  Nautilus 
1 1 1:85-1 16. 

Geiger,  D.  L.  2000.  Distribution  and 
Biogeography  of  the  Recent  Haliotidae 
(Gastropoda:Vetigastropoda)  World  Wide. 
Bollettino  Malacologico  35:57-120. 

Geiger,  D.  L.  &  B.  Owen.  2012.  Abalone 
Worldwide  Haliotidae.  Conchbooks , 
Hackenheim,  361  pp.,  92  pis. 

Lamarck,  J.  B.  1822.  Natural  History  of  the  Animals 
Without  Vertebrae.  Vol.  6(2):  1-232. 

Owen,  B.  2013.  Notes  on  the  correct  taxonomic 
status  of  Haliotis  rugosa  Lamarck,  1 822,  and 
Haliotis  pustulata  Reeve,  1 846,  with  description 
of  a  new  subspecies  from  Rodrigues  Island, 
Mascarene  Islands,  Indian  Ocean  (Mollusca: 
Vetigastropoda:  Haliotidae).  Zootaxa  3646: 
189-193. 

Owen,  B.  2014.  A  new  species  of  Haliotis 

(Gastropoda)  from  Sao  Tome  &  Principe  Islands, 
Gulf  of  Guinea,  with  comparisons  to  other 
Haliotis  found  in  the  Eastern  Atlantic  and 
Mediterranean.  Zootaxa  3838:1 13-1 19. 

Reeve,  L.  1846.  A  Monograph  of  the  Genus  Haliotis. 

L.  Reeve  &  Co.  London,  24  pp.,  17  pis. 

Schott,  F.A.  &  J.  P.  McCreary  Jr.  2001.  The 
monsoon  circulation  of  the  Indian  Ocean. 

Progress  in  Oceanography  51:1-123. 


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FIGURE  1.  Haliotis  rugosa  multiperforata  (Reeve,  1846)  n.  ssp.  Broom,  35  km  SW  of 
Mukalla,  Yemen.  Live-taken  snorkeling  0.5-5  m.  2004-2006.  All  specimens  in  BOC. 


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41.5  mm  (RKC 


FIGURE  3.  Haliotis  rugosa  pustulata.  A  -  Tobruk,  Libya.  B  -  Tulear,  Madagascar.  C  -  Fernao 
Veloso,  Mozambique.  I)  -  Nuieba,  Sinai.  E  -  Northern  Red  Sea,  Egypt.  F  -  Park  Rynie,  South  Africa. 
Only  data.  All  BOC  unless  otherwise  indicated. 


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?  A 
63.0  mm 
Leetotype 


Paraleetotype  1 


-  v- 


Type  31.2  mm 


41.2  mm 
Paraleetotype  2 


II.  rugosa  multiperforata  n.  ssp. 


v '  *7  ' 


FIGURE  5.  Top  2  rows:  H.  multiperforata  Reeve,  1846,  A-C  “Syntypes”  (Lectotypes).  NHMUK.  Hal),  unk.;  D  -  Jabut, 

Nish  tun.  Yemen.  Row  3:  II.  rugosa  multiperforata  n.  ssp.  Mukalla,  Yemen.  BOC.  Row  4:  //.  rugosa  rugosa.  Mauritius.  BOC, 
Row  5:  II.  rugosa  pustulata.  Mozambique,  BOC.  Bottom  row:  II.  rugosa  rodriguensis.  Rodrigues  Is.  BOC  (Type  SB.MNH). 


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Row  1 


Row  4 


Row  3 


FIGURE  6.  Differential  Diagnosis 

Row  1:  H.  rugosa  rugosa  Lamarck,  1822;  Row  2:  H.  rugosa  pustulata  Reeve,  1846 

Row  3:  H.  rugosa  rodriguensis  Owen,  2013;  Row  4:  H.  rugosa  multiperforata  (Reeve,  1846)  n.  ssp. 


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Mutant  Sinistrality  In.  the  Polygyridae;  an  Update 


Harry  G.  Lee 

4132  Ortega  Forest  Drive,  Jacksonville,  FL  32210-5813 

shells@hglee.com 


The  terrestrial  pulmonate  family  Polygyridae  is 
the  most  speciose  and  widespread  such  group  in 
North  America,  occurring  in  45  of  the  49 
continental  states  of  the  USA,  stretching  into 
Canada  and  Mexico  and  straggling  into  the 
outskirts  of  Central  America  and  the  West 
Indies.  Thus  defined,  the  family  conforms  with 
remarkable  precision  to  the  political  boundaries 
of  North  America  as  any  natural  lineage  of 
organisms  ever  has  -  and  from  the  late 
Cretaceous  Period  (Pilsbry,  1940). 

The  metropolis  of  the  family  is  east  of  the 
American  Rockies,  where  18  (15  endemic)  of  its 
two  dozen  genera  occur  (Schileyko,  2006), 
generally  prospering  in  humid  deciduous  forests. 
These  140-odd  species  constitute  over  one 
quarter  of  the  eastern  US  landsnails  (Hubricht, 

4S  Coch lea  Lire? intaruu ,  Ju&al&idti , 

,  circiis**  e’r&e&t&r 

parum,  a/tis  ad  t/avuidam,  sirtumfoypa. 


Figure  1.  Neohelbc  alh&labris  (Say,  1817) 


1985).  Because  of  their  size  (adults  5-45  mm; 
median  -15  mm),  diversity,  elaboration  of  the 
aperture,  and  general  eye-pleasing  form, 
polygyrids  caught  the  fancy  of  collectors  (e.g., 
M.  Lister  et  a /.,  1685/  our  Figure  1)  well  before 
its  first  3  species  were  formally  described  by  the 
America's  founding  conchologist,  Thomas  Say 
(1817). 

The  special  attention  given  these  snails  has  led 
to  more  efficient  detection  and  better 
preservation  of  specimens,  including  unusual 
ones.  Reversal  of  gastropod  chirality  has  been 
noted  for  centuries  in  the  conchological 
literature,  and  it  happens  to  fascinate  the  writer. 
Terrestrial  pulmonates,  more  specifically  the 
Stylommatophora,  have  a  much  higher 
frequency  of  mutant  reversal  of  coil  than  do  any 
other  snail  group,  and  it  is  no  surprise  that  the 
polygyrid  species  are  prominent  among  this 
worldwide  lineage.  Lee  (2011a)  assembled 
records  of  reverse-coiled  polygyrids  (all  from 
the  eastern  USA)  for  about  53  specimens  of  23 
species  in  15  genera.  Since  then  several  more 
have  come  to  light,  most  actually  collected  after 
the  publication  appeared.  The  following  account 
is  an  attempt  to  update  the  tally  and  analyze  the 
data.  The  new  records  are  presented  in 
alphabetical  (genus,  then  species),  thus,  and 
otherwise,  in  conformation  with  the  format  in 
Lee  (2011a) 

(1),  (2)  Mesodon  dausus  (Say,  1821) 

Circleville,  Pickaway  Co.,  OH,  Joseph  Lewis! 
December,  1899,  CM  82070;  Antioch,  Jackson 
Co.,  TN,  Bob  Winters!  April  9,  2015,  Winters 
Collection  (Winters,  2015b);  Figure  2:  17  mm 


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Figure  2.  Mesodon  clausus  (Say,  1821)  . 


Figure  3.  Polygyra  cereolus  (Mflhlfeld,  1818) 


Figure  4.  Triodopsis  fallax  (Say,  1825) 


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(3)  Polygyra  cereolus  (Muhlfeld,  1818)  Hastings,  St.  Johns  Co.,  FL,  H.G.  Lee!  April  23,  2006.  Lee 
Collection  (Lee,  2012);  Figure  3:  7  mm. 

(4 ) Triodopsis  fallax  (Say,  1825)  Lexington,  Rockbridge  Co.,  VA,  Mrs.  K.C.  Brooke!  Oct  15,  1901, 
CM  97968:  Figure  4:  13  mm. 

(5)  Triodopsis  hopetonensis  (Shuttleworth,  1852)  Residence,  Woodleaf  Court,  Charleston,  SC,  Tom 
Smith!  29  August,  2009,  Smith  Collection;  ~10  mm. 


Figure  4a.  Triodopsis  hopetonensis  (Shuttleworth,  1852) 


Figure  5.  Triodopsis  juxtidens  (Pilsbry,  1894) 


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(6),  (7)  Triodopsis  juxtidens  (Pilsbry,  1894)  Stanardsville,  Green  Co.,  VA,  John  Slapcinsky!  1988. 
FMNH  279499;  residence,  Powell's  Landing  Circle,  Woodbridge,  Prince  William  County,  VA,  Tom 
Smith!  8  February,  2015,  Smith  Collection;  Figure  5:  ~  13mm. 


(8)  Triodopsis  messana  Hubricht,  1953  Jacksonville,  Duval  Co.,  FL,  Bill  Frank!  16  July,  2015, 
Frank  Collection  ([Lee],  2015);  Figure  6:  13  mm. 


Figure  6.  Triodopsis  messana  Hubricht,  1953 


Figure  7.  Triodopsis  vulgata  Pilsbry,  1940 


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(9)  Triodopsis  vulgata  Pilsbry,  1940  Bemheim  Forest,  Nelson  Co.,  KY,  H.G.  Lee!  Lee  Collection; 
Figure  7:15  mm. 

(10)  Triodopsis  species  [’’Florida  Scrub  Threetooth,”  an  apparently  unnamed  taxon]  Camp 
Blanding,  Clay  Co.,  Florida.  Bill  Frank!  14  December,  2013,  Frank  Collection;  Figure  8:  15  mm. 


Figure  9.  Xolotrema  obstrictum  (Say,  1821) 


(11)  Xolotrema  obstrictum  (Say,  1821)  Drift,  confluence  Estill  and  Larkin  Forks,  Jackson  Co.,  AL, 
Bob  Winters!  March  17,  2015,  Winters  Collection  (Winters,  2015a);  Figures  9, 10:  22  mm. 


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Figure  10.  Xolotrema  obstrictum  (Say,  1821) 

After  integration  of  the  above  data  with  Lee  (201 1),  the  current  sinistral  polygyrid  breakdown  is: 
15  genera  (no  change),  27  species  (4  addenda),  about  64  specimens  (11  addenda),  and  twenty- five 
attributed  collectors  (with  the  five  new  pantheon  inductees)  found  47  of  the  approximately  64 
known  specimens: 


Archer,  A.F.  3 
Baily,  R.I.  1 
Binney,  W.G.  1 
Brooke,  (Mrs.)  K.C.  1 
Bryant,  F.W.  1 
Feinberg,  H.S.  1 
Fluck,  W.H.  2 
Frank,  W.  2 


Hubricht,  L.  11 
Lee,  H.G.  3  [up  2] 
Lewis,  J(ames).  1 
Lewis,  J(oseph)  1 
Marsh,  P.  (?)  2 
Mehring,  A.L.  1 
Pratt,  W.L.  1 
Schilling,  F.  1 
Singley,  J.A.  1 


Slapcinsky,  J.  2  [up  1] 
Smith,  T.  2 
Stannage  1 
Sullivan,  W.  1 
Thompson,  F.G.  1 
Webb,  G.R.  1 
Wetherby,  A.G.  3 
Winters,  B.  2 


Considering  the  above  images,  the  fact  that  15 
of  the  18  genera  and  27  of  the  140  species 
occurring  in  the  eastern  USA  are  now 
represented  on  the  list,  and  that  those  27  are 
among  the  more  familiar,  widespread,  and 
frequently  represented  in  collections,  I  think  it 
quite  reasonable  to  make  the  following 
generalizations  with  regard  to  mutant  sinistral 
coil  in  the  Polygyridae: 

•  phenomenon  is  quite  thinly,  but  evenly  spread 
over  a  broad  phylogenetic  and  zoogeographic 
span  within  the  family;  and 


•  its  occurrence  correlates  rather  well  with 
number  of  specimens  made  available  for 
study. 

Thus  it’s  not  so  much  the  species  selected  than 
the  number  of  individuals  examined  that  will 
foster  success  in  this  game  against  long  odds, 

and,  with  such  limited  prospects: 

•  the  successful  player  holds  the  hand  he’s 
dealt.  In  this  game,  restrain  ambitions  and 
be  happy  with  less,  often  a  lot  less,  than 


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“gem”  quality.  These  shells  don’t  last 
forever  in  nature. 

1  Cochlea  virginiana  of  the  Listers  (Martin  and 
artist  daughters  Anna  and  Susanna)  is  almost 
certainly  a  synonym  of  Helix  albolabris,  now 
Neohelix  albolabris  (Say,  1817).  The  polymath 
Englishman  Dr.  Martin  Lister  (1639-1712), 
physician  to  Queen  Anne,  was  in 
correspondence  with  Rev.  John  Banister 
(ca.  1650- 1692),  an  English  colonist  who  was 
Oxford-educated  in  natural  science.  Aside  from 
ministering  to  an  Anglican  parish,  he  collected 
plants  and  shells  in  tidewater  Virginia  and  was  a 
founder  of  the  College  of  William  and  Mary, 
located  near  his  Charles  City  home.  Banister  is 
known  to  have  sent  the  regal  doctor  field- 
collected  material  (Ewan  and  Ewan,  1970:  xxi, 
passim ). 

Abbreviations  employed: 

CM:  Carnegie  Museum  of  Natural  History, 
Pittsburgh,  PA 

FMNH:  Field  Museum  of  Natural  History, 
Chicago,  IL 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: 

Along  with  the  collectors  acknowledged  above, 
I  owe  thanks  to  Dr.  Tim  Pearce,  CM  (Figures  2, 
4,  9),  Bob  Winters,  Sparta,  TN  (Figure  10), 
Tom  Smith,  Woodbridge,  VA  (Figures  4a,  5), 
and  Bill  Frank,  Jacksonville,  FL  (Figures  3,  6,  7, 
8)  for  the  photographs  used  here.  Mr.  Frank  also 
did  most  of  the  image  editing. 

REFERENCES: 

Ewan,  J.  and  N.  Ewan,  1970.  John  Banister 

and  his  Natural  History  of  Virginia.  University  of 
Illinois,  Urbana.  xxx  +  [l]-485  +  [i]  incl.  32  pis. 
Hubricht,  L.,  1985.  The  distribution  of  the 

native  land  mollusks  of  the  eastern  United  States. 
Fieldiana:  Zoology  24: 1-91 .  http://www. 


biodiversitylibrarv.org/item/2 1 394#page/5/mode/ 

lup 

Lee,  H.G.,  “2010”  [2011a].  Gettleman  key  to 
probe  of  major  reversals.  American  Conchologist 
38(4):6-\\.  “December”  [January]. 

Lee,  H.G.,  2011b.  Historical  notes  on  a  sinistral 
sacred  chank:  Turbinella  pyrum.  American 
Conchologist  39( 2):28-29.  June  [July]. 

Lee,  H.G.,  2012.  Sinistral  peanut  snail  and 
polygyrid  update.  Sequestered  specimens, 
oversight,  irony,  and  a  failed  strategy  with  a 
happy  outcome.  American  Conchologist  40(2):  4- 
6.  June. 

[Lee,  H.G.],  2015.  The  first  known  sinistral 

specimen  of  Triodopsis  messana  Hubricht,  1952. 
Shell-O-Gram  56( 4):2.  July. 
http://www.iaxshells.org/pdfs/iulaugl  5.pdf  [a 

complete  set  of  this  journal  from  Nov.,  1998  to 
present  is  posted  at  http://iaxshells.org/letters.htm] 
Lister,  M.,  S.  Lister,  and  A.  Lister,  1685. 

Historia  sive  synopsis  methodicae  conchyliorum 
quorum  omnium  picturae  vivum  delineatae  tur. 
Liber  primus,  qui  est  de  cochleis  terrestribus. 
Published  privately,  London.  [1-6]  +  pis.  [1-42; 
incl.  figs.  1-104]  +tab.  [1-4  http://gdz.sub.uni- 
goettingen.de/dms/load/img/?PPN=PPN4701437 

03&DMDID=DMDLQG  OOQ1&LOGID=LOG  0 

00 1  &PH Y SID=PH Y S  0001  ].  [Three  volumes 
[libri;  =  books]  followed:  1686,  1687-8,  1688- 
1697  to  complete  the  masterwork;  see  Wilkins, 
1957] 

Pilsbry,  H.A.,  1940.  Land  Mollusca  of  North 
America  (north  of  Mexico)  vol.  1  part  2. 

Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  Philadelphia,  vi  + 
575-994  +  ix.  1  Aug.  http://babel.hathitmst.org/ 
cgi/pt?id=ucl  .31 822000620245  ;view=lup;seq=7 

Say,  T.,  1817.  "Conchology"  in  Nicholson, W., 

[First]  American  edition  of  the  British 
encyclopedia  and  dictionary  of  arts  and  sciences 
comprising  an  accurate  and  popular  view  of  the 
present  improved  state  of  human  knowledge. 
Volume  2  [of  6].  Mitchell,  Ames  and  White, 
Philadelphia.  [1-15]  +  plates  1-4. 

Schileyko,  A.A.,  2006.  Treatise  on  Recent 
terrestrial  pulmonate  molluscs  13.  Helicidae, 
Pleurodontidae,  Polygyridae,  Ammonitellidae, 
Oreohelicidae,  Thysanophoridae.  Ruthenica 
supplement  2 :(ii)  +  1765-1906.  May. 


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Wilkins,  G.L.,  1957.  Notes  on  the  Historia 

Conchyliorum  of  Martin  Lister  (1638  [sic]- 1712). 
Journal  of  the  Society  for  the  Bibliography  of 
Natural  History  3(4):  196-205. 

Winters,  B.,  2015a.  Left  handed  luck.  The 
Nautiloid  2015(4):6.  April.  [Back  issues  of 


this  journal  are  available  up  through  Feb.,  2015  at 
<https://sites.google.com/ 
site/northalshellclub/home/newsletter>.  and 
ensuing  numbers  will  be  added  regularly.] 
Winters,  B.,  2015b.  Lotsa  left-handed  luck  The 
Nautiloid  2015(7):  3-5.  July. 


APPENDIX  (summary  from  Lee,  2011a:  10): 


Allogona  profunda  (Say,  1821)  [Pilsbry,  1940:  879:  Shimek  and  Billups  have  recorded  4  (no  reference)]  (4) 

Daedalochila  avara  (Say,  1818)  [4132  Ortega  Forest  Dr.,  Jacksonville,  FL,  H.G.  Lee!  27  July,  1977;  Lee  Collection] 

(Fig.  9)  (1) 

Euchemotrema  leai  (A.  Binney,  1841)  [Archer,  1934:  148:  Ann  Arbor,  MI,  Alan  F.  Archer!  1932-1933]  (1) 

Inflectarius  inflectus  (Say,  1821)  [Bland,  1861:  448:  John  Gould  Anthony  Collection,  ?MCZ;  Pilsbry,  1940:  773: 
Hubricht!  St.  Louis,  MO;  FMNH;  Feinberg,  1970:  12-13:  Carter  Co.,  TN,  Harold  S.  Feinberg!  4  June,  1969, 

AMNH  57293]  (3) 

Linisca  texasiana  (Moricand,  1833)  [Hubricht,  1978:  three,  FMNH]  (3) 

Mesodon  clausus  (Say,  1821)  [Hubricht,  1978:  immature;  FMNH;  Houston,  TX,  A.L.  Mehring!  13  December,  1960. 
Gettleman  Collection]  (2) 

Mesodon  elevatus  (Say,  1821)  [Tryon  1867:  104:  Frank  Daulte  Collection,  Cincinnati]  (1) 

Mesodon  mitchellianus  (I.  Lea,  1839)  [Bland,  1861:  448:  Thomas  Bland  Collection,  7  AMNH  but  not  in  Gratacap  (1901); 
Wetherby,  1895:  94:  near  Cincinnati,  OH,  F.W.  Bryant!  ]  (2?) 

Mesodon  thyroidus  (Say,  1817)  [Bland,  1861:  448:  Bland  Collection,  7  AMNH  but  not  in  Gratacap  (1901);  Wetherby, 
1895:  94:  three  shells:  one  Cincinnati,  OH,  S tannage!  two  Wetherby!  one  deposited  at  MCZ;  Archer,  1934:  148-149;  two 
specimens,  Ann  Arbor  MI,  A.F.  Archer!  April,  May,  1933;  Petit,  R.E.,  March,  2007,  personal  communication,  G.R. 

Webb  letter  to  P.H.  Reed  late  Sept,  or  early  Oct.,  1946,  prob.  FMNH]  (8?) 

Mesodon  zaletus  (A.  Binney,  1837)  [Pilsbry,  1940:  725:  two  specimens:  one  Herkimer  Co,  NY,  one  ANSP;  Fluck,  1943: 
105:  two  of  several  hundred  individuals,  Ilion,  Herkimer  Co.,  NY,  W.H.  Fluck!]  N.B.  Ilion  colony  introduced  by  James 
Lewis  (fide  A.  Bailey,  Pilsbry,  1940:  724-725),  therefore  derived  from  dextral  stock.  (3-4?) 

Miller elix  mooreana  (W.G.  Binney,  1857)  [Pilsbry,  1940:  624:  J.A.  Singley!]  (1) 

Neohelix  alholabris  (Say,  1817)  [Lewis,  1872:  99:  near  Mohawk,  NY,  James  Lewis!  June,  1871;  Pilsbry,  1940:  838: 
several  known;  Reigle,  1962:  37;  Washtenaw  Co.,  MI,  Phil  Marsh(?)!;  UMMZ  210163]  (prob.  >6) 

Patera  roemeri  (L.  Pfeiffer,  1848)  [Pratt,  1965:  Possum  Kingdom  S.P.,  Palo  Pinto  Co.,  TX,  W(illiam)  Lloyd  Pratt! 
(7)1965,  Pratt  Collection  no.  992]  (1) 

Polygyra  cereolus  (Miihlfeld,  1818)  [Baily,  1942:  102:  Hillsboro,  FL,  R.I.  Baily!  Spring  1940;  Sullivan,  1986:  Desoto 
Park,  Manatee  Co.,  FL,  Wayne  Sullivan!  1 986]  (Fig.  10)]  (2) 

Polygyra  septemvolva  Say,  1818  [W.G.  Binney,  1878:  282  MCZ;  Waccasassa  River,  SR  24  bridge.  Levy  Co.,  Florida, 
John  Slapcinsky!  19  March,  2005,  Lee  Collection]  (Fig.  11)  (2) 

Praticolella  species  [23  km  NNW  El  Limon,  Tamaulipas,  Mexico,  Fred  G.  Thompson!  27  December,  1989,  Lee 
Collection]  (Fig.  12)  (1) 

Stenotrema  hirsutum  (Say,  1817)  [Bland,  1961:  448:  Isaac  Lea  Collection,  7USNM]  (1) 

Triodopsis  fallax  (Say,  1825)  [Bland,  1861:  448:  William  Greene  Binney  Collection,  7 AMNH  but  not  in  Gratacap  (1901); 
Hubricht,  1978:  two,  FMNH]  (3) 

Triodopsis  hopetonensis  (Shuttleworth,  1852)  [Pilsbry,  1940:  812:  ANSP;  Hubricht,  1978,  FMNH]  (2) 

Triodopsis  ohsoleta  (Pilsbry,  1894)  [Hubricht,  1978:  three,  FMNH]  (3) 

Triodopsis  vulgata  Pilsbry,  1940  [Reigle,  1962:36-37:  Washtenaw  Co.,  MI,  Phil  Marsh(?)!,  UMMZ  210162]  (1) 
Webbhelix  multilineatus  (Say,  1821)  [Wetherby,  1895:  94:  A.G.  Wetherby!  MCZ]  (1) 

Xolotrema  fosteri  (F.C.  Baker,  1932)  [Pilsbry,  1940:  831:  W.G.  Binney!  202  Union  St.,  Burlington,  NJ  (his  own 
garden),  7 AMNH,  but  not  in  Gratacap  (1901);  St.  Louis,  MO,  Frieda  Schilling!  2  May,  1969,  Lee  Collection]  N.B. 

NJ  specimen  definitely  derived  from  (naturalized)  dextral  stock.  (Fig.  13)  (2) 

Total:  15  genera,  23  species,  about  (53)  specimens.  Twenty  attributed  collectors  took  36  of  the  approximately  64 
known  specimens. 


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Commercially  Driven  Taxonomy:  the  Necessity  of  “Knowing”  Species 


Stephen  J.  Maxwell1  and  Tasmin  L.  Rymer2 
1  College  of  Marine  and  Environmental  Sciences,  James  Cook  University, 

P.O.  Box  6811,  Cairns,  QLD  4870,  Australia  stephen.maxwell@mv.icu.edu.au 
2  College  of  Marine  and  Environmental  Sciences,  Centre  for  Tropical  Environmental  and 
Sustainability,  James  Cook  University,  P.O.  Box  6811,  Cairns,  QLD  4870,  Australia 

KEY  WORDS  Economic  incentive.  Species  classification,  Taxonomic  inflation,  Species  concept, 
Taxonomic  nomenclature. 


Taxonomic  inflation,  the  raising  of  an  organism 
to  a  different  taxonomic  state  to  exaggerate  its 
importance,  is  a  direct  contributor  to  inflated 
estimates  of  endemism,  often  with  a  geopolitical 
bias  (Issac  et  al ,  2004;  Harris  &  Froufe,  2005). 
Taxonomic  inflation  reflects  the  long  standing 
issue  in  the  classification  of  nature,  as  higher 
ranks  are  erected  and  the  taxonomy  of 
intraspecific  ranks  is  relegated  in  favour  of 
newly  named  species.  There  are  currently  three 
postulated  causes  for  taxonomic  inflation:  (1) 
the  discovery  of  new  species  where,  taxonomic 
inflation  is  often  a  reflection  of  the 
“rediscovery5’  of  new  species  buried  within  a 
polytypic  nature  of  an  organism  by  supposedly 
recognizing  cryptic  diversity  (Tattersall,  2007; 
Dubois,  2008);  (2)  the  changes  in  the  systematic 
approach  to  the  classification  of  organisms  and 
the  author’s  failure  to  clearly  identify  which  one 
of  the  many  different  “species  concepts”  they 
utilized  in  elevating  to  species  status  organisms 
which  were  previously  accepted  as  forms, 
varieties  or  subspecies  (Tattersall,  2007;  Dubois, 
2008);  and  (3)  a  consequence  of  academia  and 
the  need  for  taxonomists  to  publish,  as 
highlighted  by  inflated  species  recognition  by 
authors  and  unwarranted  descriptions  that  are 
not  justified  by  the  evidence  for  divergence 
(Dubois,  2008;  Sundberg  &  Stand,  2009; 
Bebber  et  al. ,  2014).  We  argue  for  a  fourth 
cause  for  taxonomic  inflation.  That  is,  the 


economic  incentives  to  specimen  dealers 
seeking  to  maximize  marketability  of  organisms 
by  elevating  an  organism  to  a  different 
taxonomic  state.  Fundamentally,  there  needs  to 
be  a  realization  that,  while  the  commercial  value 
of  species  is  a  complex  commercial  issue 
subject  to  market  forces,  species  values  will 
increase  as  dealers  chose  to  utilize  new 
taxonomic  names  to  create  marketable 
opportunities.  Therefore,  it  is  important  to 
recognize  that  taxonomic  inflation  is  also  a  by¬ 
product  of  the  differing  functions  of 
nomenclature  depending  on  the  needs  of  the 
user,  be  it  the  taxonomist  seeking  to  describe 
nature,  the  dealer  seeking  to  maximize 
economic  profit,  or  the  systematist  concerned 
with  the  demarcation  of  units  that  are  significant 
in  evolutionary  terms. 

Commercial  taxonomic  inflation  can  have 
significant  impacts  on  the  systematist  working 
to  formulate  an  understanding  of  the 
evolutionary  patterns  of  collectible  organisms, 
such  as  molluscs.  The  primary  problem  arises 
during  the  revision  phase,  when  the  status  of  the 
organisms  to  be  included  within  a  clade  is 
determined.  Splitting  existing  taxa,  or  the 
elevation  of  dines  and  forms  to  full  species  (or 
other  infraspecific  ranks),  is  often  accompanied 
by  a  failure  to  provide  context  to  the  species 
concept  used  to  designate  that  organism,  leading 


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to  taxonomical  confusion.  The  problems  of 
taxonomic  inflation,  irrespective  of  cause,  can 
only  be  mediated  when  there  is  acceptance  of 
the  need  to  explicitly  identify  the  taxonomic 
concept  being  used,  facilitating  an  explanation 
of  the  differing  needs  of  various  taxonomists 
that  might  be  undertaking  the  classification 
(Agapow  &  Sluys,  2005;  Knapp  et  al.,  2005). 
Explicitness  in  conceptual  approach  to  the 
delineation  of  species  also  enables  the 
taxonomist,  attempting  to  moderate  inflation,  to 
evaluate  the  contextual  relativity  of  the 
organism  that  is  being  named  or  reclassified. 
Contextual  relativity  reflects  the  real  world 
applicability  of  the  species  concept  in  terms  of 
the  different  needs  of  the  various  taxonomic 
users.  Further,  this  necessitates  a  tolerance  for 
taxonomic  freedom  to  choose  species  concepts 
that  delineate  taxa  to  meet  the  diverse 
requirements  of  the  users  of  nomenclature.  The 
species  term,  without  conceptual  context, 
therefore  becomes  a  rhetorical  device  used  by  a 
taxonomist,  irrespective  of  terminological 
accuracy  or  appropriateness  of  use  (Magnus, 
1996). 

Taxonomic  inflation  is  a  natural  by-product  of 
the  diversity  of  taxonomical  users,  as  organisms 
are  classified  in  ways  that  reflect  the  needs  of 
those  who  utilize  taxonomic  nomenclature. 
Commercial  taxonomic  inflation  is  a  direct  by¬ 
product  of  the  increasing  value  of  organisms  on 
the  collector  market,  and  as  the  value  of 
organisms  increase,  so  will  the  market  forces 
that  implicitly  drive  the  process  of  delimiting 
species.  To  enable  critical  evaluation  of  any 
new  taxonomic  entity  it  is  imperative  that  the 
criteria  for  species  demarcation  be  disclosed. 
This  disclosure  will  mitigate  the  effects  of 
taxonomic  inflation  as  users  are  able  to 
recognize  the  significance  of  the  new  species 
even  if  this  comes  at  a  cost  in  terms  of 
taxonomic  acceptability  to  some  users. 


REFERENCES 

Agapow,  P.M.  and  R.  Sluys  (2005)  The  reality 
of  taxonomic  change.  Trends  Ecol.  Evol.  20: 
278-280. 

Bebber,  D.P.  et  al.  (2014)  Taxonomic  capacity 
and  outer  inflation.  New  Phytol.  202:742-742. 
Dubois,  A.  (2008)  A  partial  but  radical  solution 
to  the  problem  of  nomenclatural  taxonomic 

inflation  and  synonymy  load.  Biol.  J.  Linn. 
Soc.  93:857-863. 

Harris,  D.F.  and  E.  Froufe  (2005)  Taxonomic 
inflation:  species  concept  or  historical 
geopolitical  bias?  Trends  Ecol.  Evol.  20:6-7. 
Issac,  N.J.B.  et  al.  (2004)  Taxonomic  inflation: 
its  influence  on  macroecology  and 
conservation.  Trends  Ecol.  Evol.  19:464-469. 
Knapp,  S.  et  al.  (2005)  Taxonomic  inflation, 
species  concepts  and  global  species  lists. 
Trends  Ecol.  Evol.  20:7-8. 

Magnus,  D.  (1996)  Theory,  practice,  and 
epistemology  in  the  development  of  species 
concepts.  Stud.  Hist.  Phil.  Sci.  27:21-545. 
Sundberg,  P.  and  M.  Stand  (2009) 

Taxonomic  inflation  or  taxonomist  deflation? 
A  comment  on  Dubois.  Biol.  J.  Linn.  Soc. 
96:712-714. 

Tattersall,  I.  (2007)  Madagascar’s  Lemurs: 
cryptic  diversity  of  taxonomic  inflation. 

Evol.  Anthr.  16:12-23. 


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Have  a  shell  collection  you  would 
like  to  donate  or  devise? 

The  San  Diego  Shell  Club  is  interested  in 
high  quality  estate  shell  collections.  As  a 
501  c(3)  organization  all  donations  to  our 
Club  may  provide  a  tax  write-off.  When 
we  receive  a  donation  we  carefully  record 
each  item  and  provide  a  letter  describing 
the  items  for  use  when  filing  your  taxes. 
While  we  cannot  provide  a  value, 
donations  of  up  to  $5,000  do  not  require  a 
written  appraisal.  Since  tax  laws  change 
regularly  we  recommend  that  you  check 
with  your  tax  accountant  before  relying  on 
any  information  provided  in  this 
paragraph.  We  are  interested  in  all  types 
of  shells,  marine  or  land  and  all  genera 
and  species,  books  on  shells  as  well  as 
items  related  to  shells  such  as  artwork, 
storage  cases  and  tools.  Your  items  will  be 
used  to  generate  income  to  support  the 
Club’s  efforts  in  continuing  Public  education  about  shells  and  conservation  of  marine  life 
throughout  the  world.  If  you  would  like  to  donate,  please  contact  Dave  Waller,  SDSC  Acquisition 
Chairperson,  at  dwaller@dbwipmg.com  to  schedule  a  time  to  discuss  charitable  gifting. 

CLUB  NEWS 

October  17,  2015:  Regular  Meeting,  Holiday  Inn  Express,  751  Raintree  Drive,  Carlsbad,  CA. 

•  Meeting  was  called  to  order  at  12:30  p.m.  Announcements  were  made. 

•  Speaker  Craig  Hoover,  Grad  Student  at  Cal  Poly  Pomona,  gave  talk  on  the  genetics  of  Nudibranch 
Felimare  califomiensis  populations.  The  talk  was  graded  for  our  student  research  award. 

•  President  Larry  Buck  announced  the  officer  slate  announced  for  2016,  there  was  a  call  for 
nominations  from  the  floor.  No  other  nominations  were  made. 

•  Bylaws  changes  were  discussed  and  unanimously  approved  by  vote  of  members  present. 

•  Meeting  adjourned  at  2:22  p.m. 

November  4,  2015:  Regular  Meeting,  Holiday  Inn  Express,  751  Raintree  Drive,  Carlsbad,  CA. 

•  Meeting  was  called  to  order  at  12:00  noon. 

•  Following  announcements  the  annual  elections  were  held.  There  was  a  call  for  nominations  from 
the  floor.  No  other  nominations  were  made.  All  officers  on  the  slate  of  proposed  officers  were 
elected  by  unanimous  vote  of  members  present. 


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•  The  November  shell  auction  was  held,  including  a  “dollar  table”,  “five  dollar  table”,  “silent 
auction”,  a  book  section,  and  the  live  auction.  Pizza  and  soft  drinks  were  provided  by  the  Club,  and 
other  beverages  made  an  appearance.  A  good  time  was  had  by  all. 

•  Meeting  adjourned  at  2:45  p.m. 

December  2015:  No  regular  meeting.  Holiday  party  held  at  David  and  Felicia  Berschauer’ s  home. 
January  15,  2016:  Regular  Meeting,  Staybridge  Suites,  2735  Palomar  Airport  Rd,  Carlsbad,  CA. 

•  Meeting  was  called  to  order  at  12:07  p.m.  Announcements  were  made. 

•  Speaker  Jenny  McCarthy,  Masters  Student  at  Cal  Poly  Pomona,  gave  talk  on  the  Juliidae,  shelled 
Sacoglossan  sea  slugs  which  have  a  bivalve  shell  with  a  protoconch  on  one  valve.  The  talk  was 
graded  for  our  student  research  award. 

•  Nancy  Hale  brought  gourmet  cookies,  and  the  Club  provided  beverages. 

•  There  was  a  “dollar  table”  for  books,  a  “five  dollar  table”  for  shells  and  a  “silent  auction”  for 
shells.  Shells  were  displayed  from  the  inter-club  exchange  with  the  Caimes  Shell  Club  in 
Queensland,  Australia;  these  shells  will  appear  in  the  April  Auction. 

•  Bill  Schramm  gave  a  brief  show  and  tell  presentation  on  Voluta  imperialis. 

•  Meeting  adjourned  at  2:40  p.m. 


The  San  Diego  Shell  Club  Holiday  Party  2015 

David  Waller 

This  year’s  Holiday  Party  was  once  again  hosted  by  the  David  and  Felicia  Berschauer.  The  house 
was  beautifully  decorated  for  the  holiday  season  and  the  three  little  elves  (Beauty,  Yuki,  and  Tiny) 
where  there  at  the  door  to  welcome  all  our  members  with  tails  wagging.  Santa  had  come  early 
bringing  gifts  for  the  Club’s  gift  exchange  and  fabulous  barbeque  delivered  by  Elf  Schramm. 
Everyone  was  treated  to  a  sleigh  ride  around  the  Berschauer  research  facility  created  and  built  by 
David  (aka  Dave’s  “Shell  Cave”).  A  must  see!  While  enjoying  some  tasty  barbeque  brisket  and  ribs 
we  were  captivated  by  the  sharing  of  stories 
about  diving  and  collecting  as  our  members 
discussed  their  adventures  around  the  world. 

These  are  the  types  of  stories  that  create 
visions  of  sugar  plums  dancing  in  our  heads. 

Shortly  thereafter,  shells  began  appearing  for 
all  the  good  boys  and  girls.  There  was  a  truck 
load  of  abalone,  a  table  full  of  Spondylus, 

Cowries,  Murex  and  Ho-Ho-Ho  it  was  time  for 
the  gift  exchange.  Then  as  soon  as  it  came,  it 
was  over  leaving  everyone  a  little  sad  but 
excited  about  what  Santa  will  bring  to  the 
2016  Holiday  Party. 


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ISSUE  1 


Shelling  on  the  Gulf  Coast  of  Florida  (Part  2  of  2) 

Robyn  Waayers 

5893  Mountain  Meadow  Road,  Julian,  CA  92036 
rwaavers@gmail.com 


This  is  a  continuation  of  Robyn  Waayer’s  shelling  adventure  in  January  2015. 

Day  Three: 

On  this  day  we  planned  to  drive  around  two  hours  south  of  Englewood  to  Marco  Island,  and  then 
explore  the  Big  Cypress  National  Preserve  (with  birding,  not  shelling  in  mind!). 


This  time  we  wisely  arrived  at  Tigertail  Beach  on  Marco  Island  around  an  hour  before  low  tide.  A 
cold  weather  system  had  moved  into  Florida,  and  it  was  in  the  low  fifties  (and  windy)  when  we 
arrived  at  the  public  beach  parking  area.  This  is  not  a  huge  parking  lot  so  arriving  early  is  wise  for 
many  reasons.  We  had  carefully  looked  at  satellite  images  of  this  area  in  advance,  and  also  had  heard 
that  one  could  wade  across  a  shallow  lagoon  to  get  fast  access  to  the  gulf-side  beach.  That  lagoon 
was  not  so  shallow  and  after  my  husband  Gary  quickly  was  up  to  his  thighs,  with  what  looked  like 
deeper  water  ahead,  we  decided  to  take  the  alternate  route  to  the  beach,  by  hiking  south  and  around 
the  lagoon,  then  hitting  the  beach  on  the  southern  end.  I'm  glad  we  did,  as  the  beach,  and  especially 
the  sandbars,  exposed  by  low  tide,  were  very  rich  in  empty  shells.  By  the  way,  although  this  is  not  a 


.. _ 


Figure  1.  Scaphella  junonia,  a  slightly  worn  specimen 
as  it  appeared  in  a  narrow  channel  revealed  by  low  tide. 
Tigertail  Beach,  Marco  Island,  Florida. 


Figure  2.  Dinocardium  robustum,  the  Atlantic  Giant  Cockle. 
There  were  many  large  live  specimens,  as  well  as  many  single 
valves,  on  and  in  the  sand  at  Marco  Island.  This  one  was 
actively  burrowing  into  the  sand  as  the  tide  came  in.  This 
species  can  grow  up  to  5  inches  in  length  and  there  were  many 
of  this  size  on  Tigertail  Beach. 


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state  park,  there  are  signs  all  over  stating  "No  Live  Shelling"  at  Tigertail  Beach,  so  be  forewarned. 
The  empty  shells  were  excellent,  though,  and  my  best  shelling  of  the  trip  happened  here,  as  we  hiked 
north  towards  the  northwest  comer  of  the  island. 


Figure  3.  A  "colony"  of  Florida  Fighting  Conchs,  Marco  Island,  Florida.  There  were  many  groups  like  this,  revealed  by  low  tide,  with 
easily  a  dozen  or  more,  just  a  few  inches  apart,  in  each  group.  We  never  saw  densities  like  this  of  these  conchs  elsewhere. 


Figure  4.  A  nice  mature,  live  Strombus  alatus. 
Tigertail  Beach,  Marco  Island,  Florida. 


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Figure  6.  Triplofusus  giganteus,  the  Florida  Horse  Conch,  in  its  new  home  (in  my  study).  This  shell  is  about  1 0.5 
inches  in  length.  Found  empty  at  the  peak  of  low  tide  on  a  sand  bar  before  the  crowds  descended,  Tigertail  Beach, 
Marco  island,  Florida. 


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Day  Four: 

My  brother  lives  in  Pinellas  Park  near  St.  Petersburg,  so  we  decided  to  make  the  most  of  the  shelling 
in  that  area,  since  we  wouldn't  meet  up  with  him  until  5  p.m. 

My  brother  Malcolm,  who  has  lived  in  the  Tampa  bay  area  for  many,  many  years,  recommended  Fort 
De  Soto  State  Park  for  birding  (which  was  another  goal  of  the  trip)  and  Honeymoon  Island  for 
shelling.  In  the  end,  after  spending  about  an  hour  early  in  the  morning  at  Pass-a-Grille  Beach  with  its 
small  breakwater  (which  had  captured  some  nice  shells,  including  an  empty  but  intact  Dinocardium 
robustum  with  both  valves)  we  spent  the  entire  morning  and  early  afternoon  at  Fort  De  Soto  State 
Park,  as  it  was  good  for  shelling  and  birding.  Honeymoon  Island  (which  is  also  a  state  park)  will 
have  to  wait  for  the  next  trip!  The  shelling  along  the  wrack  line  seemed  to  get  richer  and  richer  as  we 
hiked  north  long  the  north-south  gulf-facing  portion  of  the  park.  We  met  another  (local)  shelter  who 
confirmed  that  this  pattern  is  not  random,  but  that  many  intact  shells  tend  to  get  caught  on  that 
northernmost  point.  Once  we  rounded  the  northern  tip  and  entered  the  bayside,  the  shells  tapered  off, 
but  the  bay  side  had  nice  empty  shells  of  its  own. 


Figure  7.  Haminoea  antillarum ,  the  Antilles  Glassy-bubble.  Several  of  these  empty  shells  were  washed  up  on  the  bay  side,  filled  with 
mud.  Most  of  them  were  in  excellent  condition  and  cleaned  up  nicely.  These  are  about  10  mm  in  length.  Fort  De  Soto  State  Park, 
Florida. 


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Day  Five: 

This  had  to  be  a  fairly  short  day  as  we  would  be  getting  up  well  before  dawn  the  next  day  to  fly  back 
to  San  Diego.  So  we  explored  Stump  Pass  State  Park,  which  is  at  the  south  end  of  Manasota  Key 
(close  to  our  motel).  The  beaches  yielded  similar  empty  shells  to  what  we  had  seen  elsewhere 
previously,  but  the  richness  of  shells  increased  as  we  walked  south  to  the  small  channel  at  the  south 
end  of  Manasota  Key.  Right  at  the  channel,  where  water  was  rushing  out  towards  the  Gulf,  some 
pelicans  were  fishing  just  a  couple  feet  from  the  shore,  and  then  we  saw  a  shark  join  the  pelicans  in 
the  fishing  there!  This  drove  home  the  reality  that  snorkeling  in  the  Gulf  should  be  done  with  caution, 
and  an  understanding  of  the  creatures  you  are  swimming  with!  This  particular  day  seemed  to  be  the 
coldest  one  yet,  and  we  were  bundled  in  multiple  layers,  so  I  was  not  even  considering  getting  in  the 
water,  but  still  -  the  shark  was  an  interesting  wake-up  call! 


Figure  8.  Shelling  in  the  chilly  weather.  Stump  Pass  State  Park,  Florida. 


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Figure  9=  Donax  variabilis  (or  Coquina),  one  of  what  seems  like  an  infinite  number  of  variations  of  the  color  and  pattern  of  this 
species!  Stump  Pass  State  Park,  Florida. 

If  I  had  to  do  this  trip  over  some  time, 1  think  I  would  try  to  plan  a  slightly  longer  stay.  Five  days  (or 
more  accurately,  four-and-a-half),  especially  with  traveling  as  widely  as  we  did,  did  not  make  for  the 
most  relaxing  experience!  Something  else  that  was  driven  home  by  this  trip,  is  that  it's  critical  to 
arrive  at  beaches  early  in  the  day,  and  before  low  tide,  especially  at  well-visited  beaches.  I'm  glad 
that  we  decided  to  visit  a  variety  of  places,  though,  as  originally  I  had  planned  to  stay  at  Sanibel 
Island  almost  exclusively.  I  also  did  not  leave  enough  room  in  my  luggage  for  shells.  I  could  have 
mailed  some  of  the  shells  home,  but  decided  instead  to  mail  my  snorkeling  gear  (which  got  almost  no 
use)  instead.  This  opened  up  room  in  my  bags  for  my  carefully-wrapped  shells  (with  temporary  data 
labels),  which  took  up  even  more  space  than  I  thought  they  would!  I  ended  up  buying  Ziploc  bags, 
paper  towels  for  padding  and  some  inexpensive  plastic  food  storage  containers  for  the  shells  for  the 
return  trip.  Englewood  has  grocery  stores  that  are  very  convenient  for  such  purchases.  Having  a 
motel  with  a  full  kitchen  including  refrigerator  and  freezer  was  extremely  helpful,  also! 

Now  the  fun  of  cleaning,  organizing,  properly  labeling  and  storing  my  finds  from  this  trip  begins! 


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Bulla  gouldiana  Plisbry,  1895  off  Santa  Barbara  Island 

Laurel  Silver-Valker* 

2696  Dietrich  Drive,  Tustin,  California  92782 
laurelthediver@vahoo.com 


Diving  is  one  of  the  greatest  joys  in  my  life.  It  is  calm,  peaceful  and  serene.  I  get  to  commune  with 
nature,  and  deep  underwater  I  feel  most  at  home.  I  help  out  on  dive  ships  so  that  I  can  afford  to  go 
diving  often.  On  a  recent  dive  off  Santa  Barbara  Island,  California,  in  approximately  55  feet  of  water 
on  muddy  sand  I  spotted  a  large  colony  of  “bubble  snails”  -  both  live  ones  and  dead  ones.  The  live 
animals  had  a  mottled  white-tan  pattern  on  an  orange-gold  foot.  I  brought  back  a  bunch  of  dead 
shells  and  took  pictures  of  the  live  ones. 

It  turns  out  that  I  found  Bulla  gouldiana  Pilsbry, 

1895,  a  coastal  species  that  is  generally  found  in 
much  shallower  waters  from  intertidal  to  ten  meters. 

(Malaquias,  M.A.  and  D.G.  Reid.  2008.  Systematic 
revision  of  the  living  species  of  Bullidae  (Mollusca: 

Gastropoda:  Cephalaspidea),  with  a  molecular 
phylogenetic  analysis.  Zoological  Journal  of  the 
Linnean  Society  153:453-543,  and  p.  497.)  This 
appears  to  be  both  a  range  extension  to  the  offshore 
islands  and  a  greater  known  depth  for  the  species. 


Figure  1.  Live  Bulla  gouldiana 


Figure  2.  Bulla  gouldiana  41 .3mm  from  55  feet  depth  off  Santa  Barbara  Island 

*  Laurel  Silver-Valker  was  lost  while  diving  off  Ship  Rock  in  Catalina  on  December  29,  2015. 


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How  I  Started  Collecting  Cowries 

William  Schramm 

24151  Las  Niranjas  Road,  Laguna  Niguel,  California  92677 
bschramm@ive.edu 

I  started  collecting  seashells  during  one  of  my  summer  breaks  with  little  to  do  while  waiting  for  the 
fall  semester  of  college  to  start.  It  was  during  this  time  that  I  would  head  to  the  beach  on  most  clear 
days. 

Upon  finding  a  nearly  perfect,  or  so  I  thought  at  the  time,  knobbed  whelk  rolling  back  and  forth  in 
the  surf  during  one  of  my  beach  visits,  I  decided  to  continue  looking  for  other  shells  brought  to  the 
shore  by  the  relatively  gentle  waves  of  the  Long  Island  Sound  in  New  York.  Soon  my  collection 
grew  to  include  such  local  shells  as  mussels,  clams,  cockles,  periwinkles,  “turrets”  and  many  others. 
But  as  you  may  already  know  you  don’t  find  cowries  on  the  beaches  of  New  York.  Well,  that  was 
“o.k.”  since  at  that  time  I  didn’t  even  know  of  the  existence  of  such  beauties.  The  next  summer  came 
along  and  I  decided  to  expand  my  collecting  area  so  off  I  went,  traveling  the  roads  to  the  most  well 
known  get-away  location  for  New  Yorkers  -  Florida.  So  naturally  I  stopped  at  every  shell  shop  I 
came  across  from  South  Carolina  to  the  Caribbean.  It  is  embarrassing  to  admit  that  somewhere 
between  99%  and  100%  of  my  collecting  was  done  this  way.  Maybe  I  thought  that  all  beaches,  at 
least  in  this  country,  was  as  semi-sterile  of  shells  as  the  beaches  back  home. 

Well  with  school  finally  over,  I  shipped  myself  to  a  new  venue  in  southern  California  to  attend 
graduate  school.  By  now  marriage  and  all  that  good  stuff  that  goes  with  it,  such  as  house,  family, 
and  work,  left  me  with  precious  little  free  time  -  so  my  seashell  collecting  nearly  grounded  to  a  halt. 
If  it  wasn’t  for  my  wife  bringing  home  several  nearly  soccer  ball  size  shells  a  few  times  from  the 
county  fair,  the  collection’s  growth  rate  would  have  averaged  close  to  0%  for  over  several  decades. 
Oh  yea,  there  was  one  event,  during  this  time  period,  that  introduced  me  to  not  only  what  shell 
collecting  could  be  like  but  also  an  opportunity  to  obtain  some  nice  specimens.  This  took  place 
because  my  best  friend  and  amateur  astronomy-observing  buddy,  is  an  attorney.  He  had  an  elderly 
client  that  had  been  a  serious  shell  collector  in  years  gone  by  and  I  was  invited  to  the  client’s  home 
and  while  my  friend  and  his  client  were  involved  in  legal  matters  I  was  involved  with  setting  aside 
shells  that  the  owner  was  willing  to  part  with.  By  now  I  had  a  few  cowries  and  I  wasn’t  exactly 
looking  for  more  so  I  was  unprepared  for  the  great  find  that  occurred  involving  someone  else 
collection.  It  was  a  five-inch  Cypraea  tigris  schilderiana  Cate,  1961,  and  I  obtained  it  for  twenty- 
five  dollars!  The  largest  cowrie  I  had  at  home  was  puny  in  comparison.  But  even  this  wonderful 
acquisition  didn’t  start  me 

down  the  road  to  specialize  in  Cypraea.  Unfortunately,  with  time  the  inevitable  happened,  I  retired. 

I  did  have  four  or  five  hobbies,  family  matters  and  still  working  part  time  to  keep  myself  occupied 
but  I  was  really  anxious  to  become  more  active  with  my  shell  collection  and  therefore  I  became 
curious  about  what  might  be  going  on  at  any  of  the  local  shell  clubs.  Well  there  weren’t  many  shell 
clubs  around  but  I  did  zero  in  on  the  San  Diego  Shell  Club,  located  about  60  miles  from  where  I  live, 
so  I  attended  one  of  their  auctions.  There  was  no  shortage  of  great  looking  shells  to  bid  on  but  the 


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situation  was  somewhat  intimidating  since  the  attendees  seemed  to  know  a  lot  more  than  I  did  about 
shells.  Even  thought  the  bid  prices  were  rather  modest  I  couldn’t  bring  myself  to  bid  on  something. 

At  that  time  I  was  mostly  interested  in  cones  and  I  couldn’t  find  any  members  in  the  Club  that 
expressed  much  interest  in  cones.  Go  figure.  But  I  did  find  someone  who  was  both  congenial  and 
also  knowledgeable  about  cowries.  After  being  invited  to  view  his  cowrie  collection  I  became  aware 
of  the  great  variety  of  cowries  that  exist  and  how  to  protect  and  display  them.  This  type  of 
interaction  certainly  underscores  the  importance  of  being  involved  with  other  people  that  have  a 
similar  interest.  Ail  this  took  place  over  a  rather  short  period  of  time  and  I’m  sure  this  is  why  I 
gravitated  so  seriously  towards  collecting  cowries. 

Along  the  way  I  was  introduced  to  an  enormously  valuable  resource  called  Tideline,  a  retail 
establishment  that  is  located  near  Los  Angeles.  Tideline  specializes  in  natural  marine  items  such  as 
sand,  coral,  and  high  quality  seashells.  The  proprietor  is  a  world-class  cowrie  collector  and  has 
proven  invaluable  to  me  for  cowrie  additions  to  my  collection.  I  was  also  introduced  to  several  well- 
known  cowrie  collectors  and  dealers  that  tend  to  stop  by  Tideline  on  their  way  to  or  from  major  shell 
events  such  as  the  Paris  or  Tucson  show.  Coming  in  contact  with  people  like  these  there  is  little 
wonder  that  in  less  than  three  years  I  went  from  six,  almost  nothing-special  cowries,  to  over  two 
hundred  and  twenty  five  cowries.  This  does  not  include  any  duplicates.  Well,  I  guess  that  one  could 
say  that  I  was  now  hooked  on  cowries.  So  how  can  I  then  explain  that  I  recently  trading  a  Cypraea 
tessellata,  a  C.  tristensis,  and  a  few  dollars  for  a  9-inch  wide  by  10-inch  long  imperial  volute?  Um  ... 
I  wonder  if  in  a  couple  of  years,  all  my  cowries  will  turn  into  volutes.  Oh  no,  if  this  happens  I’ll  have 
to  write  an  article  on  how  I  became  a  volute  collector.  When  will  this  ever  end? 


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Molluscan  Communities  of  the  Florida  Keys  and 
Adjacent  Areas:  Their  Ecology  and  Biodiversity 
by  Edward  J.  Petuch  and  Robert  F.  Myers 

Published  2014,  CRC  Press  -  Taylor  &  Francis  Group,  Boca  Raton,  Florida,  ISBN  13:  978-1- 
4822-4918-7  in  hardcover  with  laminated  board  case  binding,  299  pp.,  illustrated  in  high  color 
resolution  photographs  by  Robert  F.  Myers,  about  $120 


Review  by  David  P.  Berschauer 
shellcollection@hotmail.com 


Edward  J.  Petuch  •  Robert  F.  Myers 

Molluscan  Communities 


u|  I  lie  riui  lUu  neub 

and  Adjacent  Ureas 

THEIR  ECOLOGY  AND  BIODIVERSITY 

Ja  M  IF/ 


This  book  is  organized  and  arranged  by  habitats, 
the  way  a  field  collector  or  ecologist  would 
approach  a  collecting  trip  or  expedition  rather  than 
the  traditional  taxanomic  hierarchy.  The  authors 
lead  the  reader  through  an  exploration  of  twenty 
different  marine  ecosystems  from  the  Palm  Beach 
region  south  through  the  Florida  Keys,  across  the 
Dry  Tortugas  and  through  the  vast  Ten  Thousand 
Islands  region  -  an  area  encompassing  the 
southern  extreme  of  the  Suwannean  Molluscan 
Subprovince  of  the  Carolinian  Molluscan 
Province  and  represents  an  ecological  transition 
zone.  This  book  is  unique  by  being  the  first  book 
on  mollusks  of  the  greater  Florida  Keys  region 
organized  by  marine  ecosystems  and  their 
associated  molluscan  assemblages  arranged  by  the 
CMECS  (Coastal  Marine  Ecological 
Classification  Standard)  system. 

More  than  1,200  species  in  140  families  are  noted 
from  the  study  areas,  with  large  glossy  color 
plates  illustrating  over  550  of  the  region’s  most 
ecologically  important  species.  Along  with 
species  lists  for  each  of  the  twenty  marine 
ecosystems  and  associated  molluscan  assemblages  surveyed,  the  authors  describe  two  new  species  of 
bivalves  in  the  families  Pectinidae  and  Arcidae,  and  ten  new  gastropod  species  in  the  families 
Muricidae,  Buccinidae,  Nassariidae,  Naticidae,  Turritellidae,  and  Olividae.  Finally,  for  the  land  snail 
enthusiasts  there  is  a  chapter  on  the  endemic  tree  snails  of  the  Florida  Keys  tropical  hardwood 
hammocks,  with  rich  illustrations  of  many  of  the  rarest  subspecies  and  forms. 


ml 


I  found  this  book  to  be  both  an  enjoyable  read  and  a  useful  and  valuable  reference  guide.  If  you 
collect  shells  or  ever  plan  to  collect  shells  in  Southern  Florida  this  book  is  a  fantastic  addition  to  your 
shell  library. 


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Uncle  David  Left  Me  What? 

David  Waller 

505  N.  Willowspring  Dr.,  Encinitas,  California  92024 
dwaller@dbwipmg.com 

Like  many  of  you  I  am  the  Collector  of  my  family.  I  collect  shells,  stamps,  gemstone  and  a  variety  of 
other  treasurers.  Over  the  years,  I  have  had  to  control  my  collecting  for  a  number  of  reasons,  primarily 
because  it  can  be  very  expensive.  Now  I  focus  my  collecting  efforts  on  seashells,  particularly  cowries. 

Even  though  I  am  not  a  general  collector,  the  Cypraeidea  in  my  collection  now  exceed  1,500  specimens. 

I  enjoy  my  shells  and  devote,  much  of  my  spare  time  to  cleaning  them,  placing  them  in  protective  cases, 
logging  their  collection  data  into  my  computer  database  and  storing  them  in  clear  Plexiglass  wall 
mounted  cabinets  as  well  as  cardboard  specimen  boxes  in  the  closet.  I  have  spent  a  lot  of  time  curating 
my  collection  and  a  bit  of  my  financial  resources  to  purchasing  these  fabulous  gems  of  the  sea.  But  I 
worry  about  who  will  enjoy  them  when  I  am  gone.  I  am  still  relatively  young  and  will  have  a  lot  of  time 
to  enjoy  my  collection  and  may  eventually  sell  them  before  I  leave  this  life.  However,  what  if  something 
happens  and  my  family  inherits  a  collection  of  shells  that  they  have  no  interest  in  and  have  no  idea  of 
their  value.  These  questions  are  the  makings  of  a  Collector’s  nightmare.  Will  they  be  discarded  as  so 
much  trash?  Will  a  shell  dealer  steal  away  with  my  shells  for  pennies  on  the  dollar?  Or  will  my  wife 
make  good  on  her  promise  to  create  a  mosaic  coffee  tabletop  out  of  the  broken  pieces  of  my  cowries? 

This  would  make  any  Collector  awake  from  such  a  dream  in  a  cold  sweat.  So  what  do  we  do?  How  do  we 
assure  that  our  shells  will  be  enjoyed  by  others  in  the  future  and  that  our  families  are  compensated 
appropriately  for  our  collections?  This  is  the  subject  of  four  articles  relaying  my  experiences  in  this  area 
to  be  published  this  year,  one  in  each  publication  of  The  Festivus.  I  heard  many  options.  Gift  your 
collection  to  a  museum,  disperse  them  to  family  and  friends,  donate  portions  of  your  collection  while  you 
are  living  to  obtain  the  tax  benefits,  train  your  children  and/or  spouse  about  shells  so  that  they  have  an 
idea  of  their  value  and  secure  connections  for  their  sale  when  you  are  gone,  or  make  a  gift  of  your 
collection  to  a  non-profit  organization  such  as  a  shell  club. 

This  article  provides  my  thoughts  and  information  I  obtained  when  considering  the  benefits  and 
disadvantages  of  gifting  my  collection  to  a  museum  or  to  friends  and  family. 

My  first  thought  was  what  better  place  than  a  museum  for  my  collection.  They  will  display  my  shells  with 
signs  stating  “The  Waller  Collection”,  others  will  see  my  shells  and  be  inspired  to  collect  in  the  future 
and  it  will  be  a  place  where  my  children  can  go  to  see  the  family  collection  and  feel  proud  of  our 
contribution.  What  a  utopian  thought. 

My  next  thought  was  what  about  giving  that  beautiful  Cypraea  fultoni  to  my  son.  He  will  proudly  display 
it  on  the  fireplace  mantle  and  every  time  he  sees  it  he  will  remember  Dad.  Or  that  150mm  Cypraea  tigris 
that  I  could  will  to  my  best  friend.  He  will  surely  keep  it  on  his  desk  and  think  of  all  the  good  times  we 
had  over  the  years.  More  wishful  thinking. 

Unfortunately,  reality  is  very  different  from  many  of  our  hopes  and  dreams.  So  what  about  donating  my 
shells  to  a  Natural  History  Museum?  With  more  thought,  I  began  to  realize  that  while  the  local  Natural 
History  Museum  is  a  storehouse  containing  many  natural  wonders,  it  is  also,  in  part,  a  research  institution. 


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Many  of  us  who  have  written  articles  for  journals  like  The  Festivus  have  used  museums  as  a  resource  for 
shells  and  shell  information  that  we  do  not  have  in  our  own  collections.  Because  of  this,  museums  are 
hesitant  to  accept  collections  from  individuals  who  are  not  known  for  personally  collecting  specimens. 
Collection  data  is  golden  for  museums  and  the  condition  of  a  specimen  often  takes  a  back  seat  to  this 
information. 

When  I  approached  museums  about  donating  my  collection  I  was  very  surprised  by  their  response.  First, 
they  were  not  overly  pleased  and  appeared  as  though  this  was  going  to  be  a  great  burden  on  their 
department.  They  asked  if  all  of  the  shells  had  data  and  was  the  data  reliable.  This  does  not  mean  the  little 
slip  of  paper  that  says  “Philippines”.  They  mean  the  original  collecting  slip  that  contains  the  name  and 
size  of  the  shell,  the  date  it  was  collected,  the  location  (preferably  with  GPS  coordinates),  the  collector’s 
name  as  well  as  the  expedition  name  if  any.  They  also  indicated  that  if  it  was  my  desire  that  my  collection 
be  shown  or  that  the  shells  be  stored  together  as  a  collection  that  this  was  definitely  impossible.  The 
shells  would  be  distributed  to  the  “winds”  of  their  collection  and  there  would  be  no  display  honoring  my 
collection  whatever  that  contribution  might  be.  The  final  nail  in  the  coffin  was  their  suggestion  that 
without  data  they  would  likely  discard  the  shells.  I  must  have  been  visibly  mortified  by  these  comments 
and  the  candid  manner  in  which  they  spoke  about  discarding  portions  of  my  collection.  My  response  was 
a  knee  jerk  reaction  and  may  not  have  been  as  pleasant  as  I  had  hoped.  This  apparently  was  not  a  problem 
because  the  reaction  I  received  from  the  museum  seemed  more  of  relief  than  insult. 

I  came  away  from  these  discussions  with  a  sense  of  despair.  I  felt  that  the  time  and  love  I  had  contributed 
to  creating  this  (in  my  opinion)  magnificent  collection  was  for  naught  and  that  my  shells  would  just 
become  one  of  many  in  the  archives  of  the  museum  seen  only  indecently  by  those  being  shown  the 
collections  to  inspire  further  financial  donations.  With  this  my  thoughts  turned  to  my  son  with  the  hopes 
that  he  would  continue  the  collection  adding  significantly  over  his  lifetime  until  he  could  give  it  to  his  son 
and  so  on.  Well  upon  broaching  the  subject  with  him  he  proceeded  to  let  me  know  exactly  what  he  would 
do  with  my  shells.  He  would  place  them  in  the  car  and  make  the  20  hour  or  so  trip  to  La  Jolla  from 
Montana,  perch  himself  comfortably  on  the  cliffs  high  above  the  “The  Caves”  and  proceed  to  launch  my 
shells  one  at  a  time  into  the  ocean  shouting  “Be  Free”.  Well  the  quote  from  the  Mork  and  Mindy  TV 
sitcom  was  not  lost  on  me  and  it  was  funny  for  about  a  half  second.  I  then  realized  that  family  and  friends 
do  not  necessarily  have  the  same  respect  for  items  that  I  or  another  collector  might  have,  and  without 
additional  knowledge  like  that  supplied  by  my  son,  a  gift  to  anyone  other  than  a  collector  would  likely  be 
a  grave  mistake.  Shell  collectors  often  talk  about  leaving  certain  shells  to  one-another  but  unless  someone 
knows  specifically  about  that  gift  and  it  appears  in  the  legal  documents  you  will  likely  never  get  your 
wish. 

In  all  honesty,  there  are  relatively  few  personal  collections  that  have  the  necessary  data  and  shell 
composition  to  be  of  value  to  a  Natural  History  Museum  and  mine  is  not  a  likely  candidate  for  such  a 
donation.  Correspondingly,  I  realized  that  a  gift  to  my  son  or  a  friend  of  an  item  that  I  hold  in  great 
esteem  will  not  cause  my  friend  or  family  to  remember  me.  They  will  remember  me  because  of  who  I  am, 
the  moments  that  we  shared  together  and  the  feelings  those  memories  generate,  not  from  a  shell.  With  this 
in  mind,  I  looked  into  donating  while  I  am  still  alive  to  take  advantage  of  any  benefit  that  might  be 
available  such  as  a  tax  deduction.  This  does  not  resolve  the  problem  of  what  happens  when  I  die 
unexpectedly,  but  it  might  help  in  collecting  the  necessary  funds  for  that  trip  to  Australia,  New  Zealand, 
Papua/New  Guinea  and  New  Caledonia.  My  findings  on  donating  in  my  lifetime  will  be  discussed  in  my 
next  article. 


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ISSUE  1 


In  Memoriam  -  Laurel  Silver- Valker 


By  David  P.  Berschauer 


I  have  known  Laurel  Silver-Valker  for  more  than  twelve 
years  since  our  kids  were  in  Boy  Scouts  and  we  were 
Troop  leaders  together.  While  sitting  around  the  campfires 
at  night  waiting  for  the  boys  to  quiet  down  and  go  to  sleep 
Laurel  and  I  used  to  discuss  marine  life,  and  she  would  tell 
me  about  her  dives  and  lobster  hunting.  Laurel  loved  the 
ocean  and  was  a  dive  master  with  over  a  thousand  dives. 

Yes,  I  finally  did  it  - 1  used  the  past  tense  in  writing  about 
my  dear  friend.  On  December  29,  2015  Laurel  went 
missing  while  scuba  diving  off  Ship  Rock  near  Catalina 
Island.  Search  and  rescue  turned  into  a  recovery  operation 
after  several  days.  To  date  she  has  not  been  found  and 
what  happened  remains  a  mystery.  Laurel  was  a  very 
experienced  scuba  diver  with  a  passion  for  life  and  for  the 
mysteries  of  the  ocean.  It  is  ironic  that  she  became  one  of  those  mysteries  in  the  ocean,  leaving  us  all 
wondering.  For  many  of  you  who  just  met  Laurel  at  our  Club’s  holiday  party,  you  could  describe  her 
as  a  45  year  old  mother  of  two  young  adult  boys,  a  very  young  grandmother,  who  was  bubbly, 
vivacious  and  in  love  with  the  man  of  her  dreams,  Tom  Gordon.  What  you  might  not  know  was  that 
Laurel  was  a  special  education  teacher  who  loved  helping  kids,  loved  yoga,  was  an  enigma  in  that 
she  was  old  fashioned  naturalist  and  environmentalist  yet  was  a  self-stylized  lobster  hunter,  or  that 
she  straggled  with  Fibromyalgia,  an  invisible  medical  illness,  but  refused  to  let  it  slow  her  down  or 
define  her.  Having  known  Laurel  for  so  long,  and  watching  her  struggle  through  the  tough  times  in 
her  life  and  overcome  adversity  I  can  tell  you  that  she  was  a  resilient  strong  woman  who  was  in  love 
with  life  and  lived  every  day  to  the  fullest,  and  she  was  in  love  and  looking  forward  to  getting 
married  and  spending  the  next  fifty  years  or  more  living  life,  enjoying  and  exploring  the  world  with 
her  perfect  guy.  Many  of  her  friends  describe  Laurel  as  a  mermaid,  and  will  tell  you  that  she  was 
never  happier  than  when  she  was  diving  in  the  sea.  “You  can  shed  tears  that  she  is  gone  or  you  can 
smile  because  she  has  lived.”  (from  a  poem  by  David  Harkins) 


i'M 


ISSN  0738-9388 


Volume:  48 


THE  FESTIVUS 


issue:  1 


Jose  and  Marcus  Coltro 

Ten 


Cx.P,  15011  Sao  Paulo  -  SP  Brazil  01537-970 
shells@femorale.com 


WWW.FEMORALE.COM 


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ISSN  0738-9388 


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Volume:  48 


THE  FESTIVUS 


ISSUE  1 


1  Thierry  vulliet 


ACTUS 


Collection  Management  System  is  a  museum 
style  database  program  which  enables  a  collector 
to  keep,  organize,  and  maintain  the  individual 
records  and  data  from  their  shell  collection  in  a 
readily  accessible  form.  The  program  is  easy  to 
use,  and  is  menu  driven  by  self-explanatory  pull 
tabs.  Reports  and  labels  are  easy  to  print.  This 
latest  version  is  readily  adaptable  to  work  with 
any  systematic  collection,  including 
malacologists  and  entomologists,  and  runs  in  a 
Windows  operating  environment.  See 
www.shellcollections.com  or  our  page  on 
Facebook  for  more  information 


IMm  ht£pj//lhe] 


Coquillagcs  dtz  collection 


&S591 

/tBMMM&MISSI  N0UVEAUX  C0QUILLAGES 


Calendar  membership  (Jan  -  Dec)  =  $25  (USA) 
Postal  surcharges:  +  $5  for  USA  first  class, 
Canada  &  Mexico  +  $5,  other  nations  +  $15 

New  members  apply  to  Doris  Underwood,  Membership  Director 
7529  Ensemble  Lane 
Melbourne,  FL  32940-2603 

USA 

dunderwoodl3@cfl.rr.com 
Quarterly  Journal  of  the  Conchologists  of  America,  Inc. 


BACK  COVER:  Arrangement  of  shells  collected  in  the  Ten 
Thousand  Islands,  Florida.  Photo  by  David  P.  Berschauer. 


3  9088  01839  7075" 


Arctic  AlaskanMollusks 

•  ..  ' 

new  llaliotis  from  Yemen  and  Oman 
\friean  eonc  from  the  Saharan  Coast 
Qwarf  white  Harpa  from  Queensland 
Yew  land  snail  species 


Quarterly  Publication  of  the  San  Diego  Shell  Club 


ISSN  0738-9388 


THE  FESTIVUS 

A  publication  of  the  San  Diego  Shell  Club 


Volume:  48 


May  2016 


ISSUE  2 


CLUB  OFFICERS 

President 

Vice-President 

Corresp.  Secretary 

Recording  Secretary 

Treasurer 

Past  President 


.  David  Berschauer 
Bill  Schramm 
Bob  Abela 
Rick  Negus 
David  Waller 
Larry  Buck 


COMMITTEE  CHAIRPERSONS 


Librarian 
Historian 
Parliamentarian 
Co-Editor 
Co-Editor 
Art  Editor 
Publicity  Chair 
Botanical  Garden  Rep. 


Dr.  Paul  Tuskes 
Dr.  Paul  Tuskes 
David  Waller 
David  Berschauer 
David  Waller 
Martin  Schuler 
David  Berschauer 
Dr.  Wes  Farmer 


MEMBERSHIP  AND  SUBSCRIPTION 
Annual  dues  are  payable  to  the  San  Diego  Shell  Club 
Membership:  Domestic/Foreign  $20  (receive  e-mail  copy 
of  The  Festivus );  Domestic  $35  (receive  The  Festivus  by 
mail).  Foreign/outside  the  continental  United  States  $55 
(receive  a  copy  of  The  Festivus  by  mail).  Single  copies  of 
each  regular  issue  are  $10.00  plus  postage. 


MISSION  STATEMENT 

The  San  Diego  Shell  Club  was  founded  in  1961  as  a  non¬ 
profit  organization  for  educational  and  scientific  purposes. 
More  particularly  to  enjoy,  study  and  promote  the 
conservation  of  Mollusca  and  associated  marine  life 
through  lectures,  club  meetings  and  field  trips.  Our 
membership  is  diverse  and  includes  beginning  collectors, 
scientists,  divers,  underwater  photographers  and  dealers. 

THE  FESTIVUS  is  the  official  quarterly  publication  of  the 
San  Diego  Shell  Club,  Inc.  and  is  issued  as  part  of 
membership  dues  in  February,  May,  August  and 
November.  The  Festivus  publishes  articles  that  are  peer 
reviewed  by  our  volunteer  Scientific  Peer  Review  Board, 
as  well  as  articles  of  general  interest  to  malacologists, 
conchologists,  and  shell  collectors  of  every  level 
Members  of  the  Peer  Review  Board  are  selected  to  review 
individual  articles  based  upon  their  chosen  field  of 
expertise  and  preference.  Available  by  request  or  on  our 
website  are: 

•  Guidelines  for  Authors 

•  Guidelines  for  the  Description  of  New  Taxa 

Submit  articles  to  Editor,  David  Berschauer,  at 

shellcollection@hotmail.com 


Address  all  correspondence  to: 

The  San  Diego  Shell  Club,  Inc. 

P.O.  Box  230988,  Encinitas,  CA  92023 

REGULAR  CLUB  MEETINGS 

Club  meetings  are  held  on  the  third  Thursday  or  Saturday 
of  the  month,  except  April,  September  and  December,  at 
either  7:30  p.m.  in  Room  104,  Casa  del  Prado,  Balboa 
Park,  San  Diego,  or  at  12:00  noon  at  Holiday  Inn  Express, 
751  Raintree  Dr.,  Carlsbad,  conference  room  or  as  noticed. 

FACEBOOK 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/62072427 1 2994 1 0/ 

WEBSITE 

http://www.sandiegoshellclub.com 

Submit  comments  or  suggestions  regarding  our  website  to 
our  Webmaster  David  Waller  at  dwaller@dbwipmg.com. 


FRONT  COVER; 

Live  animal  photo  of  Harpa  queenslandica  Berschauer  & 
Petucfa,  2016,  taken  by  Tassey  Weinreich  in  2008  in  the  Cairns 
Region,  Australia;  photo  used  with  written  permission,  all  rights 
reserved..  (Cover  artistic  credit:  Rex  Stilwill) 


All  correspondence  pertaining  to  articles,  including  all 
submissions  and  artwork  should  be  addressed  to  the 
Editorial  Board. 

ADVERTISING  in  The  Festivus  is  presented  as  a  service 
to  our  membership  and  to  supplement  publication  costs. 
Advertising  does  not  imply  endorsement  by  the  San 
Diego  Shell  Club,  Inc.  or  its  officers.  Advertising  space  is 
available  at  the  following  rates:  Black  and  White  -  14 
page  $300, 14  page  $150,  or  14  page  $75,  Color  - 14  page 
$500, 14  page  $205,  or  14  page  $125.  Deadline  for 
submitting  advertisements  is  the  1 5th  of  the  month  prior  to 
publication.  Submit  advertisements  to  our  Advertising 
Director,  at:  dwaller@dbwipmg.com 

UPCOMING  CLUB  EVENTS: 

West  Coast  Shell  Show:  5/21-22/16 
San  Diego  Co.  Fair:  6/5  -  7/4/16 
Bizarre  Bazaar:  7/16/16 
Balboa  Park  Show  &  Sale:  8/20/16 
September  Party:  TBD 
November  Auction:  1 1/19/16 
December  Party:  TBD 


Publication  date:  May  2, 2016 


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ISSUE  2 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

Peer  Reviewed  Articles 

•  Notes  on  Some  Little  Known  Arctic  Alaskan  Mollusks  ...... .......... P-  73 

By  Roger  N.  Clark 

•  A  Review  of  the  Haliotis  of  Y emen  and  Oman  with  Description  of  a  New  ......................  p.  84 

Species  Haliotis  arabiensis ,  from  Oman  and  United  Arab  Emirates 

By  Buzz  Owen,  Wilco  Regter&  Kirsten  Van  Laethem 

•  A  New  Species  of  Cone  Shell  (Gastropoda:  Conidae)  from  the  Saharan  Coast .................  p.  93 

of  Northwestern  Africa 

By  Edward  I.  Petuch  and  David  P.  Berschauer 

•  Letter  to  the  editor  regarding:  "Commercially  driven  taxonomy:  The  necessity  of  ........  p.  100 

knowing  species;  by  Stephen  I.  Maxwell  and  Tasmin  L.  Rymer” 

By  John  K,  Tucker 

•  A  New  Species  of  Harpa  (Gastropoda:  Harpidae)  from  the  Coral  Sea  Archipelagos  ......  p.  104 

of  Queensland,  Australia 

By  David  P.  Berschauer  and  Edward  J.  Petuch 

•  Camaena  abbasi ,  a  new  species  (Gastropda:  Camaenidae)  from  Indonesia  .....................  p.  109 

By  Nguyen  Ngoc  Thach 

•  New  species  of  Amphidromm  ( Syndromus )  from  northern  Meratus  Mountains, .............  p,  113 

Kalimantan 

By  Jeff  Parsons 

Club  News  ...................................................................................................................................  p.  125 

Articles  of  General  Interest 

•  Green  Abalone  Restoration:  A  Recipe  for  Success  ...........................................................  p.  126 

By  Nancy  Caruso 

•  Book  Review:  The  Living  and  Fossil  Busycon  Whelks:  Iconic  Mollusks  of  ...................  p.  132 

Eastern  North  America 

By  Tammy  L.  Myers 

•  The  Collector's  Catch  22 . .................................. . . . p.  133 

By  David  Waller 

•  Taxonomic  Note:  Presumed  hybrid  Eustrombus  gigas  x  Macmstrombus  costatus  ..........  p.  135 

•  April  Auction  and  Potluck  ................................................................................................  p.  136 

By  Bob  Abela 

•  Shell-O-Rama  2016  p.  138 

By  David  P.  Berschauer  and  David  Waller 

EDITOR’S  NOTEi  In  the  August  2015  issue  of  The  Festivus  we  published  an  article  by  Chorchat  Gra-tes  on  land 
snails.  We  are  disappointed  that  the  author  may  have  provided  incomplete  information  and  may  have  used  images 
identical  to  those  previously  published  in  Raffels  Bulletin  of  Zoology  without  obtaining  the  proper  permission  in 
advance.  We  hereby  acknowledge  that  the  images  provided  by  Chorchat  Gra-tes  in  plates  14  and  15  and  on  the 
cover  of  our  August  2015  journal  are  likely  from  Raffles  Bulletin  of  Zoology  2011  59(l):39-46.  We  have  since 
obtained  written  permission  for  the  use  of  these  images  and  hereby  formally  give  recognition  to  Tan  Heok  Hui  and 
Raffles  Bulletin  of  Zoology  for  providing  these  images.  We  respectfully  offer  our  sincerest  apologies  in  the  event 
that  Chorchat  Gra-tes'  article  did  not  properly  provide  such  recognition  in  our  August  2015  publication. 


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Volume:  48  THE  FESTIVUS  ISSUE  2 


Notes  on  Some  Little  Known  Arctic  Alaskan  Mollusks 

Roger  N.  Clark  E2 

1  Research  Associate  in  Malacology,  Santa  Barbara  Museum  of  Natural  History,  2559  Puesta  del  Sol 
Road,  Santa  Barbara,  California  93105 

2  Associate  in  Invertebrate  Zoology,  Los  Angeles  County  Museum  of  Natural  History,  900 
Exposition  Blvd.,  Los  Angeles,  California  90007 

3808  Pinehurst  Dr.,  Eagle  Mountain,  Utah  84005-6007 
insignis69@gmail.com 


ABSTRACT  Notes  on  the  taxonomy,  distribution  and  natural  history  of  some  eastern  Chukchi  Sea 
mollusks.  Including:  validation  of  the  misunderstood  Neptunea  middendorffiana  MacGinitie,  1859, 
based  on  its  egg  cases;  discussion  of  the  enigmatic  Anomalosipho  rodgersi  (Gould,  1 860),  an  older 
name  for  the  enigmatic  Volutopsius  callorhinus  Dali,  1877;  the  peculiar  egg  towers  of  what  appears 
to  be  Buccinum  obsoletum  Golikov,  1980;  new  distribution  records  for  Coins  sabini  (Gray,  1824), 
Buccinum  beringense  Golikov,  1980  and  Neoiphinoe  echinata  Egorav  &  Alexeyev,  1998;  the  first 
record  of  brooding  behavior  in  Trichotropis  bicarinata  (Sowerby,  1825);  and  the  identity  and  validity 
of  Plicifusus  johanseni  Dali,  1919,  and  Pseudopo l inices  nanus  (Moller,  1842)  a  species  in  need  of  a 
new  name. 


INTRODUCTION  From  2009-2013,  I 
participated  as  an  invertebrate  taxonomist  in  a 
series  of  surveys  in  the  eastern  Chukchi  Sea 
[Northern  Alaska,  North  of  the  Bering  Strait  and 
west  of  Point  Barrow  (Figure  1)];  in  2009  on  the 
CSESPA  (Chukchi  Sea  Environmental  Studies 
Program);  in  2010-2011  on  the  AKMAP 
(Alaska  Monitoring  and  Assessment  Program) 
survey;  a  multi-year,  state  wide,  near-shore 
biodiversity  survey  in  2012  on  the  Arctic  EIS 
(Ecosystem  Intergrated  Survey),  and  in  2013  on 
the  SHELFZ  (Shelf  Habitat  and  EcoLogy  of 
Fish  and  Zooplankton)  Project.  This  afforded 
me  the  opportunity  to  study  the  Arctic  mollusk 
fauna.  Many  taxonomic,  zoogeographical  and 
natural  history  questions  were  investigated,  and 
many  rare  and  little  known  species  were 
photographed  alive  for  the  first  time.  No  diving 
was  done  on  these  surveys,  but  a  large  make 
shift  onboard  aquarium  with  natural  substrate 
and  invertebrate  biodiversity  allowed  for  live 
observations  and  in  situ-liko,  photography.  The 


question  of  the  validity  of  the  Buccinid 
Neptunea  middendorffiana  MacGinitie,  1959  is 
answered  by  the  discovery  of  its  uniquely 
sculptured  egg  capsules.  The  identity  of  the 
enigmatic  Volutopsius  callhorhinus  Dali,  1877 
is  discussed.  The  unusual  branched  tower  egg 
masses  of  Buccinum  obsoletum  Golikov,  1980 
are  reported,  the  first  Alaskan  records  for  Coins 
sabini  (Gray,  1 824),  Buccinum  beringense 
Golikov,  1980,  and  Neoiohinoe  echinata 
Egorov  &  Alexeyev,  1998  are  presented, 
brooding  behavior  in  Trichotropis  bicarinata 
(Sowerby,  1825)  is  reported,  the  validity  of 
Plicifusus  johanseni  Dali,  1919  is  established, 
and  the  discovery  that  Pseudopolinices  nanus  is 
in  need  of  a  new  name  is  reported.  All 
collections  were  made  by  the  author,  and 
illustrated  specimens  are  in  his  personal 
collection.  Vouchers  for  new  distribution 
records  are  deposited  in  the  Santa  Barbara 
Museum  of  Natural  History. 


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Family:  Capulidae 

Neoiphinoe  echinata  (Egorov  &  Alexeyev,  1998) 
was  described  from  the  Tartar  Strait,  on  the 
west  side  of  Sakahlin  Island,  Russia  (48°  15.4  N, 
154°37.4  N)  (Kantor  &  Sysoev,  2006);  the  strait 
connects  the  northern  Sea  of  Japan  to  the  Sea  of 
Okhotsk.  The  species  resembles  Neoiphinoe 
kroyeri  (Philippi,  1849)  in  form,  but  is  more 
slender  and  is  characterized  by  four  spiral  rows 
of  setae.  The  apex  of  Arctic  specimens  is 
frequently  eroded.  On  27  August,  2009,  3 
specimens  (Figure  2)  were  taken  northwest  of 
Icy  Cape  (71°07J9  N,  163°48.2  W)  (CSESPA 
2O09-BFOQ1)  at  40  m,  on  29  August,  2009,  4 
more  specimens  (Figure  3)  were  taken  at  40  m, 
about  30  km  to  the  NW,  at  (7F08.87  N, 
164°28.72  W)  (CSESPA  20O9-KFO25),  and  on 
5  September,  2012  a  single  specimen  (Figure  4) 
was  taken  North  of  Point  Franklin  (71°29.92  N, 
159°03.22  W)  (162-2012-2-75)  at  50  m,  with  a 
bottom  temperature  of  -1.68°  C.  Maximum 
length:  19.1  mm  (apex  missing). 

On  8  August  2010,  two  specimens  of 
Trichotropis  bicarinata  (Sowerby,  1825) 
(Figure  5)  were  taken  in  Ledyard  Bay,  NE  of 
Cape  Lisbume  (69°10.37  N,  165°42.56  W) 
(AKCH10-017),  at  22  m,  together  on  the  dead 
shell  of  a  small  Neptunea  veniricosa  (Gmelin, 
1790);  one  small  male  (24  mm),  and  a  much 
larger  female  (45  mm).  The  female  was  found 
sitting  on  a  cluster  of  seven  transparent  capsules 
(Figure  6),  each  about  10-12  mm  in  diameter, 
with  8-12  young  within;  the  tiny  yellow 
juveniles,  each  about  1.5  mm  in  diameter.  The 
entire  cluster  fit  perfectly  within  the  aperture  of 
the  snail.  A  second  female  individual  (Figure  7, 
36  mm)  was  taken  in  the  same  haul,  sitting  atop 
a  similar  but  smaller,  more  recently  deposited 
clutch  of  capsules  on  a  small  stone;  the 
juveniles  within,  each  about  0.8-Q.9  mm  in 
diameter.  This  suggests  that  T.  bicarinata 
broods  its  young,  perhaps  until  they  hatch  and 


disseminate.  Similar  brooding  behavior  has 
been  reported  in  the  genus  Copulas  Montfort, 
1810  (Abbott,  1968).  This  species  was  taken 
throughout  the  eastern  Chukchi  Sea  at  depths  of 
12-56  m  with  bottom  temperatures  of  -0.4°C  to 
9.1°C. 

Family:  Nacticidae 

“ Pseudopolinices ”  nanus  (Medler,  1842), 
described  as  a  Natica,  Golikov  &  Sirenko 
(1988),  erected  the  genus  Pseudopolinices  for 
this  unusual  species.  A  single  specimen  of  this 
tiny  species  was  taken  13  September  2011,  off 
Solivik  Island,  Icy  Cape  (70°13.37  N, 
162°35.08  W)  (AKCH1 1-052),  at  17  m.  On  9 
September  2012,  two  more  specimens  (Figure  8) 
were  taken  West  of  Icy  Cape  (70°29.57  N, 
168°29.4  W)  (162-2012-2-118),  at  39  m,  with  a 
bottom  temperature  of  0.0°C.  Originally 
described  from  West  Greenland,  this  species  has 
been  recorded  throughout  the  Arctic  and 
circum-boreal  region  (Oldroyd,  1927;  Baxter, 
1987;  Golikov  &  Sirenko,  1998;  Kantor  & 
Syseov,  2006).  The  problem  arises  when  one 
tries  to  match  the  Holotype,  illustrated  by 
Schiotte  &  Waren  (1992)  with  the  form 
presently  recognized  as  P.  nanus.  The  Lectotype 
(Figure  9)  is  clearly  a  Euspira- like  species  with 
a  prominent  umbilicus  and  a  thin,  tenacious 
yellow-brown  periostracum,  whereas  the  form 
presently  recognized  as  this  species  has  a  glossy 
white  shell,  apparently  no  periostracum,  and  a 
thick,  Cryptonatica-  like  callus  over  the 
umbilicus.  The  operculum  is  corneous  like  in 
Euspira .  It  seems  this  unusual  little  naticiid  is  in 
need  of  a  new  name. 

Family:  Bucdnidae 

Neptunea  middendorffiana  MacGinitie,  1959 
(Figures  10-12)  has  long  been  confused  with  its 
congeners  Neptunea  heros  (Gray,  1850) 
(Figures  13  &  14)  and  Neptunea  ventricosa 


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(Gmelin,  1790)  (Figures  15  and  16).  Macintosh 
(1976)  considered  it  a  synonym  of  N.  heros, 
Abbott  (1974)  considered  it  to  be  synonymous 
with  N.  ventricosa,  and  Kantor  &  Sysoev  (2006) 
also  considered  it  a  synonym  of  N.  ventricosa, 
but  considered  N.  heros  to  be  N.  ventricosa, 
and  N.  ventricosa  to  be  N  behringiana 
(Middendorff,  1848).  Baxter  (1987)  considered 
it  a  valid  species,  Tiba  &  Kosuge  (1988)  listed  it 
as  a  synonym  of  Neptunea  bulbacea 
(Valenciennes,  1858),  a  larger  species  restricted 
to  the  NW  Sea  of  Japan  and  southern  Okhotsk 
Sea,  Feder,  et.  al.  (1994)  listed  it  as  a  valid 
species,  Fraussen  &  Terryn,  2007  sorted  out  the 
N.heros/N.  ventricosa/N .behringiana  problem, 
but  erroneously  re-named  what  they  believed 
was  N.  middendorffiana,  from  Northern  Japan 
and  the  southern  Kurile  Islands,  and  Neptunea 
magananimita  (Fraussen  &  Terryn,  2007), 
based  on  the  belief  that  the  holotype  of  N. 
middendorffiana  was  a  young  specimen  of 
Neptunea  heros,  this  however  is  a  completely 
different  species.  The  problem  arises  from  the 
fact  that,  until  now,  very  little  material  was 
available  from  Arctic  Alaska  and  the 
morphological  similarities  between  the  three 
nominal  species  are  impressive.  However, 
MacGinitie’s  original  description  is  quite 
adequate  for  recognizing  the  species.  Trawled 
samples  would  sometimes  contain  hundreds  of 
specimens  of  these  three  species,  and  they  were 
easily  separated  by:  (1)  shell  form,  N  heros  is 
variable  in  form,  squat  to  elongated,  shoulder 
may  be  smooth,  knobbed  (5-7  knobs),  or  have  a 
single  whitish  rib  with  some  specimens  having 
varices.  N  ventricosa  is  also  variable  and  may 
be  smooth,  spirally  ribbed  or  variced;  it  may  be 
separated  from  both  its  congeners  by  short 
twisted  canal.  N.  middendorffiana  is 
consistently  smooth  except  for  a  single  (often 
faint)  rib  at  the  shoulder,  which  is  generally 
somewhat  darker  than  the  rest  of  the  shell  with 
the  rib  having  as  numerous  (9-15+)  small  knobs. 
(2)  shell  color,  N  heros  is  variable  in  color,  tan, 


pink,  purplish,  brown  or  white  and  the  apertures 
may  be  white  (often  flushed  on  the  lip  with 
pink-purple),  purplish  or  brown,  occasionally 
specimens  with  intensely  orange  or  red-orange 
apertures  are  found.  The  shells  of  N  ventricosa 
are  brown,  tan  or  reddish-brown  and  the 
apertures  are  typically  the  same  color  as  the 
exterior  of  the  shell,  though  rarely  some  may 
have  a  white  aperture.  In  N.  middendorffiana, 
the  shell  is  uniformly  purple-brown.  However 
due  to  the  plasticity  of  the  former  two  species,  N. 
middendorffiana  has  been  treated  as  a  synonym 
of  the  two  former  species.  MacGinitie,  1959 
suggested  the  possibility  that  her  new  species 
might  conceivably  be  the  small  male  form  of  N 
heros  or  N.  ventricosa ,  and  remarked  that  the 
protoconch  was  most  similar  to  that  of  N. 
ventricosa.  However  numerous  male  and  female 
specimens  of  all  three  species  were  taken  in 
2012  and  2013,  supporting  N  middendorffiana 
as  a  distinct  species,  and  finding  of  egg  capsules 
(Figure  17)  at  several  stations  in  2013  proved  its 
validity  beyond  doubt.  The  egg  capsules  are 
deposited  in  single  layer  clusters,  like  those  of  N. 
heros  (Figure  18),  unlike  the  towers  deposited 
by  N  ventricosa  (Figure  19),  and  the  smaller 
Neptunea  borealis  (Philippi,  1850)  [I  still  use  N. 
borealis  for  Alaskan  form,  as  I  am  not 
convinced  that  Neptunea  multistriata 
(Aurivillus,  1885)  is  distinct]  with  which  it  also 
occurs.  The  egg  capsules  are  erect  and  flap-like, 
with  a  slender  pedicle,  and  measure  21  x  12  mm. 
The  capsules  are  uniquely  sculptured,  with  4 
radiating  ribs,  contrasting  with  the  similarly 
shaped  capsules  of  N.  heros  which  are  much 
larger,  up  to  35  x  20  mm,  and  are  sculptured 
with  countless  minute  dimples. 

Neptunea  middendorffiana  has  a  somewhat 
patchy  distribution,  in  the  northeastern  Chukchi 
Sea.  It  was  collected  at  twelve  stations,  from  the 
general  vicinity  of  Point  Barrow  (71°15  N,  157° 
W)  (162-2013-2-25),  where  it  is  locally 
abundant,  south,  to  NW  of  Cape  Lisbume 


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(170°00.22  N)  (162-2012-2-120)  at  depths  of 
26-110  m  on  boulders  and  gravel,  with  a  bottom 
temperature  of  -1.7°C  to  2.0°C.  It  apparently 
does  not  penetrate  (at  least  not  much  past 
Barrow)  into  the  Beaufort  Sea  (based  on  2008 
NOAA  trawl  survey  data/images).  I  have  also 
seen  a  specimen  from  an  unknown  location  in 
the  Bering  Sea.  Maximum  length:  77.7  mm. 

The  enigmatic  Volutopsius  callorhinus  Dali, 
1877  was  described  from  a  badly  eroded, 
“beach  worn”  shell  with  a  broken  canal,  from 
the  Pribilof  Islands.  A  recent  examination  of  the 
type  verified  its  deplorable,  almost  useless 
condition,  “one  sand-blasted  shell”  (Ellen 
Strong,  pers.  com.  2013).  I  originally  thought 
that  the  name  corresponded  to  a  similarly 
shaped  shell  from  the  Aleutian  Islands. 
However  the  description  of  “V. " callorhinus 
says  that  the  type(s)  (Figure  20)  shows  traces  of 
spiral  striae  while  the  Aleutian  species  is 
smooth.  Also  the  Aleutians  species  has  not  been 
found  near  the  Pribilofs.  In  Arctic  Alaska  there 
is  a  Coins  like  species  that  has  hitherto  been 
called  Coins  or  Anomalosipho  verkruezeni 
(Kobelt,  1876)  \syn.  Coins  dautzenhergii  (Dali, 
1916)]  (Abbott,  1974),  but  that  species  is 
restricted  to  the  Norwegian,  Barents  and  Kara 
Seas  (Kantor  &  Sysoev,  2006).  Feder,  et.  al 
(1994)  listed  both  Volutopsius  callorhinus  and 
Coins  dautzenhergii  from  the  NE  Chukchi  Sea, 
and  Baxter  (1987)  called  it  Plicifusus 
callorhinus.  MacGinitie  considered  it  a  smooth 
form  of  Plicifusus  kroyeri  (Moller,  1842).  Dr. 
James  H.  McLean  discovered  a  forgotten  name 
for  the  Alaskan  species,  Buccinum  rodgersi 
Gould,  1860  (Figure  21),  described  from  36-72 
m  near  the  Bering  Strait,  and  now  placed  in  the 
genus  Anomalosipho  (I.  H.  McLean,  pers.  com. 
2012).  A  comparison  of  this  species  with  the 
type  of  Volutopsius  callorhinus  leaves  little 
doubt  that  they  are  conspecific.  The  species 
ranges  from  the  Pribilof  Islands  to  the  Barrow 
region.  Anomalosipho  rodgersi  (Figure  22)  was 


taken  at  just  three  stations,  two  near  Bering 
Strait  at  50-52  m  (66°01.07  N,  168°29.73  W) 
(162-2012-2-2)  and  (66°29.71  N,  168°29.70  W) 
(162-2012-2-124),  and  one  from  Peard  Bay, 
near  Point  Franklin,  SW  of  Barrow  (71°00.25  N, 
158°04.59  W)  (AKCH1 1-047)  at  27  m,  and  a 
bottom  temperature  of  1.5°  C.  Maximum  length: 
59.5  mm. 

Coins  sahini  (Gray,  1824)  (Figures.  23  and  24), 
is  well  known  from  the  North  Atlantic-Arctic 
region,  ranging  from  the  Gulf  of  Main  (Abbott, 
1974)  to  the  East  Siberian  Sea  (Kantor  & 
Sysoev,  2006)  also  occurs  in  the  Beaufort  Sea 
(James  H.  McLean,  pers.  com.  2010).  This 
fragile  species  was  taken  at  seven  stations 
between  Cape  Lisbume  (69°29.99  N,  168°33.63 
W)  (162-2012-2-61)  and  north  of  Barrow 
(71°59.25  N,  157°09.39  W)  (162-2012-2-76),  at 
depths  of  51-87  m  and  bottom  temperatures  of  - 
1.6°C  to  3.7°C.  This  is  the  first  record  of  this 
species  in  the  Chukchi  Sea,  establishing  it  as 
circum- Arctic.  The  Chukchi  specimens  nearly 
always  had  the  parasitic  anemone  Allantactis 
parasitica  Danielssen,  1890  (Figure  24)  (Ident. 
K.  Sanamya,  pers.  com.  April,  2015)  attached  to 
the  shell.  Maximum  length:  84.6  mm. 

Plicifusus  johanseni  Dali,  1919  (Figures  25  and 
26),  is  a  rather  enigmatic  species,  MacGinitie 
(1959)  did  not  report  it.  Abbott  (1974)  and 
Baxter  (1987)  listed  it  as  valid,  Kantor  & 
Sysoev  (2006)  considered  it  valid,  and  Kosyan 
&  Kantor  (2012)  also  considered  it  valid,  but 
based  on  the  very  poor  condition  of  the  syntypes 
and  lack  of  better  material,  expressed 
uncertainty  as  to  whether  the  species  was  recent 
or  fossil.  The  main  character  separating  this 
species  from  the  similar  but  larger  Plicifusus 
kroeyeri  (Moller,  1842)  (Figure  27)  is 
considered  to  be  the  lack  of  axial  ribs  on  the 
penultimate  whorl.  However  this  character  has 
proved  to  be  unreliable  in  fresh  material. 
Plicifusus  johanseni  may  be  distinguished  from 


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P.  kroeyeri  by:  (1)  smaller,  more  slender  shell; 
(2)  very  fine,  uniform  spiral  lirae,  compared  to 
P.  kroeyeri  which  has  fine  incised  lines, 
becoming  spaced  further  apart  on  the  base;  (3) 
fewer,  more  consistent  number  of  axial  ribs,  12- 
14  compared  with  typically  18-28  (very  rarely 
fewer)  in  P.  kroeyeri  of  the  same  size;  and  (4) 
the  axial  ribs  of  P.  johanseni  are  less  prominent 
than  those  of  P.  kroeyeri,  typically  (but  not 
always)  becoming  faint  or  absent  on  the 
penultimate  whorl.  Plicifisus  johanseni  was 
taken  at  eight  stations  in  2012  and  one  in  2013, 
between  WNW  of  Cape  Krusenstem  (67°30.54 
N,  165°52.28  W)  (162-2012-2-16)  and  North  of 
Barrow  (71°31.42  N,  157°23.25  W)  (162-2012- 
2-48),  and  as  far  north  as  (72°30.63  N, 
166°50.26  W)  (162-2012-2-92),  NW  of  Icy 
Cape,  at  depths  of  38-91  m  and  bottom 
temperatures  of  -1.6°C  to  4.9°C.  Maximum 
length:  74.85  mm. 

On  16  September  201 1  several  very  strange  egg 
masses  were  recovered  from  110  m  in  Bering 
Canyon  (71°21.99N,  158°51.62  W)  (AKCH11- 
064).  The  egg  capsules  were  of  the  Buccinum 
type,  thin,  whitish,  flap-like,  but  were  deposited 
in  slender,  coiled  towers,  which  branched 
repeatedly,  in  a  tree-like  fashion  (Figure  28), 
something  unheard  of  in  Buccinum,  which 
generally  deposit  eggs  in  irregular  masses  or 
mounds,  though  some  species  (i.e.  Buccinum 
scalariforme  Moller,  1842  (Figures  29  and  31) 
and  Buccinum  plectrum  Stimpson,  1865) 
(Figures  30  and  32)  lay  irregular,  tower-like 
mounds.  The  egg  capsules  themselves  very 
from  flap-like  to  lenticular,  and  may  be  soft  as 
described  above,  or  more  inflated  and  rigid  as  in 
Buccinum  glaciale  Linnaeus,  1761  (Figures  30 
&  33).  The  only  unusual  species  of  Buccinum 
taken  in  the  sample  was  Buccinum  obsoletum 
Golikov,  1980  (Figure  35).  Fortunately,  many 
of  the  capsules  were  near  to  hatching  and  the 
juvenile  snails  were  collected.  The  juveniles 
(Figure  34)  appear  to  be  those  of  B.  obsoletum. 


Buccinum  obsoletum  was  described  from  the 

northern  Okhotsk  Sea,  but  is  reported  to  range 
into  the  northern  Bering,  Chukchi  and  East 
Siberian  Seas  at  depths  of  18-146  m  (Kantor  & 
Sysoev,  2006).  However,  it  has  never  been 
reported  from  Alaskan  waters.  In  2012  and  2013, 
B.  obsoletum  and  its  apparent  egg  “trees”  was 
collected  at  eight  stations,  from  northwest  of 
Cape  Lisbume,  (69°30.10  N,  167°07.30  W) 
(162-2012-2-57),  to  North  of  Barrow  (7F41.32 
N,  156°41.62  W)  (162-2013-2-16),  at  depths  of 
43-110  m,  with  bottom  temperatures  of  -1.7°C 
to  5.4°C.  Maximum  length:  55.6  mm. 

Buccinum  beringense  Golikov,  1980  (Figure  36), 
was  described  from  the  western  Bering  Sea,  but 
has  not  been  reported  from  Alaskan  waters.  In 
August,  in  2011,  a  single  specimen  was  taken 
northwest  of  Wainwright  (70°55.1  N,  160°54.31 
W)  (AKCH1 1-059),  at  51  m.  Specimens  were 
taken  at  four  stations  in  2012  &  one  station  in 
2013,  between  Kotzebue  Sound  (66°30.05  N, 
162°12.48  W)  (162-2012-2-10)  and  North  of 
Barrow  (71°41.32  N,  156°41.62  W)  (162-2013- 
2-16),  at  depths  of  12-82  m,  with  bottom 
temperatures  of  -1.5°C  to  2.1°C.  This  looks  to 
be  what  MacGinitie  (1959)  called  Buccinum 
moerchianum  (Dunker,  1858)  (Figure  37), 
which  is  a  Gulf  of  Alaska  species,  not  found  in 
the  Arctic.  Maximum  length:  77.8  mm. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

I  wish  to  thank  Dr.  Stephen  C.  Jewett,  Mr. 
Douglas  Dasher  and  Dr.  Amy  Blanchard  of 
University  of  Alaska  Fairbanks,  Institute  of 
Marine  Science;  Dr.  James  H.  McLean 
(Emeritus),  and  Mr.  Lindsey  Groves  of  the  Los 
Angeles  County  Museum  of  Natural  History;  Dr. 
Ellen  Strong  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution;  Dr. 
Henry  Chaney  of  the  Santa  Barbara  Museum  of 
Natural  History;  Mr.  Bob  Lauth,  Dr.  James  Orr, 
Dr.  Lyle  Britt,  and  Dr.  Elizabeth  Loggerwell  of 
NOAA/NMFS,  Alaska  Fisheries  Science  Center; 


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Dr.  Leandra  de  Sousa  of  the  North  Slope 
Borough,  Dept.  Wildlife  Management;  Dr. 
Karen  Sanamya  of  the  Pacific  Institute  of 
Geology,  Kamchatka  Branch;  Dr.  James 
McCarthy  and  Adam  Baldinger,  of  the  Museum 
of  Comparative  Zoology,  Harvard  University; 
and  the  Captains  and  Crews  of  the  MW  Western 
Wind,  R/V  Norseman  II,  and  F/V  Alaska 
Knight.  The  comments  of  two  anonymous 
reviewers  are  also  gratefully  acknowledged. 

REFERENCES 

Abbott,  R.T.  1974.  American  Seashells,  2nd.  ed. 
Van  Nostrand  Reinhold  Co.,  New  York.  663 
pp.,  4000+  figs.,  24  pits. 

Abbott,  R.T.  1968.  Seashells  of  North  America. 
Golden  Field  Guide,  Western  Publishing 
Company,  Inc.  New  York.  280  pp. 

Baxter,  R.  1987.  Mollusks  of  Alaska.  Shells 
and  Sea  life  Pub.,  Bayside,  California.  163  pp. 
Feder,  H.M.,  N.R.  Foster,  S.C.  Jewett, 

T.J.  Weingartner,  and  R.  Baxter.  1994. 
Mollusks  in  the  northeastern  Chukchi  Sea. 
Arctic  47(2):  145-169. 

Fraussen,  K.,  and  T.  Yves.  2007. 

A  Conchological  Iconography ,  Family 
Buccinidae,  Genus  Neptunea.  ConchBooks, 
Hackenheim.  166  pp.,  154  pits. 

Golikov,  A.  N.,  and  B.L  Sirenko.  1998. 
Prosobranch  Gastropods  of  the  Continental 
Slope  of  Kurile  Islands.  Ruthenica  8(2):  91- 
135. 


Kantor,  Y.I.  and  A.V.  Sysoev.  2006. 

Marine  and  Brackish  water  Gastropods  of 
Russia  and  adjacent  countries:  an  illustrated 
catalogue.  Moscow:  KMK  Scientific  Press. 
Ltd.  371  pp.  140  pits. 

Kosyan,  A.  R.  and  Y.I.  Kantor.  2012. 

Revision  of  the  genus  Plicifusus  Dali,  1902 
(Gastropoda:  Buccinidae).  Ruthenica  22  (2): 
55-92. 

MacGinitie,  N.  1959.  Marine  Mollusca  of  Point 
Barrow,  Alaska.  Proceedings  of  the  United 
States  National  Museum  Vol.  109  (3412):  59- 
208,  27  pits. 

Macintosh,  R.A.  1976.  A  guide  to  the 
identification  of  some  common  eastern 
Bering  Sea  Snails.  Processed  report.  March, 
1976.  NOAA/NMFS,  Northwest  Fisheries 
Science  Center,  Kodiak,  Alaska. 

Oldroyd,  I.S.  1927.  The  Marine  Shells  of  the 
West  Coast  of  North  America,  Vol.  II  part  II. 
Stanford  University  Press.  339  pp.  35  pits. 
Schiotte,  T.,  and  A.  Waren.  1992.  An 
annotated  and  illustrated  list  of  the  types  of 
Mollusca  described  by  H.  P.  C.  Moller  from 
West  Greenland.  Bioscience  32.  33  pp. 

Tiba,  R.  and  S.  Kosuge.  1988.  North  Pacific 
Shells  (17)  Genus  Neptunea  Roeding. 
Occasional  publications,  Institute  of 
Malacology.  Tokyo.  96  pp. 


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172°W 

168°W  164°W 

160°W 

156°W 

Figure  1.  Map,  Eastern  Chukchi  Sea,  Arctic  Ocean,  Alaska. 


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Figures  2-4.  Neoiphinoe  echinata  (Egorov  &  Alexeyev,  1998).  Figure  2.  NW  of  Icy  Cape  (71°07.19  N,  163°48.2  W),  40  m  {leg.  Aug. 
2009);  Figure  3.  NW  of  Icy  Cape  (71°08.87  N,164°28.72  W),  40  m  {leg.  29  Aug.  2009)  Figure  4.  Live  animal,  N  of  Point  Franklin 
(71°29  92  159o03.22  W),  50  m  {leg.  23  Aug.  2012)  (bars  =  1  cm).  Figures  5-7.  Trichotropis  bicarinata  (Sowerby,  1825),  Ledyard 

Bay,  NE  of  Cape  Lisbume  (69°10.37  N,  165°42.56  W),  22  m  {leg.  8  Aug.  2010)  (bars  =  1  cm).  Figures  8-9.  “Pseudopolinices”  nanus 
(Moller,  1842).  Figure  8.  West  of  Icy  Cape  (70°29.57  N,  168°29.4  W),  39  m  {leg.  9  Sept.  2012);  Figure  9.  Lectotype  (after  Schiotte  & 
Waren,  1992),  West  Greenland  (bars  =  5  mm). 


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Figures  10-12.  Neptunea  middendorffiana  MacGinitie,  1959.  Figure  10.  N  of  Barrow,  Alaska  (71°15.41  N,  158°38.71  W),  1 10  m  {leg. 
21  Aug.  2013);  Figure  1 1.  NW  of  Icy  Cape,  Alaska  (70°59.64  N,  165°25.67  W),  41  m  {leg.  13  Sept  2012);  Figure  12.  NW  of 
Wainwright,  Alaska  (70°59.6  N,  160°52.38  W),  45  m  {leg.  23  Aug.  2012)  (bars  =  1  cm).  Figures  13-14.  Neptunea  heros  (Gray,  1850). 
N  of  Cape  Lisbume,  Alaska  (69°59.75  N  165°35.15  W),  40  m  {leg.  26  Aug.  2012)  (bars  =  1  cm).  Figures  15-16.  Neptunea  ventricosa 
(Gmelin,  1790).  Barrow,  Alaska  (71°07.86  N,  158°30.43  W),  50  m  {leg.  22  Aug.  2013)  (bars  =  1  cm).  Figures  17.  Neptunea 
middendorffiana  MacGinitie,  1959,  egg  capsules.  Peard  Bay,  NE  of  Point  Franklin,  Alaska  (71°04.15  N,  158°26.28),  26  m  {leg.  22 
Aug.  2013)  (bar  =  1  cm).  Figure  18.  Neptunea  heros  (Gray,  1850),  egg  capsules.  NE  of  little  Diomede  Island,  Alaska  (66°30.63  N, 
168°30.04  W),  49  m  {leg.  12  Aug.  2012)  (bar  =  1  cm).  Figure  19.  Neptunea  ventricosa  (Gmelin,  1790),  egg  capusles.  NE  of  little 
Diomede  Island,  Alaska  (66°30.63  N,  168°30.04  W),  49  m  {leg.  12  Aug.  2012)  (bar  =  1  cm). 


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Figures  20-22 .  Anomalosipho  rodgersi  (Gould,  1860).  Figure  20.  Holotype,  Volutopsius  callorhinus  Dali,  1877,  USNM  271711,  Saint 
Paul  Island,  Pribilof  Islands,  Alaska  (57°10  N,  170°20  W),  beach  drift;  Figure  21.  Lectotype  Buccinum  rodgersi  Gould,  1860,  MCZ 
169338,  Bering  Strait  (66°  N,  169°  W);  Figure  22.  Bering  Strait,  NE  of  Little  Diomede  Island  (60°01.07  N,  168°29.73  W),  50  m  {leg. 
12  Aug.  2012)  (bars  =  1  cm).  Figures  23-24  Cobs  sabini  (Gray,  1824).  N  of  Barrow,  Alaska  (71°43.25  N,  159°49.06  W),  71  m  {leg. 
24  Aug.  2013)  (bws  =  1  cm).  Figure  24.  Living  animal  with  parasitic  anemone  Allantactis  parasitica  Danielssen,  1890  on  shell 
Figures  25-26.  Plicifasus  johanseni  Dali,  1919.  Figure  25.  WNW  of  Cape  Krasenstem,  Alaska  (67°30.39  N,  165°52.23  W),  38  m  {leg. 
17  Aug.  2012),  ventral  Figure  26.  N  of  Cape  Lisbume  (72°30.61  N,  166°50.26  W),  48  m  {leg.  10  Sept.  2012),  dorsal  (bars  =  1  cm). 
Figure  27.  Plicifasus  kroeyeri  (Mailer,  1842).  N  of  Cape  Lisbume,  Alaska  (70°01.42  N,  167°00.35  W),  47  (leg.  2  Sept.  2012)  (bar  =  1 
cm).  Figure  28.  Buccinum  obsoletum  Golikov,  1980,  egg  capule  “tree”.  Barrow  Canyon,  N  of  Barrow,  Alaska  (71  °21.99  N, 

158°51.62),  1 10  m  (leg.  16  Sept  201 1)  (bar  =  1  cm).  Figures  29-30.  Buccinum  spp.  egg  masses,  typical  of  Buccinum  scalariforme 
Mailer,  1842  &  Buccinum  plectrum  Stimpson,  1865),  N  of  Cape  Lisbume  (71°29.83  N,  166°56.2  W),  48  m  (leg.  13  Sept.  2012),  and 
Buccinum  glaciale  Linnaeus,  1761,  Figure  30.  Over-laid  on  a  mound  of  B.  scalariforme  e-ggs,  N  of  Point  Franklin,  Alaska  (71°00.57  N, 
1 59°00.24  W),  45  m  (leg.  24  Aug.  2012)  (bars  =  I  cm). 


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Figure  31.  Buccinum  scalariforme  Moller,  1842.  N  of  Cape  Lisbume  (71°29.83  N,  166°56.2  W),  48  m  {leg.  13  Sept.  2012)  (bar  =  1 
cm).  Figure  32.  Buccinum  plectrum  Stimpson,  1865).  N  of  Cape  Lisbume  (71°29.83  N,  166°56.2  W),  48  m  {leg.  13  Sept.  2012)  (bar  = 
1  cm).  Figure  33.  Buccinum  glaciale  Linnaeus,  1761.  N  of  Point  Franklin,  Alaska  (71°00.57  N,  159°00.24  W),  45  m  {leg.  24  Aug. 
2012)  (bar  =  1  cm).  Figures  34-35.  Buccinum  obsoletum  Golikov,  1980.  Figure  34.  Sub-hatchling.  Barrow  Canyon,  N  of  Barrow, 
Alaska  (71°21.99  N,  158°51.62),  110  m  {leg.  16  Sept.  2011)  (bar  =  1  mm).  Figure  35.  NW  of  Point  Lay,  Alaska  (71°00.39  N, 
163°51.54  W),  43  m  {leg.  4  Sept.  2012)  (bar  =  1  cm).  Figure  36.  Buccinum  beringense  Golikov,  1980.  NW  of  Cape  Lisbume,  Alaska 
(70°29.57  N,  168°29.42  W)  36  m  {leg.  15  Sept.  2012)  (bar  =  1  cm).  Figure  37.  Buccinum  moerchianum  (Dunker,  1858).  Petersburg, 
Wrangell  Narrows,  Mitkof  Island,  Alaska  (56°48  N,  132°58  W),  1  m  {leg.  27  Aug.  1992). 


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A  Review  of  the  Haiiotis  of  Yemen  and  Oman  with  Description  of  a  New  Species^ 
Haliotis  arabiensis ,  from  Oman  and  United  Arab  Emirates 

Buzz  Owen  1  Wilco  Regter 2  &  Kirsten  Van  Laethem 3 

1 P.0.  Box  601,  Gualala,  CA  95445,  USA 

buzabman@mcn.org 

2Tongelaer  109,  2181  LW  Hillegom,  Netherlands 

wilco-regter@hotmail.com 

3Heistraat  77,  9100  Sint-Niklaas  B,  Belgium 

bozzelbubbels@gmail.com 


ABSTRACT  A  new  species,  Haliotis  arabiensis  from  Oman  and  United  Arab  Emirates  is  described 
and  illustrated  with  a  high  resolution  photo  plate.  Three  taxa  found  along  the  southern  and  eastern 
Arabian  Peninsula,  two  in  Oman  and  the  United  Arab  Emirates,  Haliotis  mariae  W.  Wood,  1828,  and 
Haliotis  unilateralis  Lamarck,  1822,  and  one  in  Yemen,  Haliotis  rugosa  multiperforata  Reeve,  1846, 
are  reviewed  and  compared  with  the  new  species.  Three  additional  plates  illustrate  the  other  southern 
and  eastern  Arabian  Peninsula  Haliotis.  A  fifth  plate  provides  a  differential  diagnosis  of  the  four  taxa. 


INTRODUCTION  The  abalones  (Haliotidae) 
are  a  family  of  marine  vetigastropods  that  until 
recently  included  74  taxa  (species  and 
subspecies).  Many  of  the  subspecies  considered 
valid  species  prior  to  a  recent  reappraisal  in 
Geiger  &  Owen  (2012)  were  later  subsumed 
into  existing  species.  Currently,  the  family 
consists  of  55  extant  species,  with  three  species 
currently  known  from  the  southern  and  eastern 
Arabian  Peninsula:  Haliotis  mariae ,  H. 
unilateralis,  and  a  subspecies  of  H.  rugosa ,  H. 
rugosa  multiperforata  (Geiger  &  Owen,  2012; 
Owen,  2014;  Owen  &  Pan,  2016).  Only  one  of 
these  species,  H.  mariae ,  is  abundant,  large  in 
size,  and  is  the  subject  of  an  important 
commercial  fishery  industry  in  Oman  (Al- 
Rasfadi  &  Iwao,  2008).  Haliotis  unilateralis  is  a 
small,  uncommon,  but  widespread  species  in  the 
Western  Indian  Ocean,  including  the  Red  Sea 
and  Gulf  of  Oman  (Geiger  &  Owen,  2012). 
Haliotis  rugosa  multiperforata  is  an  endemic 
subspecies  of  H.  rugosa  restricted  to  the 
Hadfaramaut  and  Mafarah  coasts  of  Yemen 
(Owen  &  Pan,  2016).  Haliotis  rugosa 


multiperforata  was  formerly  considered  if. 
pustulata  Reeve,  1846,  and  later  Haliotis  rugosa 
pustulata ,  but  based  on  comparisons  with  H. 
rugosa  pustulata ,  H.  rugosa  rugosa ,  and  H. 
rugosa  rodriguensis,  the  taxon  from  Yemen 
differed  markedly  and  was  given  a  new 
subspecific  designation  (Ali  et  al 2009;  Geiger 
&  Owen,  2012;  Owen,  2013;  Owen  &  Pan, 
2016.)  Based  on  these  taxa,  the  southern 
Arabian  Peninsula  shows  a  remarkable  amount 
of  species  richness  in  terms  of  its  abalone  fauna, 
particularly  for  a  tropical  marine  realm  in  a 
restricted  geographic  area.  Here  we  describe  a 
new  species  of  Haliotis  which  is  endemic  to  the 
southeastern  Arabian  Peninsula  (Oman  and 
United  Arab  Emirates)  that  until  recently  was 
interpreted  as  juveniles  of  Haliotis  mariae. 

Abbreviations  of  Collections:  BOC:  Buzz 
Owen  Collection,  Guaiala,  California,  USA; 
NMNZ:  Museum  of  New  Zealand  Te  Papa 
Tongarewa,  Wellington,  New  Zealand;  WRC: 
Wilco  Regter  Collection,  Hillegom,  Netherlands; 
KVLC:  Kirsten  Van  Laethem  Collection,  Sint- 
Niklaas,  Belgium;  RKC:  Robert  Kershaw 


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Collection,  Narooma,  New  South  Wales, 
Australia;  ARC:  Arjay  Raffety  Collection, 
Marina  del  Rey,  California,  USA;  CASIZ: 
California  Academy  of  Sciences,  Invertebrate 
Zoology,  San  Francisco,  California,  USA.  All 
shells  BOC  unless  otherwise  indicated  on 
Figures. 

Shells  examined:  H.  arabiensis  n.  sp.,  N. 
Salalah,  Oman,  to  Dibba  area  of  N.  Fujairah, 
United  Arab  Emirates,  38;  H.  mariae,  S.  Oman, 
>500;  H.  unilateralis,  Red  Sea  to  Mozambique, 
>50;  H.  unilateralis.  South  Oman  to  United 
Arab  Emirates,  3;  H.  rugosa  multiperforata. 
Broom  to  Nishtun,  Yemen,  26. 

Genus  Haliotis  Linnaeus,  1758 

Type  species.  Haliotis  asinina  Linnaeus,  1758 
(subsequent  designation  Montfort,  1810) 

Haliotis  arabiensis  Owen,  Regter  &  Van 
Laethem,  new  species. 

Type  material:  Holotype:  NMNZ  M.319015 
(Figure  1.1-2),  25.1  mm.  Paratypes:  BOC  0952 
(Figure  1.4-5),  27.5  mm;  WRC  0951  (Figure 
1.3),  22.5  mm,  from  type  locality. 

Additional  specimens:  Figure  1.6-7  BOC; 
Figure  1.8  RKC;  Figure  1.9-12  BOC;  Figure  5.1 
BOC;  Figure  5.2  RKC;  Figure  5.3  BOC.  All 
Type  locality.  Figure  1.13  ARC;  Figure  1.14-15 
BOC;  Figure  5.5  ARC;  Figure  5.4,6  BOC.  All  N. 
Fujairah,  United  Arab  Emirates. 

Type  locality:  North  Salalah,  South  Oman:  17° 
01’97”N,  54°08’97”  E. 

Etymology:  The  species  is  named  after  the 
Arabian  Peninsula  where  all  specimens  were 
found. 


Distribution  and  Habitat:  All  specimens  live- 
taken  by  SCUBA  diving.  Depth  12-18  m.  Under 
rocks  and  coral.  No  animals  were  preserved  or 
studied. 

Description  (diagnostic  characters 
underlined):  Shell  small  (to  -35-40  mm), 
medium-weight,  oblong,  hardly  arched,  quite 
flat.  Anterior  margin  slightly  curved.  Spire 
somewhat  elevated  and  tilted,  located 
approximately  65%  towards  posterior  margin  of 
shell;  visible  in  ventral  view  (Figure  1.2,  1.5, 
5.3,  5.6).  Holes  fairly  large,  elevated,  slightly 
elongate,  usually  4.  sometimes  5  open.  Dorsal 

surface  usually  with  strong  spiral  ribbing,  cords 

becoming  more  pronounced  and  deeper 

approaching  spire.  Periphery  between  row  of 
holes  and  columella  with  3-4  wide,  deep  cords 

in  area  closest  to  columella,  with  one  or  two 

weaker  and  narrower  ribs  closest  to  holes.  A 

pronounced  ridge  separates  the  two  areas. 

Columella  narrow.  Color  medium  to  dark  red; 
sometimes  greyish  purple  with  scattered  whitish 
patches;  occasional  specimens  almost  pure 
green;  may  be  marked  with  radial  patches  of 
yellowish  white  sometimes  tinged  with  patches 
of  orange.  Specimens  from  United  Arab 
Emirates  are  tan  to  brown  marked  with  white 
patches.  Ventral  surface  with  highly  iridescent 
silver  nacre  and  reflections  of  green,  pink,  and 
steel  blue.  Usually  pronounced  strong  ribbing 
and/or  lumpiness  visible  showing  through  from 

dorsal  surface.  No  muscle  scar. 

Comparisons:  Haliotis  mariae  (also  known 
locally  as  Sufailah)  (Figure  2)  is  a  larger  species 
that  can  reach  shell  sizes  in  excess  of  140  mm, 
has  5-6  much  smaller,  slightly  elevated,  closely 
spaced  holes,  and  possesses  weaker,  narrower 
spiral  ribbing,  with  the  spire  located  closer  to 
the  posterior  end  of  the  shell  (Figure  2).  It  lacks 
the  strong  thick  cords  in  the  peripheral  area 
between  the  holes  and  columella.  In  addition, 
this  species  differs  from  Haliotis  arabiensis  in 


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coloration.  The  shells  of  H.  mariae  typically  are 
dark  brown  with  large  whitish  chevron 
markings,  occasionally  having  lime  green  colors 
as  well. 

Haliotis  unilateralis  (Figure  3)  is  quite  flat  and 
generally  smooth  or  has  “bumps”  often  arranged 
in  radial  raised  areas;  very  rarely  has  even  weak 
spiral  ribs.  The  periphery  between  the  holes  and 
columella  has  a  wide  rib  in  center  extending 
well  away  from  shell  usually  forming  a 
prominent  ridge,  with  1-3  weaker  ribs  above 


and  below  it.  The  spire  is  positioned  closer  to 

the  center  of  the  shell. 

Haliotis  rugosa  multiperforata  (Yemeni 
specimens  were  formerly  considered  H.  rugosa 
pustulata)  (Figure  4)  has  6-8  smaller  slightly 
elevated  holes,  weaker  and  narrower  spiral 
ribbing,  and  is  smooth,  lacking  strong,  wide 
cords  in  the  peripheral  area  between  the  holes 
and  columella.  It  is  generally  dark  brown  in 
color  with  irregular  markings  of  greenish-white. 
Red  colored  specimens  have  not  been  observed. 


@  =  Haliotis  arabiensis  n.  sp. 

•  =  Haliotis  mariae 

•  =  Haliotis  unilateralis 

O  =  Haliotis  rugosa  multipet  forata 


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Remarks.  One  of  the  authors  (K. 
Van  Laethem)  has  conducted  extensive 
malacological  surveys  and  collecting  of  the 
intertidal  and  beach  communities  in  Dhofar  and 
adjacent  coastal  areas  of  Oman.  Amongst  the 
abalone  fauna,  Haliotis  mariae  are  very 
common,  while  H  unilateralis  and  K 
arabiensis  are  extremely  rare  (only  single 
specimens  of  the  latter  taxa  have  been  collected 
by  K.  Van  Laethem).  No  specimens  of  Haliotis 
mgosa  (H.  rugosa  multiperforata  or  H  rugosa 
pustulata )  were  found  during  these  collection 
surveys,  and  we  question  whether  this  very 
shallow  subtidal  species  is  found  in  Oman  (and 
U.A.E.).  The  rarity  of  H.  arabiensis  during 
these  surveys  is  likely  due  to  their  general 
occurrence  at  depths  of  greater  than  12  m,  with 
few  washing  up  in  the  intertidal  zone.  It  is  also 
much  less  common  than  H.  mariae  (S.  Gori, 
personal  observation).  The  six  specimens  from 
North  Fujairah,  U.A.E.,  tend  towards  a  tan  to 
brown  coloration,  and  have  none  of  the  bright 
red,  purple,  orange  or  green  colors  seen  in  the 
specimens  from  the  N.  Salalah  area  of  Oman. 
Note:  Figure  2  on  Plate  36,  pg.  218  of  Abalone 
Worldwide  Haliotidae  (Geiger  &  Owen,  201.2), 
illustrates  a  specimen  of  H  arabiensis 
incorrectly  identified  as  H.  mariae, 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

Aaron  Pan,  Anjay  Raffety  and  David  P. 
Berschauer  provided  editorial  guidance.  Bob 
Kershaw  provided  photo  images  of  hatchery 
produced  H  mariae  and  one  specimen  of  H. 
arabiensis .  Arjay  Raffety  provided  images  of 
one  specimen  of  H  arabiensis. 

REFERENCES 

Ali-Rashdi,  K.M.  &  T.  Iwao.  2088.  Abalone, 
Haliotis  mariae  (Wood,  1828),  hatchery 
and  seed  production  trials  in  Oman. 
Agricultural  and  Marine  Sciences  13:53-63. 


AIL  A.  M.,  A.  A.  Basmidi,  M.  Sh.  Aicleed  & 
Al-Quffail  A.  Saeed,  2009.  First  Remarks  on 
Abalone  Biology  ( Haliotis  pustulata)  on  the 
Northern  Coast  of  Aden  Gulf,  Yemen. 
Journal  of  Fisheries  and  Aquatic  Science ,  4: 
210-227. 

Bosch,  D.  &  E.,  1989.  Seasheils  of  Southern 
Arabia,  Motivate  Publishing, 

Bosch,  D.  T.,  S.P.  Dance,  R.G.  Molenbeek,  & 
O.  P.  Graham,  1995.  Seasheils  of  Eastern 
Arabia,  Motivate  Publishing,  ISBN: 

1873544  64  2. 

Geiger,  D.  L.  1998.  Recent  Genera  and  Species 
of  the  Family  Haliotidae  Rafinesque,  1815 
(Gastropoda:  Vetigastropoda).  The  Nautilus 
111:85-116. 

Geiger,  D.  L.  2009.  Distribution  and 
Biogeography  of  the  Recent  Haliotidae 
(Gaslxopocto:  Vetigastropoda)  World  Wide. 
Bollettino  Malacologico  35:57-120. 

Geiger,  D.  L.  &  B.  Owen.  2012.  Abalone 
Worldwide  Haliotidae.  Conchbooks , 
Hackenheim,  361  pp.,  92  pis. 

Owen,  B.  2013.  Notes  on  the  correct  taxonomic 
status  of  Haliotis  rugosa  Lamarck,  1822, 
and  Haliotis  pustulata  Reeve,  1 846,  with 
description  of  a  new  subspecies  from 
Rodrigues  Island,  Mascarene  Islands,  Indian 
Ocean  (Mollusca:  Vetigastropoda: 
Haliotidae).  Zootaxa  3646  (2):  189-193. 

Owen,  B.  2014.  A  new  species  of  Haliotis 
(Gastropoda)  from  Sao  Tome  &  Principe 
Islands,  Gulf  of  Guinea,  with  comparisons  to 
other  Haliotis  found  in  the  Eastern  Atlantic 
and  Mediterranean.  Zootaxa  3838  (1):  113- 
119. 

Owen,  B.  &  A.  D.  Pan  2016.  A  Review  of  the 
Haliotis  rugosa  Lamarck,  1822,  Complex  of 
the  Western  Indian  Ocean,  with  Notes  of  the 
Subspecific  Status  of  Haliotis  multiperforata 
Reeve,  1846.  TheFestivus  48(l):33-43. 


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88 


ISSUE  2 


; 


(RKC) 


22.0  mm 


25.1  mm  holotype(NMNZMJi90i5) 


27.5  mm  para  type  (BO€  0952) 


FIGURE  1.  Halintis  arabiensis  n.  sp.  1-12.  N.  Salalah,  South  Oman.  Live-taken  12-18  in  by  SCUBA  diving. 
13-15.  N.  Fujairah,  United  Arab  Emirates.  Live-taken  10-15  m  by  SCUBA  diving. 


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89 


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ISSUE  2 


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91 


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ISSUE  2 


29.0  nun 


FIGURE  4.  Haliotis  rugosa  multiperforata  (Reeve,  1846).  Broom,  35  km  SW  of  Mukalla,  Yemen. 

Ln  e-taken  by  snorkeling,  2004-2006.  Prior  to  2013  known  as  H.  pustulata  Reeve,  1846  (see  Introduction). 


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25.3  mm  (RKC) 


25.0  mm  (ARC) 


39.7  mm  (KVLQ 


39.7  mm  (KVLC) 


16.9  mm  (KVLC) 


16.9  mm  (KVLC) 


IS 


39.7  mm  (KVLC) 


f  -  •  , 

-  Tijui*  *  ^ 
16.9  mm  (KVLC) 


FIGURE  5.  DilTerential  Diagnosis 


1-3.  Haliotis  arabiensis  n.  sp.  South  Oman.  4-6.  H.  arabiensis  n.  sp.  United  Arab  Emirates.  7-9.  H.  mariae.  South 
Oman.  10-12.  H.  unilateralis.  South  Oman.  13-15.  H.  rugosa  multiperforata.  Broom/Mukalla,  Yemen. 


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A  New  Species  of  Cone  Shell  (Gastropoda:  Conidae)  from  the  Saharan  Coast  of 
Northwestern  Africa 

Edward  J.  Petuch  1  and  David  P.  Berschauer 2 
1  Department  of  Geosciences,  Florida  Atlantic  University,  Boca  Raton,  Florida  33431 
epetuch@fau.edu 

2  25461  Barents  Street,  Laguna  Hills,  California  92653 
shellcollection@hotmail.com 

ABSTRACT  A  new  species  of  Lautoconus  (Conidae:  Puncticulinae)  is  described  from  the  intertidal 
rocky  environments  of  Dahkla  Bay,  central  Western  Sahara.  The  new  species  is  most  similar  to  L. 
guanche  from  the  Canary  Islands,  but  differs  in  having  a  stockier,  more  darkly-colored,  and  lower- 
spired  shell.  The  new  species,  here  named  L.  saharicus  n.  sp.,  is  endemic  to  Dahkla  Bay  and  the 
Dahkla  area  of  Western  Sahara,  roughly  400  km  south  of  the  Canary  Islands. 

KEY  WORDS  Cone  shell,  Conidae,  Lautoconus ,  Western  Sahara,  Northwestern  Africa. 


INTRODUCTION  In  June  1974,  the  senior 
author  visited  the  coast  of  northwestern  Africa 
as  part  of  his  Masters  Degree  research  on  the 
molluscan  biogeography  of  West  Africa.  At  that 
time,  the  coastal  region  of  northwestern  Africa, 
between  Morocco  and  Mauritania,  was  referred 
to  as  “Spanish  Sahara”  and  was  essentially 
uninhabited,  containing  only  a  few  Spanish 
Foreign  Legion  Posts,  scattered  small  coastal 
fishing  villages,  and  nomads  such  as  the 
Tuaregs  and  Sahrawis.  In  1975,  Spain 
relinquished  its  control  over  Spanish  Sahara, 
after  three  years  of  civil  war,  and  the  newly- 
independent  country  then  became  known  as 
“Western  Sahara”.  The  conflicts  have  continued 
on  into  the  present,  as  Western  Sahara 
subsequently  has  been  claimed,  and  occupied, 
by  both  Morocco  and  Mauritania.  Although 
often  shown  on  maps  as  the  “Western  Sahara 
District”  of  Morocco,  we  will  refer  to  the 
country  as  “Western  Sahara”  in  this  paper.  The 
local  inhabitants  now  refer  to  their  country  as 
the  “Sahrawi  Arab  Democratic  Republic”  and 
are  resisting  Moroccan  rule,  making  it  a 
dangerous  place  to  visit  and  collect  shells. 


The  only  regularly-accessible  city  in  Western 
Sahara,  both  in  1974  and  now,  is  the  small 
coastal  town  of  Dahkla,  roughly  halfway 
between  Cap  Boujdour  (Cabo  Bojador), 
Morocco  and  the  tip  of  Cap  Blanc  (Cabo 
Blanco),  on  the  Mauritania-Morocco  border 
(Figure  1).  Formerly  known  as  “Villa  Cisneros”, 
Dahkla  was  a  Spanish  Foreign  Legion  post 
when  the  senior  author  visited  the  city  in  1974 
and  it  was  accessible  by  airplane,  with  two 
flights  a  week,  from  Tenerife  Island,  Canary 
Islands.  The  town  sits  on  a  narrow  peninsula 
(formerly  known  as  the  “Peninsula  de  Rio  de 
Oro”)  that  separates  the  North  Atlantic  Ocean 
from  the  large  and  elongated  Dahkla  Bay 
(previously  referred  to  as  the  “Rio  de  Oro”)  and 
is  located  in  one  of  the  most  desolate  areas  of 
the  Sahara  Desert.  With  almost  no  rainfall,  the 
area  surrounding  Dahkla  Bay  is  devoid  of  any 
vegetation  and  closely  resembles  photographs 
of  the  surface  of  Mars.  Being  elongate  and 
fjord- like,  as  in  the  Bay  of  Fundy  in  Nova 
Scotia,  Dahkla  Bay  has  very  large  tidal 
fluctuations  and  vast  sand  flat  areas  are  exposed 
during  low  tide.  The  shoreline  of  Dahkla  Bay, 
along  the  eastern  side  of  the  Dahkla  Peninsula, 
is  lined  with  low  cliffs  that  are  composed  of  a 


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thick  sandstone  surface  layer  sitting  on  top  of 
loose  desert  sand.  Wave  action  has  undermined 
much  of  this  coastline  and  large  blocks  of  the 
sandstone  have  broken  off  the  top  of  the  cliffs 
and  have  fallen  to  the  cliff  base,  producing  a 
large  talus  area  that  extends  all  around  the  bay. 


Figure  1.  Map  of  Western  Sahara  region 


The  vast  sand  flats  and  rocky  shorelines  of 
Dahkla  Bay  offer  a  variety  of  habitats  for 
intertidal  mollusks.  Being  at  the  extreme 
northern  edge  of  the  Guinean  Molluscan 
Province  (Western  Sahara  south  to  southern 
Angola)  and  in  a  relatively  cold  water  area,  the 
molluscan  fauna  in  Dahkla  Bay  is  very 
impoverished,  with  only  a  few  species  of 
gastropods  being  present.  The  sand  flats  support 
a  very  small  fauna  of  gastropods,  but  these  are 
present  in  very  large  numbers  of  individuals. 
Only  four  species  were  commonly  collected, 
and  these  included  the  cone  shell  Kalloconus 
byssinm  (endemic  to  Western  Sahara  and 
Mauritania),  the  volutes  Cymbium  cymbium  and 
C.  tritonis,  and  the  cysticid  Persicula  cingulata. 
Likewise,  the  rocky  shoreline  was  equally 
impoverished,  with  only  three  species  of 


gastropods  being  collected,  but  again  in  large 
numbers  of  individuals.  These  included  the 
muricids  Ocinebrina  miscowichae  and  Hexaplex 
canariensis  and  a  small  cone  shell  in  the  genus 
Lautoconus.  Initially,  this  distinctive  cone  was 
referred  to  as  “ Conus  guinaicus”,  and  was 
considered  to  be  only  a  dwarf  variant  of  the 
much  larger  and  more  colorful  L.  guinaicus 
from  the  tropical  waters  of  Senegal.  Specimens 
were  donated  to  the  Smithsonian  Institution  and 
this  interesting  cone  shell  was  relegated  to  a 
foot  note  in  the  senior  author’s  field  notebook. 

Cone  shells  similar  to  the  Western  Sahara 
Lautoconus  were  also  known  to  inhabit  the 
eastern  Canary  Islands,  and  for  years  these  were 
also  incorrectly  relegated  to  the  taxon  “ Conus 
guinaicus ”.  Lauer  (1993)  demonstrated  that  the 
Canary  Islands  cone  was  not  “C.  guinaicus ”  but 
was,  actually,  a  new  and  separate  species  which 
he  named  “Conus”  guanche  (for  the  Guanches, 
the  original  inhabitants  of  the  Canary  Islands; 
Lauer,  1993).  In  the  same  paper,  he  also 
described  a  color  form  or  variety  nitens,  which 
has  been  found  on  some  of  the  eastern  islands  of 
the  archipelago.  Because  of  superficial 
similarities  in  shell  shape,  size,  and  color,  most 
cone  workers  have  used  the  taxon  guanche  for 
the  Western  Saharan  species.  This  taxonomic 
assignment  is  untenable,  especially  when 
considering  that  L.  guanche  has  a  paucispiral 
protoconch  and  non-planktonic  larvae  with 
limited  dispersal  abilities,  and  that  the  Dahkla 
Bay  area  is  over  400  km  south  of  the 
southernmost  islands  of  the  Canary  Archipelago, 
contains  a  completely  different  type  of 
molluscan  fauna  (tropical-subtropical),  and 
belongs  to  a  different  biogeographical  faunal 
region  (the  Guinean  Molluscan  Province).  Upon 
closer  examination  of  recently-collected 
specimens  from  Dahkla,  purchased  from  Rika 
Goethaels  and  Fernand  De  Bonder  of  Belgium, 
we  found  that  the  Western  Saharan  cone  shell 
exhibits  consistent  differences  when  compared 


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to  the  Canarian  L.  guanche  and  represents  a 
previously-overlooked  unnamed  species.  This 
new  cone  is  described  in  the  following  sections. 

SYSTEMATICS 

Class  Gastropoda 

Subclass  Orthogastropoda 

Superorder  Caenogastropoda 

Order  Sorbeoconcha 

Infraorder  Neogastropoda 

Superfamily  Conoidea 

Family  Conidae 

Subfamily  Puncticulinae 

Genus  Lautoconus  Monterosato,  1923 

Lautoconus  saharicus  Petuch  and  Berschauer, 
new  species 

(Figures  2  A,  B,  and  C) 

Description:  Shell  of  average  size  for  genus, 
stocky,  inflated,  bulbous,  only  slightly  glossy, 
with  matte  finish;  shoulder  broad,  rounded,  only 
slightly  angled;  spire  low,  broadly  pyramidal; 
body  whorl  smooth  and  silky,  with  20-24  very 
fine,  low,  closely-packed  spiral  threads  around 
anterior  end;  body  whorl  base  color  dark  sky 
blue  or  deep  bluish-green,  overlaid  with 
numerous  large,  dark  brown  amorphous 
flammules,  generally  evenly-spaced  and 
arranged  in  zebra-like  pattern;  brown  flammules 
often  composed  of  3  sections,  being  broader  and 
wider  along  edge  of  the  shoulder,  around 
midbody,  and  around  anterior  end,  creating 
effect  of  3  broken  spiral  bands  of  flammules; 
spire  whorls  base  color  dark  sky  blue,  heavily 
marked  with  thick,  evenly-spaced  dark  brown 
crescent-shaped  flammules,  producing 
distinctive  checkered  appearance;  aperture 
proportionally-wide  and  flaring,  colored  deep 
purple-brown  on  the  interior;  inner  edge  of  lip 
colored  pale  yellow-white;  purple-brown 
interior  marked  with  single  narrow  white  band 


just  anterior  of  mid-body  line;  periostracum  thin, 
pale  yellow,  transparent. 

Type  Material:  HOLOTYPE-  length  27.4  mm, 
LACM  3333;  PARATYPE-  length  22.6  mm, 
LACM  3334;  Other  material  examined  includes 
5  specimens  in  the  David  Berschauer  collection, 
30.2  mm,  25.6  mm,  21.7  mm,  19.8  mm  (Figure 
2C),  and  16.5  mm,  and  two  specimens,  lengths 
28.1  mm  and  25.8  mm  in  the  research  collection 
of  EJ.  Petuch,  all  from  the  same  locality  and 
depth  as  holotype.  Two  more  specimens, 
collected  by  senior  author  in  1974,  are  currently 
un-cataloged  and  in  general  cone  collection  of 
United  States  National  Museum  of  Natural 
History,  Smithsonian  Institution,  Washington, 
D.C. 

Type  Locality:  Dahkla  (formerly  Villa 
Cisneros),  western  side  of  Dahkla  Bay,  Western 
Sahara  (formerly  Spanish  Sahara),  western  coast 
of  Sahara  Desert,  northwestern  Africa.  Types 
collected  under  large  slabs  of  sandstone,  at  base 
of  low  cliffs  along  eastern  side  of  Dahkla 
Peninsula  (western  side  of  Dahkla  Bay),  at  low 
tide. 

Range:  Endemic  to  Dahkla  Peninsula 
(Peninsula  de  Rio  de  Oro)  and  Dahkla  Bay, 
Western  Sahara. 

Ecology:  Lautoconus  saharicus  is  restricted  to 
quiet,  sheltered  intertidal  areas  in  Dahkla  Bay, 
where  it  occurs  cryptically  under  large  slabs  of 
sandstone  along  the  shoreline.  Co-occurs  with 
two  muricid  gastropods,  Hexaplex  canariensis 
and  Ocinebrina  miscowichae ,  and  numerous 
small  oysters  and  barnacles. 

Etymology:  Named  for  the  Sahara  Desert, 
which  is  adjacent  to,  and  surrounds,  the  type 
locality. 


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Discussion:  Of  the  known  Mediterranean  and 
West  African  Lautoconus  species,  L,  saharicus 
is  most  similar  to  the  Canary  Islands  endemic  L. 
guanche  (Lauer,  1993)  (Figure  2  D)  but 
consistently  differs  in  the  following  ways: 

1.  L.  saharicus  has  an  inflated,  compact,  and 
stocky  body  whorl,  while  L.  guanche  has  a 
proportionally  longer,  more  protracted,  and 
fusiform  body  whorl; 

2.  L.  saharicus  is  proportionally  much  broader 
across  the  shoulder  than  L.  guanche ; 

3.  L.  saharicus  has  a  more  rounded  and 
distinctly  less-angled  shoulder  than  L.  guanche; 

4.  L,  saharicus  has  a  much  lower,  almost 
flattened  spire,  while  L.  guanche  has  a  much 
higher,  more  elevated,  and  protracted  spire  with 
distinctly  more  sloping  and  angled  spire  whorls; 

5.  L.  saharicus  is  a  more  brightly-colored  shell, 
with  a  base  color  of  dark  blue  or  bluish-green, 
overlaid  with  irregular  dark  brown  longitudinal 
flammules,  often  arranged  in  a  zebra  pattern, 
and  covered  with  amorphous  dark  brown 
speckling;  L.  guanche  is  a  more  lightly-colored 
shell,  having  a  pale  blue  or  blue-gray  base  color 
that  is  overlaid  with  widely-scattered  light  khaki 
or  tan  amorphous  flammules; 

6.  the  interior  of  the  aperture  of  L.  saharicus  is 
consistently  a  dark  purplish-brown  color,  while 
the  interior  of  the  aperture  of  L.  guanche  is 
always  a  light  tan-brown  color; 

7.  the  spiral  threads  around  the  anterior  end  of 
L.  saharicus  are  much  finer  and  more  numerous 
than  the  coarser  spiral  threads  and  small  cords 
around  the  anterior  end  of  L.  guanche ; 

8.  the  spire  whorls  of  L.  saharicus  are  marked 
with  proportionally-large,  evenly-spaced  v/ide 
dark  brown  flammules,  producing  a  distinctive 
checkered  appearance;  the  spire  whorls  of  L. 
guanche  are  marked  with  only  thin,  irregularly- 
spaced  pale  tan  flammules,  often  with  large 
colorless  gaps. 

Lautoconus  saharicus  is  the  only  cone  shell  that 
lives  in  the  calm  water,  sheltered  rocky 


intertidal  areas  of  Dahkla  Bay,  where  it  often 
occurs  in  large  numbers  under  slabs  of 
sandstone.  This  Western  Sahara  endemic  is  part 
of  an  impoverished,  but  highly  endemic, 
molluscan  fauna  that  is  restricted  to  the  Sahara 
Desert  coastline  in  a  stretch  ranging  from  Cabo 
Bojador  to  Cabo  Blanco.  Other  important 
Western  Saharan  endemics  include  the  muricids 
Ocinebrina  purpuroidea  and  Jaton 
hemitriptems ,  both  of  which  occur  in  the  rocky 
intertidal  areas  on  exposed  coastlines  with 
stronger  wave  action.  These  characteristic 
Saharan  species,  along  with  the  endemic 
muricid  O.  miscowichae  and  the  endemic  cone 
shell  Kalloconus  byssinus ,  are  not  found  on  the 
Canary  Islands,  demonstrating  that  there  is  a 
substantial  ecological  and  biogeographical 
barrier  between  the  Dahkla  area  and  the  Canary 
Islands.  Lautoconus  guanche ,  itself,  has  limited 
dispersive  ability,  as  it  is  present  only  on  the 
eastern  Canary  Islands  of  Fuerteventura, 
Lanzarote,  Gran  Canaria,  and  Tenerife,  but  is 
absent  from  the  western  Canary  Islands  of  La 
Palma,  El  Hierro,  and  Gomera  (Munoz  Sanchez, 
2014).  If  this  Canary  Islands  endemic  is  unable 
to  disperse  throughout  one-half  of  its  resident 
archipelago,  then  it  would  be  even  more 
difficult  to  extend  its  range  southward  over  400 
km  to  the  Dahkla  Bay  area.  The  morphological 
similarities  of  L,  guanche  and  L.  saharicus ,  then, 
appear  to  be  exclusive  sister  taxa  which  may 
have  evolved  from  a  common  more  widespread 
ancestor. 

A  recent  paper  by  Cunha,  et  al ,  2014  studied 
the  L.  guanche  and  L.  guanche  nitens 
populations  in  the  Canary  Islands,  and  Tarfaya 
on  the  adjacent  mainland,  primarily  utilizing 
DNA  sequence  data  from  two  mitochondrial 
alleles  (NADH4  and  16s  KNA)  and  one  nuclear 
allele  (ITS1).  Radular  tooth  morphology  and  a 
geometric  morphometric  analysis  were  also 
undertaken,  and  the  analysis  of  these  data  led  to 
the  authors5  conclusion  in  that  paper  that,  in 


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spite  of  the  observed  phenotypic  differences,  all 
the  individual  specimens  studied  belonged  to 
one  single  species  (Cunha,  et  al,  2014). 
Molecular  studies  such  as  this  are  the  result  of 
the  modem  trend  of  “DNA  bar-coding”,  which 
embodies  what  has  been  referred  to  by  cone 
expert  John  Tucker  as  “molecular  hubris” 
(personal  communication).  Such  studies  fail  to 
meet  the  requirement  of  total  evidence  for 
several  reasons:  they  focus  primarily  on 
mitochondrial  DNA  (rather  than  the  organism’s 
autosomal  DNA);  they  fail  to  select  sufficient 
nuclear  alleles  from  the  thousands  of  genes  in 
the  subject  organism  for  meaningful  study;  and, 
most  importantly,  they  are  based  upon  the 
unstated  assumption  that  natural  selection 
operates  at  the  level  of  individual  nucleotides 
rather  than  at  higher  organizational  levels. 
(Fitzhugh,  2006;  Fitzhugh,  2016;  Thompson,  et 
al. ,  2014).  The  purpose  of  both  multivariate 
statistical  analysis  and  Bayesian  analysis  is  to 
indicate  correlations  which  are  presumed  to 
explain  the  variability  observed  in  natural 
populations  of  organisms;  when  these  analyses 
do  not  indicate  correlations  that  are  presumed  to 
explain  that  variability,  it  can  only  be 
interpreted  that  the  correct  data  was  not 
included  in  the  study. 

The  senior  author  extensively  explored  and 
surveyed  the  molluscan  fauna  of  western  Africa 
and  Spanish  Sahara  and  no  Lautoconus 
individuals  similar  to  L.  saharicus  were  found 
between  Tarfaya  and  Dahkla  Bay.  It  should  be 
noted  that  L.  saharicus  is  found  in  a  completely 
different  habitat  than  that  of  the  Mediterranean 
and  Canary  Islands  Lautoconus  species,  and  that 
it  co-exists  with  a  completely  different 
molluscan  fauna  that  belongs  to  a  different 
biogeographical  province.  In  the  case  of  L. 
saharicus,  all  the  morphology,  biogeography, 
ecology,  geological  history,  and  oceanography 
points  to  L.  saharicus  being  a  separate  species. 
It  is  likely  that  L.  guanche  nitens  is  also  a 


distinctive  subspecies  that  is  restricted  to  the 
eastern  Canary  Islands,  particularly  Lanzarote 
and  Fuerteventura.  Therefore,  even  within  the 
Canary  Archipelago,  true  L.  guanche  does  not 
range  very  far,  demonstrating  that  these  cones 
have  non-planktonic  larvae  and  probably  are 
direct  developers  with  limited  dispersal  abilities. 

The  genus  Lautoconus  is  now  known  to  contain 
22  valid  species  and  ranges  from  the  eastern 
Mediterranean  Sea  to  the  Canary  Islands,  and 
southward  along  the  African  coast  to  Gambia. 
Of  these  known  species,  15  are  endemic  to  the 
Cape  Verde  Peninsula  region  of  Senegal  and 
represent  one  of  the  largest  conid  species 
radiations  known  from  West  Africa.  We 
recognize  the  following  species  as  valid  taxa: 

MEDITERRANEAN  SEA  (Mediterranean 
Molluscan  Province) 

Lautoconus  desidiosus  (A.  Adams,  1854) 
Lautoconus  vayssieri  (Pallary,  1906) 

Lautoconus  ventricosus  (Gmelin,  1791) 

CANARY  ISLANDS  (Canarian  Subprovince 
of  the  Mediterranean  Province) 

Lautoconus  guanche  (Lauer,  1993) 

Lautoconus  guanche  nitens  (Lauer,  1993) 

WESTERN  SAHARA  (West  Saharan 
Subprovince,  Guinean  Province) 

Lautoconus  saharicus  Petuch  and  Berschauer, 
new  species 

SENEGAL  (Senegalian  Subprovince, 
Guinean  Province) 

Lautoconus  belairensis  (Pin  and  Tack,  1989) 
Lautoconus  bruguieresi  (Kiener,  1 845) 
Lautoconus  cacao  (Ferrario,  1983) 

Lautoconus  cloveri  (Walls,  1978) 

Lautoconus  dorotheae  (Monnier  and  Limpalaer, 

2010) 

Lautoconus  echinophilus  (Petuch,  1975) 


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Lautoconus  franciscanus  (Hwass,  1792) 

(=  unifasciatus ) 

Lautoconus  guinaiacus  (Hwass,  1792) 
Lautoconus  hybridus  (Kiener,  1845) 

Lautoconus  lamarcki  (Kiener,  1 845) 

Lautoconus  mercator  (Linnaeus,  1758) 
Lautoconus  pineaui  (Pin  and  Tack,  1995) 
Lautoconus  tacomae  (Boyer  and  Pelorce,  2009) 
Lautoconus  taslei  (Kiener,  1845) 

Lautoconus  trencarti  (Nolf  and  Verstraeten, 
2008) 

GAMBIA  (Senegalian  Subprovince,  Guinean 
Province) 

Lautoconus  orri  (Ninomiya  and  daMotta,  1982) 

Future  research,  particularly  in  the 
Mediterranean  Sea,  will  doubtlessly 
demonstrate  that  several  more  valid  and 
previously-overlooked  Lautoconus  species  exist. 


K.  Fitzhugh.  2016.  Sequence  Data, 

Phylogenetic  Inference,  and  Implications  of 
Downward  Causation.  Acta  Biotheor.  2016 
Mar  9,  2016.  (E-publication  ahead  of  print) 

Lauer,  J.  1993.  Description  of  a  new  species 
and  subspecies  of  Conus  (Mollusca: 
Prosobranchia:  Conidae)  from  the  Canary 
Islands.  Apex  8  (1/2):  37-50,  14  figures. 

Munoz  Sanchez,  B.J.  2014.  A  personal 
experience:  Searching  for  West  African  cones 
off  the  eastern  coast  of  Gran  Canaria,  Canary 
Islands.  The  Cone  Collector  (24):  42-47 
(www.theconecollector.com:  online  e- 
magazine) 

Thompson,  R.C.,  D.C.  Plachetzki.,  D.L. 
Mahler,  and  B.R.  Moore.  2014.  A  critical 
appraisal  of  the  use  of  microRNA  data  in 
phylogenetics.  Proceedings  of  the  National 
Academy  of  Science,  July  28,  2014,  doi: 
10.1073/pnas.  14072071 1 1 


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

We  thank  Rika  Goethaels  and  Fernand  De 
Donder,  Peutie-Vilvoorde,  Belgium,  for  the 
generous  donation  of  extra  specimens  of 
Lautoconus  saharicus.  Special  thanks  to  Mark 
Roth,  formerly  of  the  University  of  Wisconsin- 
Milwaukee,  for  accompanying  the  senior  author 
to  West  Africa  and  assisting  in  collecting 
specimens  of  this  new  species. 

REFERENCES 

R.  Cunha,  F.  Lima,  M.J.  Tenorio,  A.A. 

Ramos,  R.  Castilho,  and  S.  Williams.  2014. 
Evolution  at  a  Different  Pace:  Distinctive 
Phylogenetic  Patterns  of  Cone  Snails  from 
Two  Ancient  Oceanic  Archipelagos. 
Systematic  Biology  63 (6): 97 1-987. 

K.  Fitzhugh.  2006.  DNA  Barcoding:  An 
Instance  of  Technology-driven  science? 
BioScience  56(6):374-375. 


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Figure  2.  A  =  Lautoconus  saharicus  n.  sp.,  Holotype,  length  27.4  mm,  LACM  3333,  Dakhla  Bay,  Western  Sahara;  B  -L.  saharicus  n. 
sp.,  Paratype,  length  22.6  mm,  LACM  3334;  C  =  L.  saharicus  n.  sp.,  length  19.8  mm,  Berschauer  Collection;  D  =  L.  guanche,  length 
29.1  mm,  Santa  Cruz  de  Tenerife,  Tenerife  Is.,  Canary  Islands,  Berschauer  Collection. 


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Letter  to  the  editor  regarding 

“Commercially  driven  taxonomy:  The  necessity  of  knowing  species;  by  Stephen  J. 
Maxwell  and  Tasmin  L.  Rymer” 

John  K.  Tucker 

Illinois  Natural  History  Survey-retired 
Rantoul,  Illinois  61866 
iohnktucker@gtec.com 


I  read  the  Maxwell  and  Rymer  article  (2016, 
Festivus  48(1): 52-53)  with  interest  and  agree 
with  many  of  the  conclusions.  However,  some 
important  points  are  omitted.  I  have  been 
accused  of  ‘taxonomic  inflation’  myself.  When 
Manuel  Tenorio  and  I  wrote  our  book 
Systematic  Classification  of  Recent  and  Fossil 
Conoidean  Gastropods  (2009,  ConchBooks, 
269  pp.,  1 1  pis.)  we  recognized  5  families  with 
4  subfamilies  containing  89  genera  of  which  27 
were  newly  described  from  what  had  widely 
been  considered  to  be  a  single  genus  and  family. 
We  used  cladistic  methods  to  attempt  to  clarify 
clades  among  these  taxa  in  an  as  objective  way 
as  possible  to  differentiate  and  define  these 
genera.  Our  analysis  departed  from  all  other 
supraspecific  classifications  in  that  we  did  not 
exclude  fossil  taxa  and  that  we  relied  heavily  on 
the  morphology  of  the  conoidean  radula.  The 
radula  among  cone  shells  had  been  widely 
ignored  or  dismissed  as  taxonomically  useless 
with  no  attempt  to  determine  homologies  among 
the  radular  traits.  This  problem  is  still  common 
and  one  only  has  to  examine  Kohn’s  new 
Western  Atlantic  book  (A.  J.  Kohn,  2014, 
Conus  of  the  Southeastern  United  States  and  the 
Caribbean,  Princeton  University  Press,  457  pp), 
which  continued  using  imprecise  definitions  of 
radular  morphological  traits.  Our  radular  traits 
along  with  shell  traits  produced  phylogenetic 
trees  similar  in  many  respects  to  those  produced 
from  molecular  studies.  Some  of  our  critics 
have  accused  us  of  taxonomic  inflation.  We 
consider  this  spurious  considering  that  cone 
shells  had  essentially  been  included  in  a  single 


family  with  a  single  genus.  Such  a  system  was 
and  still  is  widely  put  forward  as  a  good  enough 
explanation  for  80  million  years  of  worldwide 
evolution.  It  might  have  been  easier  to  use  a 
single  family  single  genus  classification. 
Unfortunately,  such  an  approach  is  not 
scientifically  useful.  Moreover,  the  single 
genus  placed  into  a  single  family  classification 
contains  almost  no  information,  which  is  the 
only  reason  to  have  a  supraspecific 
classification  to  begin  with.  For  instance,  the 
old  taxonomy  of  Conida e/Conus  information 
content  is  all  concentrated  in  the  family  name. 
A  Conidae  will  have  the  conical  coiling  of  the 
shell;  the  resorption  of  the  inner  shell  walls; 
they  will  be  predators  that  use  a  specialized 
radular  tooth  as  a  venom  delivery  apparatus,  etc. 
However,  the  generic  name  is  meaningless.  It 
can  carry  only  the  information  already 
transmitted  by  the  family  name.  In  contrast,  the 
Tucker  &  Tenorio  classification,  has  a  family 
name  (e.g.,  Conilithidae),  a  subfamily  name 
( e.g .,  Conilithinae),  and  a  genus  name  (e.g., 
Jaspidiconus).  In  this  instance,  the  family  and 
subfamily  names  carry  the  same  sort  of 
information  that  the  name  Conidae  carries. 
However,  these  suprageneric  names  also  carry 
specific  information  on  the  radular  tooth. 
Conilthidae  and  Conilithinae  have  radular  teeth 
that  do  not  have  serrations  but  their  teeth  do  all 
have  a  shaft  fold.  The  genus  name, 
Jaspidiconus  transmits  certain  shell  and  radular 
morphological  traits.  All  of  the  Jaspidiconus 
have  whorl  tops  that  do  not  have  cords;  all  have 
paucispiral  protoconchs;  none  have  an  anterior 


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notch;  the  radular  teeth  have  posterior  and 
anterior  folds,  all  have  a  basal  spur,  etc.  In  this 
classification,  the  generic  names  are  not 
meaningless  because  they  transmit  systematic 
information  unique  to  Jaspidiconus.  We  thus 
did  not  think  that  use  of  all  the  generic  names 
was  a  simple  example  of  inflation.  We  also  tried 
to  define  each  taxon  in  an  objective  way;  one  of 
Maxwell  &  Rymer’s  goals. 

Regardless,  Maxwell  and  Rymer  (2016) 
suggested  four  reasons  for  what  they  identified 
as  taxonomic  inflation.  Assuming  that  they 
define  taxonomic  inflation  as  an  increasing 
number  of  taxa  at  various  levels,  they  miss  the 
most  obvious  reason  for  increasing  numbers  of 
taxa.  That  reason  is  scientific  progress  often 
due  to  new  discoveries  in  new  places  not  just 
the  tendency  for  commercial  interests  to  play 
the  name  game.  A  good  example  would  be  the 
species  swarm  found  in  the  Cape  Verde  Islands. 
When  Jerry  Walls  (1979:  Cone  Shells ,  TFH 
Publications,  1011  pp.)  wrote  his  book  on  cone 
shells,  there  were  only  about  eight  species  of 
cone  shells  described  between  1843  and  1975 
listed  by  Walls  as  endemic  to  the  Cape  Verde 
Islands.  Since  1975,  a  further  83  species  group 
taxa  (all  Africonus  species)  have  been  described 
as  endemic  to  the  Cape  Verde  Islands.  In  part, 
this  number  may  reflect  some  inflation  but 
mostly  it  does  not.  It  is  instead  due  to  the 
exploration  of  the  diverse  habitats  in  the  Cape 
Verde  Islands  by  European  collectors.  These 
Africonus  species  do  not  have  long  larval 
dispersive  phases,  which  apparently  results  in 
the  geographically  isolated  cone  shell  species 
{see  Monteiro  et  al.,  2004,  A  Conchological 
Iconography.  The  family  Conidae.  The  West 
African  and  Mediterranean  species  of  Conus, 
ConchBooks,  102  pp.,  164  pis.).  Another 
example,  no  doubt,  will  be  the  deep  water 
species  just  now  being  pulled  from  the  vicinity 
of  New  Caledonia  by  deep  dredging  operations. 
These  species  largely  escape  commercial  effects 


because  almost  all  are  being  collected  by 
museum  expeditions  and  being  described  by 
museum  professionals. 

I  do  agree  that  descriptions  of  new  species  by 
shell  dealers  are  likely  to  prove  to  be  bad  ideas. 
Here  there  is  a  strong  likelihood  of  conflict  of 
interest.  Not  a  certainty,  but  certainly  a 
likelihood.  When  I  complain  about  these 
possible  conflicts  to  other  collectors,  the  ghosts 
of  the  Sowerbys  are  often  raised  as  good 
justification  for  continuing  a  bad  practice.  Be 
that  as  it  may,  the  ICZN  has  nothing  to  say 
about  the  practice  and  the  names  are  usually 
technically  valid  anyway.  In  fact,  the  various 
suggestions  about  judging  the  quality  of 
descriptions  by  the  professional  level  of  the 
describers  or  having  a  group  of  defined  journal 
or  defined  academics  that  are  allowed  to 
describe  new  species  is  foolishness  and  would 
not  reduce  the  number  of  new  species  being 
described.  Our  system  of  ICZN  rules  now  in 
use  is  good  and  does  not  get  in  the  way  of 
scientific  inquiry. 

Finally,  I  doubt  that  taxonomic  inflation,  at  least 
among  cone  shells,  is  that  bad  of  a  problem. 
Moreover,  can  it  be  objectively  defined  well 
enough  to  show  that  it  is  an  actual  problem? 
For  example  Dr.  Edward  Petuch  and  his 
coauthors  have  described  about  175  Holocene 
species  or  subspecies  of  cone  shells.  Many  of 
the  West  Atlantic  species  belong  to  the  genera 
Purpuriconus  or  Jaspidiconus,  both  of  which  do 
not  have  strong  dispersive  abilities.  Of  the 
Purpuriconus,  Alan  Kohn  (2014)  considered  12 
of  Petuch’ s  species  to  be  synonyms  of  P. 
cardinalis.  So  on  one  hand,  one  author  may 
have  inflated  the  number  of  Purpuriconus 
whereas  another  deflated  them,  i.e.,  the  old 
lumper  versus  splitter  conundrum.  Similar  to 
Jaspidiconus  ( see  Tucker,  2015,  Festivus 
47(4):250-254)  there  is  no  way  to  independently 
decide  just  how  many  species  of  Purpuriconus 


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or  Jaspidiconus  are  valid.  We  just  do  not  yet 
know  how  to  distinguish  the  little  red  cones 
(j Purpuriconm )  from  each  other.  We  know 
nothing  about  how  reproductive  isolation  works 
in  cone  shells.  It  is  possible  that  molecular 
methods  may  help  but  that  remains  to  be  seen. 
However,,  before  molecular  methods  can  be 
used  on  a  large  scale  it  is  necessary  to  provide 
names  to  the  samples  that  are  going  to  be 
compared,  I  think  my  advice  to  collectors  of 
cone  shells  is:  “Don't  worry,  be  happy”  (from 


the  1988  song  by  Bobby  McFerrin;  and  that 
olive  shells  are  even  worse). 

Figure  1  consists  of  various  specimens  from  the 
Purpuriconus  eardinalis  complex.  They  are 
listed  as  forms  but  many  likely  represent  fall 
species  and  Tucker  &  Tenorio  (2013)  should  be 
consulted  for  details.  Many  other  morphs  were 
not  included  among  these  but  they  are  in  Tucker 
&  Tenorio  (2013). 


Figure  1. 

1.  INKS  80076,  form  abbotti,  28.3  mm  long,  in 
2  to  3  m  under  coral  rocks,  Winding  Bay, 
Eleuthera,  Bahamas.  2.  INKS  44792  form 
belizeanm,  24.6  mm  long,  3  to  5  m,  under 
rocks,  off  Southeast  Cay,  Belize.  3.  INKS 
44905  form  bessei,  16.5  mm  long,  Cafasarca 
Key,  Honduras.  4.  INHS  79996  cardinal is 
(form  msatindemis),  20.2  mm  long,  in  30  m, 
Isla  de  San  Andreas,  Colombia.  5.  INHS  44968 
fonn  donnae ,  13.9  mm  long,  in  3  to  6  m, 
Andros  Island,  Bahamas.  6.  INHS  44940  form 
explorator,  17  mm  long,  in  24  m,  north  coast  of 
Jamaica.  7.  INHS  44939  form  hennequini,  18.5 
mm  long,  in  2  m,  La  Vauelin,  Martinique.  8. 
INHS  80074  form  lucaya,  31.7  mm  long,  in  1 
to  3  m,  Abaco  Cays,  Bahamas.  9.  INHS  44883 
form  magellanicus,  16.1  mm  long,  in  18  m, 
northwest  point,  Providenciales,  Turks  and 
Caicos  Islands.  10.  INHS  45017  form 
pseudocar dinalis,  21.2  mm  long,  in  50  to  65  m 
off  Guarapari,  Espirito  Santo,  Brazil.  1 1.  INHS 
44817  form  richardbinghami ,  36.1  mm  long, 
in  20  m,  off  Victory  Cays,  SW  Bahama  Lank, 
Bahamas.  12.  INHS  44911  form  sahlbergi , 
17.3  mm  long,  in  10.7  m,  south  Cat  Cay, 
Bahamas.  13.  INHS  44818  form  sphacelatus, 
31.7  mm  long,  in  1.5  to  3  m,  Abaco  Cays, 
Bahamas.  14.  INHS  44755  form  stanfieldi , 
18.9  mm  long,  off  Fort  Myers,  Florida  (from  an 
old  collection).  Specimen  is  shown  at  a  greater 
magnification  because  it  is  the  only 
Purpuriconus  in  INHS  collections  with  a 
Florida  locality  data.  There  are  sufficient 
carbonaceous  habitats  off  shore  along  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico  that  a  species  of  Purpuriconus  could 
occur  there. 


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A  New  Species  of  Harpa  (Gastropoda:  Harpidae)  from  the  Coral  Sea 
Archipelagos  of  Queensland,  Australia 

David  P.  Berschauer  1  and  Edward  J.  Petuch 2 


1 25461  Barents  Street,  Laguna  Hills,  California  92653 
shellcollection@hotmail.com 

2  Department  of  Geosciences,  Florida  Atlantic  University,  Boca  Raton,  Florida  33431 
epetuch@fau.edu 


ABSTRACT  A  new  species  of  Harpa ,  closely  related  to  the  widespread  Indo-Pacific  Harpa  major 
Roding,  1798,  is  described  from  the  Coral  Sea  archipelagos  east  of  the  Great  Barrier  Reef  system  of 
Queensland,  Australia.  The  new  taxon,  Harpa  queenslandica,  differs  from  Harpa  major  in  being 
consistently  a  smaller  and  more  lightweight  shell,  in  having  fewer  varices  per  whorl,  in  having  a 
much  paler  shell  color,  and  in  having  a  proportionally-larger  protoconch  that  is  composed  of  3  Vi 
whorls. 

KEY  WORDS  Harpa ,  Harpidae,  Coral  Sea,  Queensland,  Australia. 


INTRODUCTION  The  shallow  water  (0=20  m) 
areas  along  the  Swain  Reefs  (Mackay/Capricom 
Management  Area)  and  the  central  Great  Barrier 
Reef  (Townsville/Whitsunday  Management 
Area)  of  southern  Queensland  State,  Australia, 
have  long  been  known  to  house  an  unusually- 
rich  molluscan  fauna  with  a  high  level  of 
endemism.  The  coral  reef  complexes  of  this 
region  are  renowned  for  containing  an 
exeeptionallylarge  and  remarkable  species 
radiation  of  the  volutid  genus  Cymbiola 
(Cymbiolacca)  (with  at  least  20  species  and 
subspecies),  unusual  cypraeid  subspecies  such 
as  Cribrarula  cribraria  melwardi,  Naria 
labrolineata  maccullochi,  and  Bistolida 
brevirostris  fluctuans,  and  distinctive  cone 
shells  such  as  Lividiconus  biliosus  imperator 
and  the  newly-described  Tesselliconus 
devorsinei.  The  high  levels  of  biodiversity  and 
endemism  along  the  southern  and  central  reef 
complexes  demonstrate  that  these  areas, 
collectively,  represent  one  of  the  primary  “hot 
spots”  of  evolution  within  the  Coral  Sea  Basin. 


Farther  offshore  of  the  Great  Barrier  Reef,  on 
the  shallow  continental  shelf  that  extends 
eastward  into  the  Coral  Sea,  lies  a  large 
archipelago  of  coral  cays,  atolls,  and  shallow 
carbonate  banks,  containing  at  least  25  major 
island  groups.  Of  these,  only  the  Diamond  Islets 
and  Lihou  Reef,  on  the  far  eastern  edge  of  the 
continental  shelf,  have  been  regularly  visited 
and  explored  by  divers  and  collectors.  These 
remote  coral  atolls  were  found  to  house  a 
number  of  seldom-seen  and  rare  endemic 
gastropods,  with  the  beautiful  striped  volute 
Cymbiola  (Cymbiolacca)  perplicata  being  the 
single  most  sought-after  collector’s  item.  While 
searching  for  this  desirable  volute  on  Diamond 
Islets,  Lihou  Reef,  and  off  Swain  Reefs,  a  small, 
very  pale  or  white  harp  shell  (genus  Harpa)  was 
also  encountered  in  the  same  habitat  that  was 
inhabited  by  C.  perplicata.  This  unusual  harp 
shell  was  first  brought  to  attention  by  a  well 
known  Queensland  molluscan  adventurer  Doug 
Thom,  who  was  trawling  these  remote  region 
for  the  elusive  C.  perplicata.  Bret  Raines  and 
Kim  Hutsell  were  on  one  of  these  early 


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expeditions  with  Doug  Thom  in  1999,  and 
collected  specimens  of  this  unique  small  white 
Harpa.  Shortly  thereafter,  Bret  Raines  wrote  an 
article  about  this  unique  Harpa  in  the  American 
Conchologist  (Raines,  2000).  Years  later,  the 
authors  became  aware  of  this  interesting  Harpa 
and  began  seeking  out  further  information  from 
Richard  Goldberg,  Bret  Raines,  Kim  Hutsell, 
and  Doug  Thom.  With  the  generous  assistance 
of  members  of  the  Caims  Shell  Club,  and  others, 
the  authors  were  able  to  obtain  photographs  and 
specimens  of  a  substantial  number  of  specimens. 
Upon  closer  examination,  this  pale-colored 
harpid  was  found  to  represent  a  new, 
previously-unrecognized  species  of  Harpa 
closely  related  to  the  widespread  Indo-Pacific 
Harpa  major  Roding,  1798.  This  new  endemic 
Queensland  harpid  species  is  described  here. 

SYSTEMATICS 

Class  Gastropoda 
Subclass  Orthogastropoda 
Order  Sorbeoconcha 
Suborder  Caenogastropoda 
Infraorder  Neogastropoda 
Superfamily  Volutoidea 
Family  Harpidae 
Genus  Harpa  Roding,  1798 

Harpa  queenslandica  Berschauer  and  Petuch, 
new  species 

(Figures  1,  2A-F,  3 A,  3C,  3E) 

Description:  Shell  small  for  genus  and 
consistently  much  smaller  than  nominate 
subspecies,  averaging  30-50  mm  in  length;  shell 
thin,  lightweight,  highly  inflated,  broadly 
bulliform;  spire  low,  with  broadly  sloping 
whorls;  shoulder  rounded;  body  whorl 
ornamented  with  12-18  thin,  widely-separated, 
evenly-spaced  axial  ribs;  facing  edge  of  ribs 
highly  polished,  shiny;  edge  of  shoulder 


ornamented  with  row  of  small,  sharp  spines, 
with  each  spine  corresponding  to  an  axial  rib; 
areas  between  ribs  heavily  ornamented  with 
distinctive  reticulated  sculpture  pattern 
composed  of  very  numerous  intersecting  fine 
axial  and  radial  threads;  aperture  wide  and 
flaring,  broadly  oval  in  shape;  columellar  area 
with  broad,  shiny,  adherent  parietal  shield;  shell 
base  color  pure  white,  overlaid  with  widely- 
scattered  pale  pinkish-tan  zig-zag  or  triangular 
flammules;  ribs  pure  white,  marked  with  4 
broad,  pale  pink  or  pinkish-tan  bands,  one 
below  shoulder,  one  on  each  side  of  mid-body 
line,  and  one  around  anterior  end;  pink  bands 
often  marked  with  reddish-brown  or  dark  tan 
linear  flammules  or  bars,  outlining  the  edge  of 
each  band;  anterior  half  of  parietal  shield 
marked  with  large,  prominent  dark  brown  patch; 
posterior  end  of  parietal  shield  marked  with 
smaller,  pale  brown  or  tan  patch;  interior  of 
aperture  pure  white;  protoconch  proportionally 
very  large,  dark  tan-gold  in  color,  composed  of 
3  Vi  whorls. 


Figure  1.  Holotype  of  Harpa  queenslandica  34.5  mm,  dredged 
at  10m  off  East  Diamond  Islet,  Australia,  in  1999. 


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Type  Material:  HOLOTYPE:  length  34.5  mm, 

width  23.6  mm,  QMNH  as  number  QM 
M084636  (in  the  type  collection  of  the 
Queensland  Museum  of  Natural  History, 
Brisbane,  Australia:  Figure  2C);  OTHER 
SPECIMENS  EXAMINED:  length  30.2,  35.8, 
50.9,  and  52.9  mm  (Figures  2A,  D,  E,  and  F) 
Berschauer  Collection  ;  length  34.1  mm  (Figure 
2B)  Petuch  Collection. 

Type  Locality:  The  holotype  was  dredged  from 
between  1 5  and  20  m  depth,  northeast  of  Swain 
Reef,  southern  Great  Barrier  Reef,  Queensland, 
Australia. 

Range:  At  present,  the  new  species  is  known 
only  from  the  western  Coral  Sea,  from  the  areas 
off  Swain  Reef,  and  the  coral  atolls  of  Lihou 
Reef  and  the  Diamond  Islets. 

Ecology:  Harpa  queenslandica  occurs  on  clean 
carbonate  sand  substrates  near  beds  of  coral 
rubble,  at  depths  of  10-25  m  within  the  Neritic 
Zone  of  the  Coral  Sea  archipelagos  east  of  the 
Great  Barrier  Reef.  Here  it  occurs  with  other 
volutoideans  such  as  Cymbiola  (Cymbiolacca) 
perplicata  and  Miniaceoliva  lamberti. 

Etymology:  Named  for  the  Australian  State  of 

Queensland,  to  which  the  new  subspecies  is 
endemic. 

Discussion:  The  new  taxon  represents  an 
isolated  species  of  Harpa  closely  related  to  the 
widespread  Indo-Pacific  Harpa  major  Roding, 
1798,  that  is  restricted  to  the  western  Coral  Sea 
area  and  may  coexist  with  H.  major  there.  The 
senior  author  has  been  advised  that  Harpa 
queenslandica  and  H.  major  coexist  in  limited 
areas  in  the  Caimes  region.  (Tassey  Weinreich, 
personal  communication.)  Harpa  queenslandica 
(Figures  2A-F)  differs  from  H.  major  in  being 
much  paler  colored  (almost  pure  white),  in 
being  a  much  thinner  and  more  lightweight  shell, 


in  having  a  smaller  adult  size,  and  in  having  a 
characteristic  microsculpture  pattern  on  the 
body  whorl  in  the  areas  between  the  ribs.  This 
microsculpture  (Figure  3C)  is  composed  of  very 
numerous  fine,  evenly-spaced  axial  threads  that 
intersect  with  numerous  fine  spiral  threads, 
producing  a  distinctive  dense  reticulated  pattern. 
These  reticulations  are  especially  prominent  on 
subadult  specimens  (Figures  2 A,  2B,  3 A,  and 
3C)  but  become  over-glazed  and  more  subdued 
in  fully  mature  specimens  (Figure  3 A).  As 
shown  on  Figure  3E,  the  protoconch  of  H. 
queenslandica  is  also  proportionally-larger  and 
better-developed  than  that  of  H.  major,  being 
composed  of  3  !4  whorls  as  opposed  to  3  whorls. 
This  large  protoconch  size  correlates  with  the 
limited  geographical  range  of  the  new  species, 
indicating  that  the  animal  has  direct 
development  and  a  non-planktonic  larva, 
resulting  in  a  very  limited  ability  to  disperse. 

Typical  Harpa  major  (Figure  3B)  is  a  much 
larger  and  heavier  shell  than  queenslandica,  and 
has  a  base  shell  color  of  a  deep  pinkish-rose  or 
reddish-tan,  overlaid  with  white  zig-zag 
flammules.  The  ribs  of  H.  queenslandica  are 
pure  white  with  a  few  bands  of  pale  tan  and 
scattered  reddish-brown  lines,  while  those  of  H. 
major  are  a  deep  rose-tan  overlaid  with  thin 
white  stripes  and  dark  brown  lines.  While 
having  an  infracostal  sculpture  pattern 
composed  of  thin  longitudinal  threads,  subadult 
and  adult  specimens  of  H.  major  never  exhibit 
the  reticulated  infracostal  sculpture  seen  on  H. 
queenslandica.  The  authors  have  also  examined 
several  photographs  which  show  the  shells  and 
living  animal  of  H.  queenslandica  and 
compared  and  contrasted  it  to  similar  photos  of 
the  shell  and  living  animal  of  H.  harpa.  The 
body  and  foot  of  H.  queenslandica  is  white  with 
a  pattern  of  tan  bloches,  and  the  siphon  is  tan 
with  white  splotches  and  the  eye  stalk  tentacles 
are  striped  white  and  tan.  By  comparison  the 
body  and  foot  of  H.  harpa  is  a  medium  brown 


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with  a  pattern  of  yellow  spots  and  a  few  white 
splotches,  and  the  siphon  is  a  darker  brown  with 
light  brown  splotches  and  the  eye  stalk  tentacles 
are  striped  dark  brown  and  light  brown.  A 
photograph  of  the  shell  and  living  animal  of  H. 
queenslandica  is  shown  in  Figure  4. 

A  geographically-isolated  subspecies  of  H. 
major  was  recently  described  from  the 
Marquesas  Islands  of  easternmost  French 
Polynesia.  This  new  taxon,  H.  major  ivojardai 
Cossignani,  2013,  is  substantially  more  similar 
to  H.  major  than  H.  queenslandica  and  shares 
the  same  type  of  dark  coloration  and  shell 
thickness  with  H.  major,  but  has  much  more 
heavily-sculptured  intracostal  areas  than  H. 
major.  The  discovery  of  this  Marquesan 
endemic  subspecies,  along  with  the  new 
Queensland  species,  demonstrates  that  at  least 
two  populations  of  II.  major  have  become 
sufficiently  genetically-isolated  to  have  become 
sibling  species. 

AKNOWLEDGMENTS 

The  authors  extend  their  thanks  to  Richard 
Goldberg,  Kim  Hutsell,  Doug  Thom,  Malcolm 
Ford,  Thierry  Vulliet,  and  Jom  Patamakanthin, 
for  sharing  information  about  this  fascinating 
small  white  Harpa.  Special  thanks  go  out  to 
Caimes  Shell  Club  members  Trevor  Young, 
Stephen  Maxwell,  Valda  Cantamessa,  Anne 
Butler,  and  to  John  Boyle  for  assistance  in 
obtaining  specimens  and  for  detailed 
photographs  and  measurements  of  other 
specimens  for  study.  Dr.  John  Healy  of  the 
Queensland  Museum  provided  information  and 
photographs  of  other  Harpa  specimens  in  his 
museum’s  collection  for  comparison.  Giorgio 
Strano  provided  English  translations  of  Tiziano 
Cossignani’ s  recent  Harpa  articles  from  the 
original  Italian.  We  also  extend  our  sincere 
appreciation  to  Tassey  Weinreich  for  allowing 


us  to  use  his  gorgeous  photograph  of  the  live 
animal  of  Harpa  queenslandica  in  this  paper. 

REFERENCES 

Cossignani,  T.  2013.  A  new  Harpa  from  the 
Marquesas  Islands.  Malacologia  8 1 :4. 

Raines,  B.  2000.  A  Trip  to  Remember. 
American  Conchologist.  28(1):  6. 


Figure  3.  A  =  Harpa  queenslandica  67.3  mm,  collected  diving 
at  15m  ofFLihou  Reef,  Australia  in  July  2006  by  Ron  Moylan, 
in  the  Trevor  Young  Collection;  B  =  Harpa  major  69.9  mm  in 
length,  collected  off  Samar  Island,  Philippines,  from  the 
Berschauer  Collection;  C  =  Macroscopic  photo  of  the 
microsculpture  of  H.  queenslandica  (from  Figure  2 A);  D  = 
Macroscopic  photo  of  the  microsculpture  of  H.  major  (from 
Figure  3B);  E  =  Macroscopic  photo  of  the  protoconch  of  H. 
queenslandica  (from  Figure  2  A);  F  =  Macroscopic  photo  of  the 
protoconch  of  H.  major  (from  Figure  3B). 


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Figure  2.  A  =  Harpa  queenslandica  30.2  mm  in  length,  dredged  in  deep  water  off  Swain  Reef,  Australia  by  Remy  Devorsine  and 
Thierry  Vullet  in  2014,  in  the  Berschauer  Collection;  B  =  H.  queenslandica  34.1  mm  in  length,  dredged  in  deep  water  off  Swain  Reef, 
Australia  by  Remy  Devorsine  and  Thierry  Vullet  in  2014,  in  the  Petuch  Collection;  C  =  Holotype  of  H.  queenslandica  34.6  mm  in 
length,  dredged  at  10  m  in  coral  sand  off  East  Diamond  Islet,  Australia  by  Malcolm  Ford  in  1999,  in  the  type  collection  of  the 
Queensland  Museum  of  Natural  History,  Brisbane,  Australia,  as  number  QM  M084636;  D  =  H.  queenslandica  50.9  mm  in  length, 
collected  by  scuba  diving  at  10-15  m  off  East  Diamond  Islet  by  Doug  Thom  in  1999,  in  the  Berschauer  Collection;  E  =  H. 
queenslandica  5\. 2  mm  in  length,  dredged  at  15  m  off  Lihou  Reef,  Australia  by  Doug  Thom  in  1999,  in  the  Berschauer  Collection;  F  = 
H.  queenslandica  5\. 9  mm  in  length,  dredged  at  15m  off  Swain  Reef,  Australia  by  Doug  Thom  in  1999,  in  the  Berschauer  Collection.. 


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Figure  4.  Live  specimen  of  Harpa  queens landica,  approximately  70  mm  in  length,  collected  in  2008  in  the  Cairns  Region,  Australia 
and  photographed  by  Tassey  Weinreich.  Photo  used  with  written  permission  of  Tassey  Weinreich;  all  rights  reserved. 


Editor’s  Note:  The  Festivus  is  accepting  articles  for  future  issues.  Articles  of  a  scientific  nature 
may  be  submitted  for  the  peer  reviewed  portion  of  our  journal.  Please  refer  to  our  Guidelines  for 
Authors,  and/or  Guidelines  for  the  Description  of  New  Taxa  in  The  Festivus,  both  available  on 
our  website:  http://www.sandiegoshellclub.com/festivus/  Articles  are  subject  to  a  blind  peer 
review  process,  and  submission  of  an  article  does  not  guarantee  acceptance  or  publication.  We 
also  accept  articles  of  general  interest  to  malacologists,  conchologists  and  shell  collectors  for 
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either  the  author’s  original  artwork,  or  a  signed  copyright  waiver  from  the  copyright  holder. 


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ISSUE  2 


Camaena  abbasi ,  a  new  species  (Gastropda:  Gamaenidae)  from  Indonesia 


Nguyen  Ngoc  Thach 

Former  Research  Associate,  Oceanographic  Institute 
Nha  Trang,  Vietnam 

267  Thong  Nhat  Street,  Nha  Trang,  Vietnam 
kurodashvietnam@vahoo.com 


ABSTRACT  A  new  species  of  the  genus  Camaena  Albers,  1850  is  described  from  Popidolong, 
South  East  Peleng  Island,  East  Sulawesi,  Indonesia  and  is  compared  to  four  other  species  of  this 
genus:  Camaena  gabriella  f.  subhainenensis  (Pilsbry,  1 890);  Camaena  gabriellae  var.  platytaenia 
Dautzenberg  &  Fischer,  1908;  Camaena  duporti  (Bavay  &  Dautzenberg,  1900);  and  Camaena 
sakishimana  Kuroda,  1960.  It  is  characterized  by  a  slightly  flat  base  with  a  concave  umbilical  area 
and  not  reflected  outer  lip. 

KEYWORDS  Gastropoda,  Helicoidea,  Camaenidae,  Camaena,  Popidolong,  South  East  Peleng 
island,  East  Sulawesi,  Indonesia,  new  taxon. 


INTRODUCTION  The  genus  Camaena  Albers, 
1850  belongs  to  the  family  Camaenidae  and 
many  species  of  this  family  are  native  to 
Indonesia.  In  July  of  2008,  a  new  camaenid  was 
found  that  was  not  listed  in  the  works  by 
Dharma  (2005),  Parkinson  et  al.  (1987),  Abbott 
(1989)  and  Stanisic  et  al.  (2010).  It  is  here 
described  as  new  to  science. 

Abbreviations: 

ANSP  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of 

Drexel  University,  Philadelphia,  USA 
MNHN  Museum  National  d’Histoire  Naturelle, 
Paris,  France 

NNT  Collection  Dr  Thach 
RMNH  Rotterdam  Museum  of  Natural 
History 

JA  Collection  John  Abbas 

AL  Aperture  length 

SH  Shell  height 

SW  Shell  width 


SYSTEMATICS 

Class  Gastropda  Cuvier,  1797 
Superfamily  Helicoidea  Rafinesque,  1815 
Family  Camaenidae  Pilsbry,  1895 
Genus  Camaena  Albers,  1850 
Type  species:  Helix  cicatricosa  Muller,  1774, 
subsequent  designation  by  Martens  in  Albers, 
1860 

Camaena  abbasi  n.  sp. 

Figures  1-8 

Description: 

Shell  medium-sized  for  the  genus  (33-35mm  in 
average  adult  width),  heliciform,  dextral,  and 
longer  in  width  than  in  height,  65.6%  shell 
width,  see  Table  1  with  measurements  on  five 
specimens.  Spire  with  variable  heights,  sutures 
impressed.  Body  whorl  moderately  inflated, 
periphery  with  a  narrow  spiral  keel.  Sculpture 
consisting  of  numerous  closely-spaced  axial 
riblets.  Aperture  semilunate  with  a  length  53.8% 
of  the  shell  width,  outer  lip  slightly  thick, 
usually  angulate  and  not  reflected.  Base  slightly 
flat  and  weakly  sculptured,  umbilicus  small 


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open  but  partly  covered  by  columella.  Color 
variable  (yellowish,  whitish,  brown  or  black) 
with  white  spiral  band  at  suture  and  periphery. 

Type  material: 

Holotype  35.3  mm  wide  in  ANSP  (Figs.  1,2). 
Paratypes:  all  from  type  locality,  Paratype  1: 

34.6  mm  wide  in  MNHN  (Fig.3,4),  Paratype  2: 

34.7  mm  wide  in  JA  (Fig.6,7),  Paratype  3:  32.9 
mm  wide  in  NNT  (Fig.5),  Paratype  4:  34.6  mm 
wide  in  JA  (No  8). 

Type  locality: 

Popidolong,  South  East  Peleng  island,  East 
Sulawesi,  Indonesia. 

Range  and  habitat: 

The  type  specimens  were  collected  on  vine 
thickets  and  known  only  from  type  locality. 

Etymology: 

This  new  species  is  named  in  honor  of  Mr.  John 
Abbas  of  Hawaii  (USA)  for  providing  the  type 
material  that  he  collected  on  Peleng  Island. 


DISCUSSION 

•  Camaena  ahhasi  n.sp.  is  close  to  Camaena 
gabriella  f.  subhainenensis  (Pilsbry,  1890) 
(Figure  12)  but  differing  in  less  inflated  whorls, 
smaller  adult  size,  slightly  flat  base,  not 
reflected  outer  lip  and  presence  of  a  narrow  keel 
at  the  periphery. 

•  Camaena  abbasi  differs  mainly  from 
Camaena  gabriellae  var.  platytaenia 
Dautzenberg  &  Fisher,  1908  (Figures  9,  11a)  in 
less  swollen  body  whorl,  smaller  adult  size, 
smoother  exterior  surface,  slightly  flat  base,  not 
reflected  outer  lip,  presence  of  a  narrow  spiral 
keel  and  white  (not  dark  brown)  spiral  band  at 
the  periphery. 

•  Camaena  abbasi  differs  mainly  from 
Camaena  duporti  (Bavay  &  Dautzenberg,  1900) 
(Figure  lib)  in  much  smaller  umbilicus,  less 
inflated  body  whorl,  not  reflected  and  much 
thinner  outer  lip  and  presence  of  a  narrow  spiral 
keel  at  the  periphery. 


Table  1.  Mean  SH/SW  and  AL/SW  of  Camaena  abbasi  n.sp. 


Specimen 

SW 

(mm) 

SH 

(mm) 

SH/SW 

Mean 

SH/SW 

AL 

(mm) 

AL/SW 

Mean 

AL/SW 

1 

35.3 

23.0 

0.652 

18.4 

0.521 

2 

34.6 

21.0 

0.607 

19.3 

0.558 

3 

34.7 

21.3 

0.614 

0.656 

(65.6%) 

18.9 

0.545 

0.538 

(53.8%) 

4 

32.9 

22.0 

0.669 

17.6 

0.535 

5 

34.6 

25.6 

0.740 

18.3 

0.529 

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•  Camaena  abbasi  differs  mainly  from 
Camaena  sakishimana  Kuroda,  1960  (Figure  10) 
in  larger  adult  size,,  slightly  flat  base,  much 
smaller  umbilicus,  not  sharply  angulate 
periphery,  not  calloused  outer  lip  and  an  opaque 
aperture. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

I  want  to  thank  the  Natural  History  Museum  of 
Rotterdam  for  use  of  the  photo  of  Camaena 
duporti ,  Guido  &  Philippe  Poppe  for  use  of  the 
photo  of  Camaena  gabriella  f.  subhainenensis, 
and  the  Bishogai  Data  Base  for  use  of  the  photo 
of  Camaena  sakishimana.  Thanks  are  also  due 
to  the  reviewers  for  useful  comments. 


Dharma,  B.  2005,  Recent  &  Fossil  Shells  of 
Indonesia.  ConchBooks,  Hackenheim, 
Germany,  432pp. 

Parkinson,  B.,  J,  Hemmee  &  1C  Grofa.  1987. 
Tropical  land  shells  of  the  world.  Verlag 
Christa.  Hemmen,  Wiesbaden,  Germany,  279 

pp. 

StamisIe,J.s  M.  Shea,  D.  Potter  &  O.  Griffiths. 
2010.  Australian  Land  Snails,  Volume  1. 
Bioculture  Press,  Mauritius,  591pp. 

Website  of  Bishogai  Data  Base 

http://bigai.world.coocan.ip/pic  book/ 
Website  of  Rotterdam  Museum  of  Natural 
History  http://www.nmr-pics.nl/ 

Website  of  Philippe  &  Guido  Poppe 
http://www.conchology.be/ 


REFERENCES 

Abbott,  R.T.  1989.  Compendium  of  landshells. 
American  Malacologists  Inc.,  Florida,  USA, 
240  pp. 


Diego  She» 


West  Coast  Shells  -  2016  Calendar 
Price  $20  plus  $2.06  shipping 


Checks  or  PayPal  to  the  San  Diego  Shell  Club 

at:  SDShellClub@gmail.com 


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Figures  1-8:  Camaena  abhasi  n.sp.,  Peleng  Island,  Indonesia  - 1,2:  Holotype  35.3  mm,  ANSP-  3,4,:  Paratype  1 :  34.6  mm,  MNHN-  5:  Paratype  3, 
32.9  mm,  NNT-  6,7:  Paratype  2:  34.7mm,  JA-  8:  Paratype  4:  34.6mm,  JA-  9,11a:  Camaena  gabriellae  var.platytaenia  Dautzenberg  &Fisher,1908, 
37.5  mm- 10:  Camaena  sakishimana  Kuroda,  1960,  17mm  photo  of  Bishogai  Data  Base-  11b:  Camaena  duporti  Bavay&Dautzenberg,  1908,  52  mm, 
photo  of  Rotterdam  Museum  of  Natural  History- 12:  Camaena  gabriella  f.  subhainenensis  (Pilsbry,  1 890)  36.9  mm,  photo  of  P.  &G.Poppe,  2014. 


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New  species  of  Amphidromus  (, Syndromus )  from  northern  Meratus  Mountains, 

Kalimantan 

Jeff  Parsons  BAppSc,  BSc  (Hons) 

47  Elizabeth  Street,  Aitkenvale,  Queensland,  Australia  4814 
ieffonese@yahoo.com.au 


ABSTRACT  This  paper  describes  a  new  member  of  the  Amphidromus  (< Syndromus )  adamsii  (Reeve 
in  Adams,  1848)  group  from  Mount  Sarempakang  on  the  border  of  South  and  East  Kalimantan, 
Indonesia.  A  comparison  is  made  with  other  members  of  the  A.  (S.)  adamsii  group,  and  with 
extraterritorial  species  in  the  groups  of  A,  (S.)  contrarius  (Muller,  1774)  and  A.  (S.)  sinistralis  (Reeve, 
1849).  A.  (S.)  stevenliei  new  species  is  distinguishable  from  other  members  of  the  A.  (S.)  adamsii 
group  based  on  shell  and  animal  morphology,  and  conchologically  separable  from  other  congeners. 

KEY  WORDS  Amphidromus ,  Syndromus ,  stevenliei ,  Mount  Sarempakang,  Borneo,  Kalimantan. 


INTRODUCTION  Species  belonging  to  the 
group  of  Amphidromus  ( Syndromus )  adamsii 
(Reeve  in  Adams,  1848)  have  some  of  the  most 
varied  and  brightly  coloured  shells  of  the  whole 
genus  Amphidromus  Albers,  1850.  Fulton  first 
conceived  the  group  in  1896  whilst  naming 
variations  of  A.  (S.)  adamsii ,  and  grouped  them 
with  similar  established  and  new  taxa  from 
southern  Palawan,  islands  of  the  Palawan 
Passage,  Borneo  and  northern  satellite  islands. 
In  1900  whilst  partially  rearranging  Fulton’s 
groupings,  Pilsbry  modified  the  status  of  some 
taxa  and  added  five  species  to  the  A.  (S.) 
adamsii  group.  Laidlaw  and  Solem  (1961) 
removed  four  of  those  species  from  the  group 
and  changed  the  status  of  the  fifth  and  other 
taxa.  Until  more  material  becomes  available  for 
study,  a  modified  version  of  what  Laidlaw  and 
Solem  proposed  is  used,  which  includes  one 
recently  named  species,  A.  (S.)  thalassochromus 
(Vermueulen  &  Junau,  2007). 

Mid  2014,  Steven  Lie  sent  me  several  photos  of 
a  live  Amphidromus  snail  he  received  from  his 
contacts  in  South  Kalimantan  and  asked  me  to 


identify  it.  This  snail  is  from  Mount 
Sarempakang,  on  the  border  of  South  and  East 
Kalimantan  (‘Sarempaka’  in  fig.  1).  A  lack  of 
published  photos  of  living  Amphidromus  snails 
meant  its  identification  had  to  wait  until  Steven 
sent  me  a  photo  of  an  empty  shell.  A  study  of 
Bornean  Amphidromus  found  three  other 
species  with  similar  comet-like  blotches  on  the 
lower  whorls:  A.  (S.)  angulatus  (Fulton,  1896), 
A.  (S.)  coeruleus  (Clench  &  Archer,  1932)  and 
A.  (S.)  thalassochromus.  Very  small,  degraded 
or  reduced  comet-like  blotches,  and  similar 
periostracum  and/or  parietal  tubercles  are  found 
on  shells  of  A.  (S.)  quadrasi  (Hidalgo,  1887) 
and  its  subspecies  [A.  (S.)  adamsii  group],  and 
extraterritorial  species  in  the  groups  of  A.  (S.) 
contrarius  (Muller,  1774)  and  A.  (S.)  sinistralis 
(Reeve,  1849).  However,  those  congeners  are 
all  conchologically  separable  from  the  new 
species.  The  Mount  Sarempakang  snail  is 
distinguishable  from  other  members  of  the  A. 
(S.)  adamsii  group  based  on  shell  and  animal 
morphology,  and  described  herein  as  A.  ( S .) 
stevenliei  new  species. 


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Figure  1.  Location  map  for  Amphidmmus  ( Syndmmus )  stevenliei  new  species.  The  red  circle  indicates  the  approximate  position  of  the 
type  locality.  Modified  from  a  map  of  “Bandjermasin,  Borneo”  (University  of  Texas  Libraries,  2015) 


Materials  and  Methods 

Type  material  has  been  deposited  in  the  Natural 
History  Museum,  London,  England,  UK  and 
Museum  National  d*Histoire  Maturelle,  Paris, 
France;  and  additional  types  are  found  in  the 
private  collections  of  Steven  Lie,  John  Abbas 
and  the  author.  Preserved  anatomical  material 
was  unavailable  for  study.  Instead,  a 
comparison  was  made  of  living  animals  of  the 
new  and  related  species  using  digital  images 
from  Steven  Lie,  Bornean  Terrestrial  Molluscs 
website  (Liew,  2011)  and  anonymous  sources. 
The  species  description  was  determined  from 
shell  morphology  of  dry  empty  shells  supplied 
by  Steven  Lie  and  John  Abbas.  Comparative 
material  comprised  of  shells  from  my  own 
private  collection  and  images  of  type  shells 
published  by  Sutcharit  et  at  (2015). 

Shells  were  measured  using  digital  Vernier 
callipers  (0.01  mm  resolution).  Shell  height, 
aperture  length  and  shell  width  include  the 
reflected  outer  lip  for  adult  shells.  The 
parameter  ‘umbilical  size’  reflects  a  shell's 
umbilicus  may  be  roundly  open  or  rimate. 
Relative  shell  sizes  for  the  subgenus  Syndmmus 


mentioned  are  as  follows:  small  <  30  mm, 
medium  30-45  mm  and  large  >  45  mm.  Whorl 
count  includes  the  apex  as  per  Haniel  (1921,  p. 
22,  fig.  10)  and  counted  precise  to  0.125  (Vs 
whorl).  The  aperture  length  was  measured  along 
the  long  axis  as  per  Haniel  (1921,  p.  10,  fig.  2). 
Shell  weight  was  measured  in  grams  (g)  using  a 
pocket-sized  electronic  scale  (capacity  300  g  x 

0.01  g). 

Shell  sculpture  was  examined  under  low 
magnification  (lOx)  using  a  jeweller's  loupe. 
All  but  one  of  the  shells  examined  had  formed 
an  outer  lip:  15  adults  (four  damaged  with  the 
apex  or  protoconch  missing,  a  dent  or  a  hole) 
with  a  thickened  lip,  3  subadults  with  broken 
thin  lips  and  one  brown  juvenile  without  a  lip. 
Colours  are  described  as  per  the  nomenclature 
of  Kidgway  (1912)  or  common  English  (Geddes 
&  Grosset,  2007),  and  hyphenation  follows  that 
of  the  ‘Style  Manual'  (U.S.  Government 
Printing  Office,  2008),  ‘Paries’  (adj.  parietal) 
refers  to  the  ‘inner  apertural  wall’.  ‘Palatum’ 
(adj.  palatal)  refers  to  the  interior  surface  of  the 
labram  (outer  iip)  or  ‘outer  apertural  wall9. 


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Taxonomic  remarks 

According  to  Petit  (2007),  the  correct  “author 
and  date”  citation  for  A.  ( S .)  adamsii  is  (Reeve 
in  Adams,  1848).  See  Petit’s  work  for  his 
justification.  I  here  accept  A.  (S.)  quadrasi 
dubius  (Fulton,  1896),  A.  (S.)  q.  everetti  (Fulton, 
1896),  A.  (S'.)  q.  solidus  (Fulton,  1896),  A.  (S.)  q. 
versicolor  (Fulton,  1896)  and  A.  ( S .)  q. 
palawanensis  (Bartsch,  1928)  all  as  valid 
subspecies  until  confirmed  otherwise.  The  A  (S.) 
contrarius  group  includes  A.  ( S .)  contrarius,  A. 
(S.)  reflexilabris  (Schepman,  1892)  and  A.  (S.) 
laevus  (Muller,  1774)  as  per  Sevems  (2006). 
The  A.  (S.)  sinistralis  group  contains  the  species 
as  stated  by  Laidlaw  and  Solem  (1961). 

Abbreviations  used  for  museums  and  private 
collections: 

NHMUK  =  Natural  History  Museum,  London, 
England,  UK 

MNHN  =  Museum  national  d’Histoire  naturelle, 
Paris,  France 

SL  =  Steven  Lie  collection 
JA  =  John  Abbas  collection 
JP  =  Jeff  Parsons  collection 

Abbreviations  for  shell  morphometry: 

A  =  aperture  length 

A/H  =  aperture  length/shell  height  ratio 
D  =  shell  width  (the  abbreviation  aligns  with  the 
usage  of  ‘diameter’  in  the  literature) 

H  =  shell  height 

H/D  =  shell  height/shell  width  ratio 
N  =  whorl  count 
W  =  shell  weight 
U  =  umbilical  size 


SYSTEMATIC  DESCRIPTION 

Class  Gastropoda  Cuvier,  1795 
Family  Camaenidae  Pilsbry,  1895 
Genus  Amphidromus  Albers,  1 850 
Subgenus  Syndromus  Pilsbry,  1900 

Amphidromus  {Syndromus)  stevenliei  new 
species 

(Figures  2-5  ) 

Type  Material:  12  adult  shells  (11  yellow  and 
1  flesh-coloured)  and  1  juvenile  (brown). 

Holotype  (Figure  2):  NHMUK  20150004/1 
Holotype  measurements:  H  38.00  mm,  D  20.37 
mm,  H/D  1.87,  A  19.06,  A/H  0.50,  N  6.50,  U  0 
mm  and  W  0.72  g 

Paratypes  (12  shells):  NHMUK  20150004/2  (1 
yellow  shell);  MNHN  IM-20 12-362 12  (1 
yellow  shell);  SL  (1  yellow  shell);  JA  (1  yellow 
shell);  JP  (8  shells  -  6  yellow  adults,  including  2 
damaged  by  a  dent  or  a  hole;  1  brown  juvenile 
and  1  flesh-coloured  adult) 

Paratype  measurements:  H  31.35-38.04  (av. 
34.68)  mm,  D  16.50-21.24  (av.  19.59)  mm,  H/D 
1.63-2.01  (av.  1.77),  A  14.98-19.08  (av.  17.39), 
A/H  0.48-0.54  (av.  0.50),  N  6.25-6.875  (av. 
6.50),  U  -  (round)  0-0.89  (av.  0.43)  mm,  U  - 
(rimate)  0.41  x  0.21  to  1.50  x  0.31  (av.  0.89  x 
0.42)  mm  and  W  0.59-1.60  (av.  0.91)  g 

Type  locality:  Mount  Sarempakang,  northern 
Meratus  Mountains,  border  of  South  and  East 
Kalimantan,  Indonesia  (Figure  1). 

Distribution:  currently  known  only  from  the 
type  locality. 

Habitat:  found  on  the  leaves  and  trunks  of 
various  small  trees  (about  2  m  high)  and 
bananas  in  mixed  dipterocarp  and  submontane 
forest,  collected  by  locals  for  Steven  Lie. 


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Animal:  body  yellowish  grey  with  a  wide, 
blackish  mid-dorsal  stripe,  all  sprinkled  with 
lemon  granules,  paler  on  the  flanks;  ocular  and 
sensory  tentacles  yellowish  grey  at  the  base 
grading  to  pale  orange-brown  and  yellow  ochre 
respectively;  foot  and  tail  pale  grey  with  paler 
granules;  sole  cream  and  mantle  pale  grey  to 
very  pale  flesh-coloured  (Figure  3). 

Soft  Parts:  still  under  investigation. 

Etymology:  named  in  honour  of  Mr.  Steven  Lie 
from  Sumatra,  Indonesia,  who  is  new  to  the 
hobby  of  snail  collecting  and  the  first  person  to 
bring  this  snail  to  my  attention. 


Other  Material  Examined:  6  yellow  shells 
examined  from  the  type  locality  (IP);  3  subadult 
shells  with  damaged  veiy  thin  reflected  lips  and 
3  damaged  adult  shells  -  apex  missing  in  one, 
protoconch  missing  in  another,  plus  one  with 
depigmeeted  areas  and  increased  shell 
transparency. 

Shell  measurements  (6  shells):  H  29.13-40.00 
(av.  32.47)  mm,  D  17.83-20.75  (av.  18.80)  mm, 
H/D  1.63-1.68  (av.  1.66),  A  15.16-18.56  (av. 
16.85),  A/H  0.46-0.54  (av.  0.51),  N  6.125-7.00 
(av.  6.50),  U  -  (round)  0  mm  (1  shell),  U  - 
(rimate)  0.57  x  0.26  to  1.13  x  0.42  (av.  0.75  x 
0.26)  mm  and  W  0.42-0.78  (av.  0.54)  g. 


Figure  2,  Amphidromus  ( Syndromus )  stevenliei  n.  sp.s  holotype  NHMXJK  20150004/1. 


DESCRIPTION 

Shell  medium  sized,  sinistral,  relatively  solid 
and  ovate-conic.  Spire  subturreted,  moderately 
long.  Surface  rather  shiny;  protoconch  minutely 
pitted  (punctulate);  teleoconch  marked  with 
collateral  growth  threads  and  lines,  occasional 
ridgelets  on  the  last  two  whorls  and 
microthreads  (crowded  apieally);  plus  spirally 
directed  short  ridgelets,  grains  and/or  obsolete 


striae.  Whorls  rather  convex,  gradually 
expanding;  last  whorl  not  inflated,  not 
descending  in  front  and  base  gently  rounded; 
periphery  obsoletely,  subangularly  rounded. 
Suture  impressed  apieally,  appressed  below. 
Periostracum  pale  green-yellow. 

Protoconch  llA  whorls,  flesh  tinted;  rotund  and 
subtranslueent  Apex  blunt,  barely  exsert; 
subopaque,  whitish.  Transition  to  the  teleoconch 


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distinguished  by  a  change  in  sutural  angle. 
Teleoconch  pale  flesh  tinted  grading  to  pale 
lemon,  base  darker.  Early  whorls  have  greyish 
streaks  and  an  obsolescent,  flesh-tinted 
supraperipheral  band.  Infrasutural  fillet  cream 
apically,  white  below.  Last  three  whorls  with 
scattered,  clustered  or  obliquely  aligned  comet¬ 
like  blotches.  Markings  initiated  by  a 
subtransparent,  grey  spot  (>0.5  mm)  or  dot  (< 
0.5  mm),  sometimes  with  a  lemon  subcentral 
speck;  and  attached  to  a  faint,  whitish 
adapertural  streak.  Spots  and  dots  are  round  or 
oval,  0.1 -0.8  mm  wide  or  long;  streaks  slightly 
narrower,  1-2.75  mm  long.  Last  whorl  has  a 
wide  and  obsolescent,  purple  basal  band  on  the 
paries  and  a  narrow  and  ghostly,  greyish 
peripheral  band,  visible  only  in  transmitted  light. 
Circumumbilical  band  pale  magenta,  narrow. 

Aperture  oblique,  auriform.  Palatum  covered  in 
a  dull-lemon  film,  clearly  showing  the  external 
markings.  Parietal  callus  faintly  calcified, 
colourless  and  imperceptible.  Outer  lip  very 
glossy,  vivid  magenta,  thickened  and  somewhat 
flared;  edge  flat,  strongly  reflected  and  narrowly 
expanded.  Preapertural  band  pale  greyish  cream; 
lip  termination  slightly  ascending.  Outer  lip 
may  also  be  purplish  magenta  and  fades  to 
brownish  pink  after  death.  Columella  glossy, 
vivid  magenta,  narrow  and  a  little  twisted; 
oblique  and  abaperturally  angled  ventrally; 
subvertical  and  proclined  laterally;  base  slightly 
excurved.  Columellar  margin  very  narrowly 
tapered  and  curled  upon  itself  at  the  base. 
Umbilicus  closed. 

Shell  Variation/Remarks: 

Shell  shape  is  also  ovate-pyramidal,  ovate-conic 
or  ovate-elongate  with  an  obsoletely  subangular 
to  well-rounded  periphery.  Some  shells  have  a 


Figure  3.  Live  A.  (S.)  stevenliei  n.  sp.  (Photo  by  Steven  Lie) 


tapered  spire  with  slightly  convex  upper  whorls 
grading  to  rather  convex  on  the  last,  which  is  a 
little  inflated  to  ventricose  with  a  rounded  base. 
Aperture  shape  may  also  be  subauriform  or 
semiovate.  The  palatal  callus  may  whiten  with 
age  or  after  death.  The  parietal  callus  erodes 
and/or  whitens  after  death.  The  circumumbilical 
band  may  also  be  dark  magenta,  purplish 
magenta  or  blackened,  rarely  diffuse  on  the 
paries  and  distinct  outside,  and  sometimes  very 
narrow.  The  columella  is  occasionally  vertical 
or  abaperturally  angled  only  on  the  lower  half, 
and  sometimes  darker  than  the  lip.  Apical 
whorls  may  have  a  wider  pink  band 
(apicosuperior  fillet)  below  the  infrasutural  fillet 
that  forms  an  evanescent  apical  swirl  as  seen  in 
apical  view,  sometimes  joined  to  a  same- 
coloured  apex. 

There  are  two  colour  forms,  ‘yellow’  (pale 
lemon)  and  ‘pinkish  brown’  (pale  to  dark,  flesh 
to  cacao  brown)  (fig.  4A).  The  periostracum  is 
generally  colourless  below  the  suture  and 


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sometimes  above  the  cireumumbilical  band, 
showing  the  shell  colour  below,  and  commonly 
has  darker  collabral  lines.  The  periostracum  of 
yellow  shells  is  rarely  plain,  pale  straw  yellow 
(Figure  4B),  and  when  of  a  dull  green-yellow 
hue  it  gives  a  greenish  tint  to  the  palatum. 
Pinkish-brown  shells  have  a  pinkish-cinnamon 
or  olive-tinted  periostracum.  The  streaks  of  the 
comet-like  blotches  are  whitish  below  the 
periostracum  and  appear  'less  distinct”  on 
yellow  shells  than  on  pinkish-brown  shells,  due 
to  the  lower  contrast  with  the  pale  lemon  ground. 
The  holotype  represents  the  average 
conchological  and  periostracal  features  of  the 
more  common  yellow  shells. 

The  protoconch  of  yellow  shells  is  sometimes 
subopaque  and  yellowish  grey,  cream,  whitish 


or  grey  with  a  greyish  or  cream  apex,  rarely 
flesh  tinted.  The  preapertural  band  may  be 
brownish  cream  outside  and  white  inside,  or 
absent.  Early  teleoeonch  whorls  are  also  buff, 
pale  cream  or  grey  tinted,  and  may  have  an 
obsolescent,  grey  supraperipheral  band  and/or 
pinkish  streaks.  Lower  whorls  may  have  a  few 
scattered  darker  lemon  streaks.  The  last  whorl 
occasionally  has  obsolescent  dark  coloured 
basal  bands  (Figure  4C)  or  ghostly,  greyish 
markings:  spiral  lines  or  bands  above  the 
periphery  and/or  a  wide  and  submedial  band 
with  slightly  darker  borders  (Figure  4D).  These 
‘ghostly  markings’  are  best  viewed  using 
transmitted  light,  i.e.  by  holding  a  shell  over  a 
lamp.  Very  rarely  a  yellow  shell  may  appear  to 
lack  the  comet-like  blotches  (IP),  with  the 
markings  reduced  to  subopaque,  lemon  dots  that 
are  imperceptible  without  magnification. 


Figure  4.  Shell  colour,  periostracum  and  pattern  variation  of  A.  (S.)  stevenliei  n.  §p.:  A  pinWsh-brown  shell  (paratype  1 1,  IP);  B  yellow 
periostracum  (paratype  9,  IP);  C  dark  obsolescent  basal  bands  (paratype  10,  IP);  and  D  ghostly  submedial  band  (paratype  5,  JA). 


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Pinkish-brown  shells  have  a  pink  or  grey-brown 
protoconch.  The  infrasutural  fillet  is  salmon, 
pale  flesh  or  creamy,  and  wider  apically.  The 
preapertural  band  is  pale  magenta  outside  and 
whitish  inside.  Early  teleoconch  whorls  are 
fawn,  with  or  without  markings  as  per  yellow 
shells.  Brown  and  red-brown  streaks 
occasionally  appear  on  the  lower  whorls.  Only 
pinkish-brown  shells  have  a  rose  or  magenta 
subsutural  band  below  a  very  thin,  whitish 
infrasutural  fillet.  The  apex  of  both  colour  forms 
is  the  same  colour  as  either  the  protoconch 
ground  or  infrasutural  fillet,  or  different  to  both 
as  in  the  holotype. 

A.  (S'.)  stevenliei  n.  sp.  may  have  parietal 
tubercles,  generally  poorly  or  weakly  developed 
when  present.  Shells  more  commonly  lack  both 
tubercles  than  both  being  present.  The  parieto- 
columellar  (P-C)  tubercle  is  generally  present  in 
combination  with  the  parieto-labral  (P-L) 
tubercle  and  is  rarely  alone.  The  P-L  tubercle  is 
never  present  alone  and  develops  from  a  very 
thin  and  tiny,  colourless  smudge  of  callus  c.  0.5 
mm  long  adjoined  to  the  outer  lip  termination 


(immature  stage)  (Figure  5 A).  With  increased 
thickening  it  develops  into  a  colourless  tiny  to 
small  and  thin  to  thickened,  flat  subtriangular 
lump  c.  0.5- 1.5  mm  long  (mature  stage)  (Figure 
5B). 

The  P-C  tubercle  shows  three  stages  of  the 
development.  It  develops  from  a  very  thin, 
colourless  smudge  of  callus  c.  2  mm  long  beside 
the  root  of  the  columella  (immature  stage) 
(Figure  5C).  A  very  slightly  thickening  from  the 
margin  inward,  forms  a  thin  lump  (curved  or  not) 
c.  1-2  mm  long,  which  is  colourless,  translucent 
whitish  or  magenta  tinted  as  per  columella 
(submature  stage)  (Figure  5D).  Continued 
thickening  from  the  base  along  the  parietal 
callus  margin  forms  a  sickle-shaped  (falcate) 
tubercle,  which  is  wider  at  the  base  and  thins 
toward  the  tip  as  a  colourless,  curved  trace  or 
line  of  callus  (mature  stage)  (Figure  5E).  Rarely 
there  is  a  continuation  of  a  trace  thickening 
along  the  parietal  margin  connecting  both 
tubercles.  The  circumumbilical  band  clearly 
shows  through  the  P-C  tubercle  when  it  is 
immature  and  weakly  so  when  submature. 


Figure  5.  Parietal  tubercles  of  A.  ( S .)  stevenliei  n.  sp.  (letters  close  to  each  one).  Parieto-labral  (P-L)  tubercle:  A  immature  (paratype  2, 
MNHN  IM-2012-36212);  B  mature  (non-type  shell,  JP);  Parieto-columellar  (P-C)  tubercle:  C  immature  (paratype  2,  MNHN IM-2012- 
36212);  D  submature  (paratype  1 1,  JP)  and  E  mature  (non-type  shell,  JP). 


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DISCUSSION 

The  animal  of  A.  ( S '.)  stevenliei  n.  sp.  (Figure  3) 
differs  from  that  of  A.  (S.)  thalassochromus 
which  is  a  sooty-grey  body  with  ivoiy  or  cream 
granules  and  a  darker  grey  or  blackish  dorsal 
stripe,  plus  sooty-grey  tentacles  with  orange- 
brown  tips  (images:  anonymous).  Assuming  I 
have  correctly  identified  a  live  animal  of  A.  ( S .) 
angulatm  (Fulton,  1896),  it  also  has  a  different 
animal  coloration:  walnut  brown  with  pale 
smoke-grey  granules,  chestnut  face  and  a  wide, 
vinaceous-brown  dorsal  stripe,  plus  purplish- 
grey  ocular  tentacles  and  brownish-orange 
sensory  tentacles  (images:  anonymous).  No 
images  of  live  animals  of  A.  (S.)  coeruleus 
could  be  found  for  comparison,  only 
misidentified  species  from  southern  Sarawak 
that  have  closer  ties  to  A,  (5.)  adamsii  var.  C  of 
von  Martens  (1867). 

A.  (51)  quadrasi  palawanensis  (Bartsch,  1928) 
from  Brook's  Point,  Palawan  has  a  chestnut 
animal  with  vinaceous-pink  granules,  black 
head,  ivory  foot,  grey  tail  and  black  tentacles 
with  orange-brown  tips  (images:  anonymous). 
The  animals  of  A.  (51)  pictus  (Fulton,  1896)  and 
A.  (S.)  adamsi  var.  subunicolor  (Fulton,  1896) 
have  contrasting  body-foot  coloration,  and  both 
easily  separated  from  all  other  species  formerly 
mentioned  (images:  Liew,  2011).  A.  (S.)  pictus 
has  a  blackish-purple  animal  with  mauve 
granules,  deep  vinaceous  tentacles  and  an  ivory 
foot.  The  animal  of  A.  (S.)  adamsi  var. 
subunicolor  is  quite  different,  having  a 
vinaceous-fawn  body  with  pale  pinkish-buff 


granules,  pale  flesh  tentacles  and  a  purplish- 
grey  foot. 

The  markings  in  A.  ( S. .)  stevenliei  n.  sp.  are 
“comet-like”  in  the  sense  that  the  “spot/dot”  is 
like  the  head  of  a  comet,  and  the  “streak”  is  the 
comet's  tail  They  are  similar  to  what  Clench 
and  Archer  (1932)  described  for  A.  (« S .) 
coeruleus ,  which  are  smaller  with  a  black  dot 
and  a  small,  yellowish  triangular  mark  (Figure 
6C).  However,  Laidlaw  and  Solem  (1961) 
figured  a  specimen  (Figure  16B,  CNHM  72371 
ex  Laidlaw)  from  Baram  River,  not  far  from  the 
type  locality,  and  they  described  the  markings 
as  a  small  spot  of  intense  blue  at  the  posterior 
edge  of  an  elongated  yellow  fleck  (Figure  6D). 
That  specimen  differs  from  the  type  series  in 
having  numerous  variable  sized  comet-like 
blotches  like  those  of  A.  (S.)  stevenliei  n.  sp., 
and  the  obsolescent  or  coalescent  spire 
markings  reach  the  last  whorl 

A.  (S.)  angulatm  has  small,  comet-like  blotches 
with  a  blackish  or  dark  brown  dot  and  a  short, 
creamy  streak,  more  distinct  on  the  chestnut 
interior  (Figures  3H-I;  Sutcharit  et  al. ,  2015) 
(Figures  6 A,  6B).  Reduced  comet-like  blotches 
occur  in  A,  (51)  thalassochromus ,  described  by 
Vermueulen  and  Junau  (2007)  as  a  few  tiny 
dark  spots  with  a  yellow  halo  scattered  below 
the  periphery,  although  some  of  these  haloed 
dots  occur  above  the  periphery  (images: 
anonymous).  However,  the  holotype  figure 
shows  small  comet-like  blotches  similar  to  those 
of  A.  (5.)  coeruleus  (Figure  9;  Vermueulen  and 
Junau,  2007)  (Figure  6E). 


Figure  6.  Comet-like  blotches:  A,  1  A.  (5.)  angulatm  (A,  lectotype  fig.  3H,  and  B  paraleetotype  fig.  31,  Sutcharit  et  al. ,  2015):  C  A.  ( S .) 
coeruleus  (holotype,  Clench  &  Archer,  1932);  and  D  A.  (S.)  thalassochromus  (holotype,  Vermueulen  &  Junau,  2007).  Degraded  and 
reduced  comet-like  blotches:  E  degraded,  A.  (S.)  sinistralis  (lectotype  fig.  14G,  Sutcharit  et  al ,  2015);  and  F  reduced,  A.  (S.)  quadrasi 
versicolor  (paraleetotype  fig.  15G;  Sutcharit  et  ah,  2015). 


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Comet-like  blotches  are  rarely  very  small  and 
generally  occur  in  a  degraded  or  reduced  form 
on  shells  of  A.  (S.)  quadrasi  and  its  subspecies, 
and  species  in  the  groups  of  A.  (S.)  contrarius 
and  A.  (S.)  sinistralis.  The  degraded  markings 
consist  of  a  dot  connected  to  a  same-coloured 
adapertural  line,  and  both  are  commonly 
translucent  grey,  but  also  brown  or  black.  This 
line  can  be  thin  to  thick  and  short  to  long,  and 
sometimes  separated  from  the  dot  by  a  small 
gap.  The  more  common  reduced  markings  are 
simple  dots  of  the  same  colour  (grey,  brown  or 
black),  sometimes  with  a  creamy  halo. 

The  ghostly  submedial  band  of  A.  ( S .)  stevenliei 
n.  §p.  with  its  slightly  darker  borders  is  a 
decoloured  version  of  that  seen  in  A.  (S.) 
contrarius:  narrow  yellow  band  between  or 
bordered  by  black  bands.  A.  (S.)  quadrasi 
subspecies  have  dark  bands  bordering  a  yellow 


band  that  is  complete,  obsolescent  or  absent,  or 
all  three  bands  absent.  A  (5.)  coemleus  lacks  all 
three  bands  (Figures  7C,  7D).  Some  colour 
forms  and  subspecies  of  A.  (S.)  adamsii  have  a 
narrow,  yellow  submedial  band,  sometimes 
bordered  by  dark  bands.  A,  (S.)  anguiatus  has  a 
narrow  to  wide,  whitish  or  pale  yellow 
submedial  band  bordered  by  chestnut  or  purple 
bands  (Figures  7 A,  7B).  A  ($,)  thalassochromus 
(Figure  7E)  only  has  a  thin,  dark  green  or 
purplish  submedial  band,  and  sometimes  has  a 
same-coloured  thin  supermedial  band  above  the 
periphery,  which  is  yellow  and  narrow  on  A.  (5.) 
contrarius  and  A.  (S'.)  adamsii .  This  band  is 
wider  and  uncoloured  for  A.  (5.)  quadrasi 
subspecies,  and  absent  in  A.  (S.)  stevenliei  n.  sp., 
A.  (5.)  anguiatus  and  A.  (S.)  coemleus.  A.  (5.)  q. 
everetti  also  commonly  has  a  pale  lemon  or 
creamy  preapertural  band  that  appears  white 
inside,  and  absent  in  the  other  species. 


Figure  7.  Nearest  relatives  of  A.  ( S .)  stevenliei  n.  sp.:  A,  B  A.  ( S, .)  anguiatus  (A  lectotype  fig.  3H;  H  35.1  mm  and  B  paraleetotype  fig. 
31;  Sutcharit  et  al,  2015);  C  A.  (S.)  coemleus  (holotype,  H  44.5  mm,  Clench  &  Archer,  1932);  D  A.  (S.)  coemleus  (Laidlaw  &  Solem, 
1961);  and  E  A.  ( S .)  thalassochromus  (holotype,  H  32  mm,  Vermueulen  &  Junau,  2007). 


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Even  at  foil  maturity,  the  parietal  tubercles  of  A. 
{S.)  stevenliei  n.  sp.  are  less  developed  than 
mature  parietal  tubercles  of  A.  ( S .)  laevus 
janetabbasae  (Parsons,  2014).  A  mature  P-L 
tubercle  is  flatter  and  lacks  a  gap  or  groove 
separating  it  from  the  lip  like  that  of  A.  (S.) 
contrarius .  A  similar  P-L  tubercle  is  found  in  A. 
(S.)  laevus  janetabbasae ,  A.  (S.)  maculatus 
(Fulton,  1896),  A.  ( S .)  sinistralis,  A.  (S.)  q. 
quadrasi,  A.  (S.)  q.  dubius,  A.  (S.)  q.  everetti,  A. 
(S.)  q.  solidus  and  A.  (S. )  q.  versicolor.  The 
same  type  of  falcate  P-C  tubercle  formation 
occurs  in  A.  (S.)  beccarii  (Tapparone-Canefri, 
1883),  A.  ( S .)  q.  quadrasi,  A.  (S.)  q.  everetti  and 
A.  (S.)  q.  versicolor.  However,  the  falcate  P-C 
tubercle  of  A.  (S.)  laevus  janetabbasae  has  the 
margin  thickened  before  the  base.  This  also 
occurs  in  A.  (S'.)  beccarii,  A.  (S.)  q.  dubius,  A. 
(S.)  q.  everetti,  A.  (S.)  q.  solidus  and  A.  (S.)  q. 
versicolor.  In  contrast,  A.  ( S. .)  q.  everetti  and  A. 
(S.)  q.  versicolor  may  instead  develop  a  curved 
or  straightened  ridge,  like  a  flatter  version  of 
that  in  A.  (S.)  kuehni  (von  Moellendorff,  1902). 

Ignoring  tonal  or  colour  variation,  many  species 
of  the  A.  (S.)  adamsii  group  display  a  single 
type  of  periostracal  coloration.  However,  some 
species  are  like  A.  (S.)  stevenliei  n.  sp.  and  have 
two  types,  and  a  few  others  have  three  or  even 
four  types.  A  superscript  number  following  a 
species  name  indicates  the  number  of 
periostracal  types  that  species  displays. 
Periostracum  is  plain,  buff  or  pale  tawny  in  A. 
(S.)  adamsii,  A.  (S.)  hamatus  (Fulton,  1896),  A. 
(S.)  angulatus2,  A.  (8.)  q.  quadrasi3,  A.  (S.)  q. 
dubius,  A.  (S.)  q.  everetti 2  and  A.  (S.)  q. 
versicolor 4.  Viridine-yellow  periostracum  with 
lettuce-green  collabral  lines  occurs  in  A.  (S.)  q. 
quadrasi3,  A.  ( S .)  q.  solidus,  A.  ( S .)  q. 
versicolor4  and  A.  (S.)  angulatus2.  The 
periostracum  of  A.  (S.)  q.  quadrasi3  may  also  be 
pale  buff  with  darker  collabral  lines  and  that  of 
A.  (5.)  q.  everetti 2  olive  buff  with  deep  olive 
collabral  lines.  A.  (S'.)  q.  versicolor4  may  also 


have  a  primrose-yellow  periostracum  that  has  a 
plain,  dark  greenish-olive  wedge  behind  the  lip, 
or  a  viridine-yellow  wedge  with  darker  lines. 

Adult  shells  of  A.  (S.)  stevenliei  n.  sp.  display 
variability  in  angularity  or  roundness  of  the 
periphery.  This  contrasts  with  its  closest 
relatives  where  the  periphery  is:  rounded  for  A. 
(S.)  coeruleus,  obsoletely  subangular  on  A.  (S.) 
angulatus  and  obtusely  angular  on  A.  (S.) 
thalassochromus.  A.  (S.)  stevenliei  n.  sp.  is 
easily  separated  from  those  three  species  by 
shell  and  animal  coloration,  although  most 
similar  in  pattern  to  A.  (S.)  coeruleus.  Those 
three  species  have  a  white  lip  and  columella 
contrasting  with  vivid  magenta  in  A.  (S.) 
stevenliei  n.  sp.,  yet  all  four  species  have  a 
similar  appearance  in  the  lip,  columella, 
aperture  shape  and  umbilicus. 

The  upper  whorls  of  A.  ( S .)  stevenliei  n.  sp.  are 
quite  variable  in  colour;  commonly  with  an 
evanescent,  pink  apicosuperior  fillet  on  the 
protoconch  and  grey  or  pinkish  streaks  early  on 
the  teleoconch.  The  apex  is  whitish,  greyish, 
cream  or  rarely  pink,  but  never  dark  coloured. 
Whereas,  the  upper  whorls  of  A.  (S.)  angulatus, 
A.  (5.)  coeruleus  and  A.  ( S .)  thalassochromus 
are  whitish,  creamy  or  brownish  with  brown 
stripes  or  flammules,  which  are  forked  above  or 
not.  These  markings  change  colour  mid-spire: 
bluish  grey  or  purplish  grey  for  A.  ( S .) 
angulatus,  dark  bluish  grey  for  A  (S.)  coeruleus', 
and  yellowish  green,  bluish  purple  or  brownish 
purple  for  A.  (S.)  thalassochromus.  The  stripes 
remain  brown  only  in  A.  (S.)  angulatus. 

All  three  congeners  show  a  change  in  ground 
colour  through  modification  of  pattern  on  the 
lower  whorls.  A  paler  suffusion  appears  in  the 
interspaces  of  the  markings,  which  become 
obsolete  or  coalesce  on  or  before  the  last  whorl. 
Streaks  or  flecks  of  original  ground  colour 
appear  randomly  on  A.  ( S .)  coeruleus  and 


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sometimes  form  the  interspaces  of  a 
supraperipheral  spot-band  on  A.  ( S .) 
thalassochromus.  Both  of  these  species  tend  to 
have  a  paler  and  greyed  superior  zone  below  the 
suture.  In  A.  (S.)  adamsii ,  this  superior  zone  is  a 
paler  hue,  whitish  or  bluish  grey  depending  on 
the  colour  form.  In  contrast,  A.  (S'.)  stevenliei  n. 
sp.  does  not  have  the  ground  colour  change  by 
pattern  modification,  although  the  base  is  darker. 
The  base  is  also  darker  in  A.  (S.)  angulatus  and 
in  A.  (S.)  thalassochromus ,  and  both  have  a 
narrow,  yellow  submedial  band,  which  is  absent 
in  A.  (S.)  stevenliei  n.  sp.  and  A  (S.)  coeruleus. 

In  summary,  A.  (S.)  coeruleus  has  a  similar 
primary  pattern  on  lower  whorls,  but  differs 
from  A.  (S.)  stevenliei  n.  sp.  in  having  a  bluish- 
grey  ground  created  by  suffusion  of  stripe 
pigment  on  the  spire.  A.  (S.)  stevenliei  n.  sp.  is 
easily  separated  from  A.  (S.)  angulatus  and  A. 
(S.)  thalassochromus  by  a  different  primary 
pattern  on  lower  whorls  of  comet-like  blotches 
on  a  pale  lemon  or  pinkish-brown  ground,  and 
by  differences  in  animal  coloration.  In  A.  (S.) 
coeruleus ,  A.  (S.)  angulatus  and  A.  (S.) 
thalassochromus  the  lip  and  columella  are  white 
and  the  interior  is  dark  livid  purple  to  slate  grey. 
For  A.  (S.)  stevenliei  n.  sp.  the  lip  and  columella 
are  glossy,  vivid  magenta  and  the  interior  is 
lemon  yellow. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

I  would  like  to  thank  John  Abbas  and  Steven 
Lie  for  the  supply  of  the  types  and  extra 
material,  Steven  Lie  for  photos  of  the  live  snails 
and  John  Abbas  for  photos  of  additional 
specimens.  I  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  the 
following  people:  Jonathan  Ablett,  Curator  (of 
Non-Marine  Mollusca  and  Cephalopoda, 
Division  of  Invertebrates,  Zoology  Department) 
(NHMUK);  and  Virginie  Heros,  Chargee  de 
conservation  collection  Mollusques  (MNHN) 
for  assistance  in  depositing  type  material. 


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ISSUE  2 


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http  ://www.  1  ib.  utexas .  edu/  maps/imw/txu- 
pclmaps-oclc-6599452-bandjermasin-sa- 
50.jpg  [Accessed:  5  Feb  2015] 

Vermueulen,  J.J.  and  D.J.  Junau.  2007.  Bukit 
Sarang  (Sarawak,  Malaysia),  and  isolated 
limestone  hill  with  an  extraordinary  snail 
fauna,  Basteria  71  (4-6):  209-220; 
Amphidromus  thalassochromus  pp.  217  & 
219,  fig.  9. 


Have  a  shell  collection  you  would  like  to 
donate  or  devise? 

The  San  Diego  Shell  Club  is  interested  in  high 
quality  estate  shell  collections.  As  a  501c(3) 
organization  all  donations  to  our  Club  may  provide  a 
tax  write-off.  When  we  receive  a  donation  we 
carefully  record  each  item  and  provide  a  letter 
describing  the  items  for  use  when  filing  your  taxes. 
While  we  cannot  provide  a  value,  donations  of  up  to 
$5,000  do  not  require  a  written  appraisal.  Since  tax 
laws  change  regularly  we  recommend  that  you 
check  with  your  tax  accountant  before  relying  on 
any  information  provided  in  this  paragraph.  We  are 
interested  in  all  types  of  shells,  marine  or  land  and 
all  genera  and  species,  books  on  shells  as  well  as 
items  related  to  shells  such  as  artwork,  storage  cases 
and  tools.  Your  items  will  be  used  to  generate 
income  to  support  the  Club’s  efforts  in  continuing 
Public  education  about  shells  and  conservation  of 
marine  life  throughout  the  world.  If  you  would  like 
to  donate,  please  contact  Dave  Waller,  SDSC 
Acquisition  Chairperson,  at  dwaller@dbwipmg.com 
to  schedule  a  time  to  discuss  charitable  gifting. 


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CLUB  NEWS 

February  20,  2016,  Regular  Meeting,  751  Raintree  Drive,  Carlsbad,  CA 

•  Meeting  called  to  order  at  12:37  p.m. 

•  Pizza  and  soda  were  provided 

•  Speaker  Sabrina  Medrano,  Cal  Poly  Pomona,  gave  a  talk  on  Caliphyllidae 

•  Treasurer’s  report  was  given 

•  Editors  report  was  given 

•  Shells  were  displayed  and  shells  were  offered  for  sale 

•  David  Berschauer  gave  a  brief  talk  on  Busyconidae 

•  The  door  prize  went  to  Rick  Negus 

•  Library  books  discussed,  list  to  be  published  online 

•  Announced  that  Paul  Tuskes  would  be  giving  a  talk  on  Florida  land  snails  next  month 

•  Meeting  adjourned  at  1:58  p.m. 


March  17,  2016,  Regular  Meeting,  Casa  del  Prado  room  104,  San  Diego,  CA 


•  Meeting  called  to  order  at  7:35  p.m. 

•  Excellent  talk  on  Liguus  land  snails  was  given  by  Paul  Tuskes 

•  Treasurer’s  report  was  given  by  Dave  Waller 

•  Editor’s  report  was  given 

•  Library  report  was  given  by  Paul  Tuskes 

•  Paul  arranged  all  the  library  books  in  order  by  geographic  area 

•  Social  Media  report  -  630  members  on  Facebook 

•  New  committees  for  projects  were  discussed 

•  Club  pins  and  mugs  are  available  for  sale  now 

•  Honorary  members  discussed  -  Ken  &  Marge  Lindahl  were 
voted  in  as  Honorary  Members 

•  Shell  Show  discussed  -  Prototype  display  cases  were  displayed 
and  discussed 

•  Paul  Tuskes  brought  Liguus  species  to  sell  for  the  Club 

•  Books  were  made  available  for  sale  from  the  Club  library 

•  Shells  were  displayed  and  offered  for  sale 

•  Announced  that  the  annual  April  potluck  and  shell  auction 
would  take  place  next  month 

•  Meeting  was  adjourned  at  8:58  p.m. 


April  16,  2016  -  Annual  April  Potluck  and  Auction 

•  In  lieu  of  regular  meeting.  See  article  on  p.  136 


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Green  Abalone  Restoration:  A  Recipe  for  Success 

Nancy  Caruso,  Marine  Biologist 
Nancv@GetInspiredInc.org 

“Get  Inspired”  is  a  501c3  nonprofit  organization  with  a  mission  to  Inspire  stewardship  and  curiosity 
for  the  natural  world  through  the  exploration  of  science.  We  do  this  through  our  many  hands  on 
science  programs  for  adults  and  children.  Nancy  Caruso,  marine  biologist  and  founder  has  been 
working  to  restore  the  kelp  forest  community  of  Orange  County  for  the  last  14  years.  We  have 
taught  over  10,000  students  to  grow  giant  kelp,  white  seabass,  and  green  abalone  in  their  classrooms 
which  were  outplanted  and  monitored  in  the  ocean  by  our  trained  team  of  more  than  250  volunteer 
divers.  We  have  successfully  restored  giant  kelp  forests  in  Orange  County  to  historical  densities 
(1913),  released  300  white  seabass,  and  completed  a  green  abalone  outplanting  pilot  study  with  much 
success. 


Volunteers  entering  the  water  for  an  abalone  survey.  Kids  showing  off  newly  collected  abalone  broodstock. 

Photo  credit  Nancy  Caruso  Photo  credit  Nancy  Caruso 


Seven  abalone  species  once  teemed  the  shores  of  California  creating  a  multi-million  dollar  fishing 
industry  employing  thousands  of  people.  The  abalone  was  once  as  iconic  to  California  cuisine  as  the 
lobster  is  to  New  England’s  fare.  These  animals  were  harvested  for  over  100  years  with  the 
commercial  limit,  at  one  time,  being  120  dozen  (1440  abalone)  per  day.  It  was  said  that  the  reefs 
looked  like  cobblestone  streets  (paved  with  abalone).  Eventually  after  a  century  of  mismanagement 
and  the  final  blow  of  introduced  disease,  the  fishery  collapsed  and  we  are  now  left  with  2  endangered 
species,  3  species  of  concern,  1  species  with  unknown  status,  and  1  species  that  is  still  providing  with 
a  very  limited  recreational  fishery  in  Northern  California.  Commercial  harvesting  of  abalone  was 
halted  in  1997,  however,  since  the  closure;  none  of  the  species  have  recovered  to  meet  the  minimal 
population  densities  for  successful  species  recovery.  The  status  of  the  endangered  white  abalone  is 
bleak  with  only  30  known  individuals  left  on  the  planet. 


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Haliotis  fulgens,  a.k.a.  Green  abalone.  Photo  credit  Nancy  Caruso 


California’s  seven  abalone  species  each  have  different  ranges  and  habitats  along  our  coast.  Often 
difficult  to  identify,  abalone  species  are  differentiated  by  their  shell  shape,  color  of  the  tentacles, 
number  of  respiratory  pores,  color  of  the  mantle,  and  the  texture  of  the  shell.  The  shell  is  not  usually 
clean  unlike  the  farm  raised  green  abalone  see  in  the  picture  above.  When  ordering  abalone  in  a 
restaurant,  ask  to  see  the  shell,  a  very  clean  shell  is  a  good  indicator  that  the  animal  was  not  taken 
illegally  but  instead,  grown  on  a  farm. 

Black  abalone  are  an  endangered  species  and  inhabit  the  intertidal  to  shallow  subtidal  areas  south  of 
San  Francisco  to  Baja  California,  Mexico. 

Green  and  Pink  abalone  are  both  found  south  of  Point  Conception  to  Baja  California,  Mexico  in  5- 
40’  of  water. 

Flat  abalone  range  from  British  Columbia  to  Southern  California  and  live  at  10-70’  of  water. 

Pinto  abalone  are  found  from  San  Diego  to  Alaska  in  the  intertidal  zone  down  to  70’  feet. 

Red  abalone  are  found  from  Southern  Oregon  to  Baja  California,  Mexico.  In  the  North  they  are 
found  in  shallow  water  to  60’  and  in  the  Southern  range  they  are  often  found  deeper  to  60’.  A  very 
limited  recreational  fishery  still  exists  in  Northern  California  counties. 


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White  abalone  are  endangered  and  range  from  Point  conception  to  Baja  California,  Mexico,  usually 
found  in  deeper  waters  from  60’-  100’. 

Being  a  snail  and  being  prized  for  their  sweet  meat,  the  abalone  was  doomed.  They  cannot  swim 
away  from  predators  (humans),  their  only  defense  is  to  clamp  their  shell  down  to  the  reef  on  which 
they  live.  To  a  non-tool  using  animal,  that  would  be  a  perfect  defense  but  humans  use  crowbars  to 
pry  the  abalone  from  the  rocks.  A  large  red  abalone  can  reach  10”  and  can  feed  several  people. 

Those  that  are  willing  to  brave  the  frigid,  murky-green,  northern  California  waters  to  free  dive 
amongst  the  great  whites  along  the  surging  coast  can  still  enjoy  a  wild  caught  abalone  meal.  Others, 
who  may  not  have  the  courage,  can  buy  the  tasty  meat  from  abalone  farms. 

Abalone  are  endangered  or  threatened  where  ever  they  are  found  around  the  globe  and  efforts  are 
underway  worldwide  to  end  the  multi-million  dollar  underground  business  of  poaching  them.  A  large 
abalone  can  fetch  $80  or  more  on  the  black  market.  It  is  hard  to  enforce  the  take  of  abalone  along 
vast  swaths  of  coastline,  in  remote  locations,  and  at  night  where  law  enforcement  patrols  find  it  hard 
to  reach.  In  California,  it  is  said  that  the  number  of  abalone  taken  illegally  is  equal  to  the  number  of 
abalone  taken  legally  each  year. 

Abalone  are  residents  of  the  rocky  kelp  forests  with  kelp  being  the  main  component  of  their  diet. 
They  are  not  active  grazers  but  usually  opportunistic  foragers.  Abalone  often  choose  homes  on  rocks 
that  are  swept  by  currents  and/or  surge  allowing  them  to  catch  drift  kelp  as  it  floats  by. 


Live  abalone.  Photo  Credit  Sandy  Dildine 


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Abalone  reproduce  sexually  having  both  male  and  female  sexes.  The  sexes  can  only  be  identified  by 
visually  observing  their  gonads  which  are  well  protected  under  their  hard  shells.  Males  have  a 
creamy  white  colored  gonad  while  females  have  a  blue  colored  gonad.  Wild  spawning  is  not  well 
understood  in  abalone  but  techniques  have  been  developed  to  spawn  the  animals  in  captive 
conditions  although  success  varies  with  each  species 

rwrrtuz»-no» 

Although  it  is  known  that  they  do  broadcast  their 
gametes  into  the  water  column,  scientists  are  not 
certain  what  triggers  abalone  to  spawn  in  the  wild. 

After  fertilization,  abalone  go  through  three  different 
life  stages  before  becoming  an  adult.  Two  of  these 
lifestages  are  planktonic  called  trocophores  and 
veligers,  at  this  stage  they  are  hard  to  see  with  the 
naked  eye. 

Abalone  life  cycle  (NOAA  Fisheries  -  government  work) 

Larval  and  juvenile  abalone  live  inside  rock  crevices 

and  under  boulders  for  protection  from  predators  which  include  fish,  lobsters,  crabs,  octopus,  and  sea 
stars.  Just  about  everything  in  the  ocean  eats  juvenile  abalone  so  they  stay  well  hidden,  often  only 
moving  around  at  night  under  cover  of  darkness.  As  abalone  grow  larger,  the  predator  list  gets 
shorter  and  the  abalone  become  emergent  (sit  on  top  of  the  reef  and  out  in  the  open). 

China,  Japan,  Australia,  New  Zealand,  Korea,  South  Africa,  and  the  United  States  are  all  trying  to 
restore  their  wild  abalone  populations.  In  the  US,  a  successful  recipe  for  restoration  has  not  yet  been 
discovered.  Scientists  began  working  on  species  recovery  in  Santa  Barbara  in  the  1970’s.  Believe  it 
or  not,  scientists  do  not  ful  ly  understand  how  to  spawn  all  the  species  of  abalone  successfully  and 
then  there  are  complications  with  survival  when  planting  them  out  on  reefs.  There  are  two  different 
techniques  used  for  restoration:  outplanting/seeding  or  translocation.  Translocation  involves 
collecting  wild  abalone  and  aggregating  them  together  to  increase  the  chances  of  a  successful  spawn 
(if  and  when  it  happens).  The  other  technique  involves  hatchery  rearing  larvae,  juveniles,  or  adults, 
and  then  releasing  them  in  the  wild.  Neither  of  these  techniques  has  proven  effective.  Almost  all  of 
the  previous  outplanting  projects  have  used  small  (<3”)  animals  because  the  time  involved  in 
growing  them  to  a  larger  size  usually  exceeds  the  grant  funding  period. 

In  2009,  Get  Inspired  requested  permission  from  the  California  Department  of  Fish  and  Wildlife  to 
do  the  first  abalone  outplanting  in  California  attempted  since  the  1990’s.  The  permitting  process 
took  3  years  and  in  2013,  Get  Inspired  was  issued  the  first  abalone  restocking  permit  in  nearly  20 
years  in  California.  We  decided  to  test  the  hypothesis  that  outplanting  large  (>14cm)  adult  abalone 
would  yield  higher  rate  of  survival  given  their  large  size;  the  animals  would  have  fewer  predators. 

The  test  was  successful  and  we  achieved  40%  survival  at  the  end  of  our  15  month  outplanting  project. 
This  is  notable  in  that  no  study  had  gone  as  long  or  had  such  a  high  number  of  survivors.  With  this 
recipe  we  believe  we  can  restore  the  green  abalone  population  in  Southern  California  with  our  Green 
Abalone  Restoration  Project.  Just  like  all  of  our  other  restoration  projects,  it  must  involve  the 
community  in  order  to  create  lasting  committed  change  and  we  plan  to  involve  and  inspire  millions 
of  people  to  do  just  that. 


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The  Green  Abalone  Restoration  Project  is  underway!  In  November  we 
located  and  collected  40  wild  adult  green  abalone  from  an  undisclosed 
area  (with  permits)  and  unfortunately,  it  looked  as  if  the  animals  had 
literally  been  starving.  There  has  not  been  any  giant  kelp  (their  primary 
food  source)  since  2014  on  most  reefs  in  that  area.  The  abalone  were  at 
least  8  years  old  and  they  had  no  gonads!  On  a  gonad  rating  scale,  they 
were  rated  0-1  out  of  3.  That  means  that  they  have  not  had  enough 
nutrition  to  put  energy  into  developing  eggs  and  sperm.  Most  likely,  they 
have  not  spawned  for  2  years  and  the  population  just  declined  again! 
Needless  to  say,  it  was  very  difficult  to  sex  the  abalone  so  we  really  don’t 
know  how  many  of  each  sex  was  collected  yet. 


GREEN  ABALONE 


RESTORATION  PROJECT 


Checking  abalone  gonads.  Photo  credit  Nancy  Caruso 


Gonad 


After  each  collection  day,  we  transported  the  animals  down  to  Dana  Point  to  the  Ocean  Institute  in 
Dana  Point  (A  project  Partner).  They  are  being  fed  fresh  kelp  every  day  by  the  Ocean  Institute’s 
staff  and  volunteers  in  the  hopes  of  getting  their  gonads  to  develop  for  this  year’s  spawning.  It  is 
thought  that  abalone  generally  spawn  twice  during  the  summer  months  so  we  are  hopeful  that  we  can 
spawn  twice  this  summer  in  June  and  July.  In  May,  we  will  be  transporting  the  abalone  up  to  The 
Cultured  Abalone,  a  commercial  farm.  We  have  partnered  with  this  business  to  spawn  and  raise  our 
baby  abalone. 


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The  plan  is  to  raise  the  abalone  on  the  farm  for  1  year  and  then  transfer  as  many  as  100,000  of  them 
to  schools,  aquariums  and  museums  that  have  the  capacity  to  hold  them  and  grow  them  for  4-9  more 
years.  Starting  in  the  5th  year,  we  will  start  outplanting  the  abalone.  At  this  size  they  are  less  likely 
to  be  eaten  and  they  will  be  reproductive.  Successive  outplantings  will  continue  up  until  age  10. 

This  will  enable  us  to  see  at  what  year  we  get  the  best  survival.  It  may  be  possible  to  get  the  same 
survival  at  6  years  old  as  we  do  at  10  years  old,  then  we  will  know  we  don’t  need  to  hold  them  as 
long  for  outplanting.  We  are  looking  for  the  “sweet  spot”  in  abalone  age  that  yields  the  least  amount 
of  effort  and  the  greatest  success. 

Since  few  individuals  under  the  age  of  40  even  know  what  an  abalone  is,  the  goal  is  to  educate  and 
engage  the  public  through  education  in  the  museums  and  aquariums  and  the  kids  will  have  the  hands 
on  job  of  raising  them  in  their  classroom.  Kids  will  leam  water  chemistry,  abalone  biology  and 
ecology.  The  kids  will  be  creating  and  maintaining  their  own  nurseries  in  their  classrooms  even 
making  artificial  seawater.  We  have  already  piloted  this  in  10  schools.  Hundreds  of  adult  volunteer 
divers  will  help  with  the  outplanting  and  monitoring.  Our  goal  is  for  millions  of  people  to  leam  the 
story  of  the  abalone.  This  story  is  an  important  one  with  the  theme  being  that  in  the  span  of  one 
human  lifetime,  we  have  nearly  eaten  an  animal  to  extinction  BUT  we  have  the  ability  to  turn  it 
around  and  restore  them  if  we  all  care  and  work  together.  It  gives  us  a  chance  to  understand  what 
we  are  capable  of  if  we  choose  diversity  and  sustainability  and  maybe,  just  maybe  we  can  keep  this 
from  happening  again. 

Resources  /  Contact  Information: 

www.gofiindme.com/abalone  to  see  a  promo  video  and  contribute  to  the  project. 
www.GetInspiredinc.org  to  leam  more  about  our  organization 
Nancv@GetInspiredInc.org  or  call  (714)  206-5147  to  contact  Nancy  Camso 


West  Coast  Shell  Show  -  May  21st  -  22nd,  2016 
So,  you  want  to  participate  in  the  West  Coast  Shell  Show  but  think  that 
you  can’t  because  you  don’t  have  a  display  box?  The  San  Diego  Shell 
Club  has  solved  your  problem.  The  Club  has  built  a  limited  number  of 
display  boxes  for  use  by  members.  The  boxes  are  20  inches  by  20  inches 
(and  5.5  inches  high)  in  their  interior  dimensions,  with  an  acrylic  top  and  a 
locking  mechanism.  These  display  boxes  will  be  made  available  on  a  first 
come,  first  served  basis  to  either  rent  ($5  per  box  for  the  show)  or 
purchase  ($50  per  box). 


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The  Living  and  Fossil  Busycon  Whelks:  Iconic  Mollusks  of 
Eastern  North  America 

by  Edward  J.  Petuch,  Robert  F.  Myers,  and  David  P.  Berschauer 

Published  2015.  The  San  Diego  Shell  Club,  Inc.  Illustrated  in 
high  color  resolution  photographs  by  Robert  F.  Myers.  $80 

Review  by  Tammy  L.  Myers 
henrvlimpet@cox.net 

This  book  fully  unravels  the  Busycon  Whelks  with 
up-to-date  information  and  full  page  color  plates.  The 
color  plates  are  exact  to  the  species  color.  Easy  read 
with  evolution  details,  histories  and  map  localities 
making  it  a  great  visual  guide.  Well  organized  and 
breaks  down  each  species  to  genus.  No  flipping  back 
and  forth  of  pages  with  photo  id’s  under  pictures  and 
each  section  also  includes  photos  of  variant  species. 

Seventeen  (17)  living  species  are  discussed:  Busycon 
carica,  eliceans,  Sinistrojulgur  sinstrum,  laeostomum, 
pulleyi,  perversum,  Lindafulgur  candelabrum,  lyonsi, 

Busycoarctum  coar datum,  Busycotypus  canaliculatus, 

Fulguropsis  spiratus,  rachelcarsonae,  keysensis, 
pyruloides,  plagosus,  plagosus  galvestonensis, 
texanus.  Sixteen  (16)  living  in  the  Eastern  US  coastal 
waters  and  one  species  endemic  to  the  Yucatan 
Peninsula  Mexico.  In  1938  Busycotypus 
canaliculatus  (The  Channeled  Whelk)  was 
introduced  by  accident  to  the  San  Francisco  Bay  area 
but  has  been  restricted  to  that  area  due  to  the  cold 
waters  of  the  Pacific.  The  added  facts  in  this  book 
gives  it  a  no-nonsense  approach  and  I  found  this  book 
to  be  excellent  in  detail  and  distribution  references. 

Also  included  in  this  reference  guide  is  a  Living  Busycon  and  Fossil/Paleontology  information  source 
complied  in  a  single  book  which  has  never  been  achieved  taking  the  Busycon  down  to  their  grass  roots. 
Examples  and  photos  of  each  species  are  provided.  Great  for  identification  and  comparison  for  the  fossil 
hunter  and  shell  collector. 

Habitat  ecology  and  feeding  strategies  are  discussed,  including  engulfing  and  “edge  chipping”  methods, 
favorite  foods  and  principle  food  sources  (venerid  clams  genus  Mercenaria)  with  preferred  habitat 
descriptions  and  photos  of  species  in  their  natural  habitat.  This  book  is  very  helpful  in  the  field. 

I  found  this  book  to  be  an  excellent  reference  guide  with  detailed  descriptions  and  accurate  color  photos. 
Bringing  together  Fossil/Paleontology  and  the  living  Busycon  Whelks  in  one  source  makes  this  book 
invaluable  to  the  collector.  This  is  a  special  publication  of  The  San  Diego  Shell  Club,  Inc. 


The  Living  and  Fossil  Busycon  Whelks: 
Iconic  Mollusks  of  Eastern  North  America 


Edward  J.  Petuch,  Robert  F.  Myers,  and  David  P.  Berschauer 


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The  Collector’s  Catch-22 

David  Waller 

505  N.  Willowspring  Dr.,  Encinitas,  California  92024 
dwaller@dbwipmg.com 

In  my  last  article,  I  discussed  the  information  I  collected  on  willing  my  shell  collection  to  a  museum 
or  to  friends  and  family.  In  this  article,  I  relate  my  thoughts  about  donating  during  one’s  lifetime.  I 
like  to  think  of  this  type  of  donating  as  a  downsizing  of  one’s  collection  over  a  period  of  time  as 
opposed  to  just  disposing  of  it  altogether.  This  method  allows  the  collector  to  enjoy  the  pieces  of 
his/her  collection  that  they  value  most  by  retaining  those  particular  specimens  and  divesting 
themselves  of  the  remaining  pieces  in  the  collection.  In  my  case,  it  has  the  added  benefit  of  helping 
to  eliminate  that  vision  of  the  cracked  shell  coffee  table  my  wife  has  promised  to  create  when  I’m 
gone.  Even  with  these  benefits  in  mind,  there  are  problems  and  these  problems  go  to  the  core  of  a 
Collector’s  existence.  The  first  problem  is  convincing  me  that  I  don’t  need  any  more  shells.  This  is 
no  small  task;  a  collector  collects  that’s  what  we  do!  Not  acquiring  more  shells  means  not  collecting. 
The  second  problem  is  the  thought  that  I  can,  or  should,  reduce  the  size  of  my  collection.  This  is 
counter  intuitive  for  a  collector  who  usually  thinks  about  whaf  s  missing  and  how  he/she  is  going  to 
acquire  that  specimen  to  complete  their  collection.  Finally,  the  act  of  giving  those  shells  to  someone 
or  some  organization  raises  the  immediate  knee  jerk  response  “Are  you  crazy?” 

There  are  a  few  extremely  generous  people  in  the  world;  John  Jackson  was  one  of  those  special 
individuals  who  were  able  to  transcend  these  problems.  However,  most  collectors  would  feel  that 
they  were  losing  a  part  of  themselves  when  giving  away  their  shells.  In  Dirty  Rotten  Scoundrels,  a 
movie  starring  Michael  Cane  and  Steve  Martin,  Steve,  being  shown  a  very  prestigious  wine 
collection  asks  “so  you  drink  these  wines?”  to  which  Michael  Cane  replies  “No,  they  are  far  too 
expensive”.  Oh,  so  you  sell  them?  says  Steve.  “Oh,  no  they  mean  too  much  to  me”  replies  Michael. 
This  is  the  Catch-22  that  is  the  collector’s  paradigm.  In  reality,  there  comes  a  time  in  everyone’s  life 
when  divesting  is  a  better  alternative  than  continuing  to  acquire.  This  is  sometimes  difficult  for  a 
collector  to  recognize  and  most  would  have  to  realize  a  strong  incentive  to  make  this  transition. 

The  greatest  incentive  is  usually  money  and  this  can  be  obtained  either  directly  and  indirectly.  A 
direct  method  would  be  selling  your  shells  outright,  while  an  indirect  method  could  be  obtaining  a 
tax  deduction  on  future  tax  returns.  Unfortunately,  there  are  concerns  about  each  of  these  approaches. 
Most  collections  have  enough  shells  to  make  selling  them  individually  a  logistical  nightmare. 
However,  if  you  are  one  of  those  collectors  that  have  only  a  few  high  priced  specimens,  then  I 
recommend  selling  on  Ebay.  If  you  have  not  sold  on  Ebay  before  it  is  relatively  simple.  A  listing 
requires  a  description  and  a  couple  photographs  of  the  shell.  After  selling  the  shell,  payment  is 
usually  received  through  PayPal  and  you  must  then  ship  the  item  to  the  purchaser.  If  things  go  well, 
you  could  quickly  divest  yourself  of  your  shells  and  have  cash  in  your  PayPal  account  for  other 
purchases.  If  they  do  not  go  well,  then  you  will  have  to  deal  with  returns  and  relisting.  With  all  that 
said,  it  is  my  personal  feeling  that,  if  the  shell  is  not  being  listed  at  a  starting  price  of  $25  or  more, 
then  it  is  not  worth  all  the  effort  of  selling  it  on  Ebay. 


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So  what  about  selling  your  entire  collection  in  a  single  transaction?  Most  collectors  do  not  have  the 
resources  to  purchase  a  collection  at  full  retail  price  so  you  will  likely  be  left  with  selling  to  a  dealer. 
If  you  eventually  decide  on  this,  then  there  are  some  things  that  you  need  to  know.  Dealers  are  in  the 
business  of  selling  shells  and  making  a  profit  doing  so.  Consequently,  they  cannot  offer  market  value 
prices  for  your  collection.  In  addition,  they  cannot  afford  to  have  their  investment  sitting  in  stock 
waiting  to  be  sold  for  several  years.  They  need  this  money  to  continue  to  purchase  new  shells.  So 
here  is  the  general  procedure  that  some  dealers  use  in  evaluating  your  collection  and  making  an  offer. 
They  begin  by  identifying  the  higher  priced  shells  of  the  collection.  Depending  on  the  dealer  they 
could  be  shells  greater  that  $100  or  greater  than  $500.  They  then  evaluate  the  condition  of  each  of 
these  shells  to  determine  its  market  value  based  on  recent  sales.  After  these  values  are  compiled  and 
added  together  most  dealers  will  multiply  this  number  by  0.3  some  will  use  0.25  and  in  some  cases, 
albeit  rare,  0.5.  So  now  I’m  going  to  try  and  guess  your  next  question.  Is  it  “So  what  happens  with 
the  rest  of  the  shells,  those  under  $100  or  $500?  The  disappointing  answer  is,  they  become  part  and 
parcel  of  the  offer  and  are  not  given  any  value.  Here’s  the  logic.  These  shells  have  a  lower  value 
because  their  numbers  are  high  and  they  are  easily  acquired;  most  collectors  have  specimens  of  these 
lower  value  shells;  they  typically  have  a  lower  profit  margin  and  they  will  require  a  significant 
amount  of  time  and  effort  to  sell.  Consequently,  they  are  considered  by  Dealers  as  having  no  or  little 
value.  There  are  some  benefits  to  selling  your  collection  to  a  Dealer.  They  will  take  the  entire 
collection  immediately  and  you  will  have  cash  in  hand  for  your  next  venture  or  adventure. 

The  decision  whether  to  sell  or  donate,  comes  down  to  which  provides  the  best  return.  Selling  can 
give  you,  on  average,  30%  of  the  value  of  the  highest  priced  specimens  in  your  collection.  The 
amount  that  you  could  receive  by  donating  and  taking  a  tax  deduction  depends  on  your  tax  bracket 
and  the  actual  market  value  of  your  shells,  and  in  some  instances,  the  actual  price  that  you  may  have 
paid  for  the  collection  as  a  whole.  In  many  cases,  donating  can  bring  a  higher  return.  When 
considering  the  option  of  receiving  a  tax  deduction  for  the  donation  of  my  collection  I  looked  for 
information  on  the  Internet.  It  is  important  to  remember  that  circumstances  are  different  for  every 
person  and  if  you  are  going  to  donate  for  a  tax  deduction  you  should  check  with  a  tax  accountant  to 
assure  that  you  are  following  the  IRS  rules  and  that  the  donation  will  achieve  your  goals.  That  being 
said,  the  following  guidelines  were  found  on  www.nolo.com: 

1 .  If  you  want  to  claim  a  deduction  for  a  gift  worth  $250  or  more,  get  a  written  receipt  from  the 
charity  that  describes  the  gift.  The  receipt  should  state  whether  or  not  any  goods  or  services  were 
given  to  you  in  exchange  for  your  gift;  if  they  were,  the  receipt  must  describe  them  and  give  an 
estimate  of  their  value. 

2.  If  you  make  a  total  of  more  than  $500  worth  of  noncash  gifts  in  a  calendar  year,  you  must  file  a 

Noncash  Charitable  Contributions  form  8283,  section  A,  with  your  income  tax  return. 

3.  If  you  give  away  property  worth  more  than  $5,000,  you’ll  probably  need  to  get  an  appraisal 
from  an  IRS  “qualified  appraiser”  (see  the  IRS  guidelines  for  a  qualified  appraiser)  and  file  a 
Noncash  Charitable  Contributions  form  8283,  section  B,  which  must  be  signed  by  you,  the 
appraiser  and  the  charity.  An  appraisal  is  required  whether  you  donate  one  big  item  or  several 


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“similar  items”  that  have  a  total  value  of  more  than  $5,000.  For  example,  if  you  give  away  a 
hundred  valuable  old  books,  and  their  total  value  is  more  than  $5,000,  you’ll  need  an  appraisal 
even  though  you  might  think  you’re  really  making  a  lot  of  small  gifts.  The  rule  applies  even  if 
you  give  the  items  to  different  charities. 

With  these  classifications,  the  IRS  provides  a  number  of  donating  options  and  for  many  Collectors 
that  option  will  usually  be  the  one  that  requires  the  least  amount  of  paperwork.  However,  this  poses 
problems.  The  primary  problem  being  that  most  Collectors’  decide  to  divest  their  collections  much 
later  in  life,  usually  after  retirement.  Unfortunately,  with  retirement  usually  comes  decreased  income 
and  less  of  an  opportunity  to  receive  the  most  benefit  from  a  tax  deduction.  Another  problem  is  that 
shell  collections  are  often  comprised  of  shells  that  have  values  close  to  $500,  which  limits  the 
number  of  shells  a  Collector  can  donate  in  a  given  tax  year  with  limited  paperwork.  This  is  a  perfect 
reason  for  contacting  a  tax  consultant  to  set  up  a  plan  to  divest  your  shell  collection  over  a  period  of  a 
few  to  several  years  and  optimize  your  tax  benefit. 

The  incentives  that  can  be  provided  by  your  wife  and  children  were  highlighted  in  my  last  article. 
Another  incentive  came  to  light  when  writing  this  article.  I  remember  the  sparkle  in  my  son’s  eyes 
when  he  found  his  first  shell  on  the  beach.  I  suppose  that  was  the  same  sparkle  in  my  eye  a 
generation  earlier.  The  thought  of  being  able  to  give  that  gift  to  someone  else  is  a  strong  incentive 
indeed.  All-in-all  when  considering  my  own  mortality,  I  find  some  consolation  that  others  who  were 
inspired  by  my  collecting  will  carry  that  same  enthusiasm  to  future  generations. 


Taxonomic  Note:  Presumed  hybrid  Eustrombus  gigas  x  Macrostrombus  costatus. 

Length  169  mm,  south  Andros  Island,  Bahamas.  Coll.  Virgilio  Liverani.  Image  from  recent  paper. 

See :  Liverani,  V. 
and  U.  Wieneke. 
2016. 

Hybridization  in 
the  genus  Lobatus 
(Caenogastropoda: 
Strombidae):  a 
second  record. 
Conchylia; 

Volume  47:1-2. 
(Photo  published 
with  written 
permission  of 
Ulrich  Wieneke 
and  Virgilio 
Liverani.  All 
rights  reserved.) 


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April  Potluck  and  Shell  Auction 
April  16, 2016 

Bob  Abela 

4066  Brant  Street,  Unit  1,  San  Biego,  California  920103 
bob.abela@gmail.com 

My  first  time  with  the  San  Diego  Shell  Club  was  at 

the  2012  annual  shell  auction  and  I  have  not  missed 
one  since.  What  attracts  me  most  is  the  camaraderie 
among  members  and  friends.  Nonetheless,  when 
faced  with  a  table  full  of  specimen  shells  up  for 
auction,  it’s  time  to  bid! 

David  Berschauer  and  Dave  Waller  took  center  stage, 
delighting  all  with  a  range  of  popular  shells.  There 
wasn’t  a  shy  mouse  in  the  house  and  the  bidding  was 
jovial  and  spirited.  During  intermissions,  members 
could  peruse  over  tables  full  of  $5  and  $1  shells  or 
place  bids  on  our  silent  auction  for  books  and  shells. 

Walking  away  empty  handed  was  never  an  option. 

There  was  also  a  table  with  club  offerings  to  include 
some  recent  publications,  the  2016  calendar,  mugs, 
and  pins.  David  Berschauer  also  displayed  one  of  his 
skillfully  built  display  cases  for  members  in  need  of 
one  at  the  upcoming  West  Coast  Shell  Show. 

Many  thanks  to  all  who  contributed  to  the  potluck.  There  were  some  wonderful  dishes  and  desserts! 
Lastly,  a  special  thank  you  to  Wes  Farmer  for  once  again  graciously  hosting  this  event  at  his 
condominium’s  clubhouse.  On  behalf  of  the  entire  Club,  we  had  a  wonderful  time. 


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CASA  DEL  PRADO 

1650  EL  PRADO,  BALBOA  PARK,  SAN  DIEGO,  CA  92101 
ROOM  104  |  SATURDAY  2-9p  |  SUNDAY  9A-7P 


ISSN  0738-9388 


Volume:  48  THE  FESTIVUS  ISSUE  2 


Shell-O-Rama  2016 


David  P.  Berschauer  1  and  David  Waller 2 


1 25461  Barents  Street,  Laguna  Hills,  California  92653 
shellcollection@hotmail.com 
2  505  N.  Willowspring  Dr.,  Encinitas,  California  92024 
dwaller@dbwipmg.com 


On  Saturday,  March  5th,  2016, 
Marty  Beals  hosted  an  annual 
gathering  of  friends  at  Tideline  in 
Los  Angeles.  Approximately 
twenty  people  came  from  Los 
Angeles,  Orange  County,  San 
Diego  and  surrounding  areas  with 
shells  to  show,  share,  and  trade. 
David  Lum  from  Hawaii  made  a 
short  appearance,  and  two  invited 
guests  from  South  Africa  won  the 
“distant  traveler”  award.  Our 
South  African  friends  regaled  us 
with  stories  and  photos  of  marine 
life  from  their  deep  water  technical 
dives  in  South  Africa. 


Shells  galore  covered  Marty’s  sorting  tables  in  the  back  room  of  Tideline,  enough  beautiful  and  rare 
shells  to  delight  even  the  most  accomplished  shelters.  Marty  made  his  famous  back  room  of 

specimen  shells  (the  Abbey) 
available  for  everyone  to  look, 
or  even  purchase  shells.  We 
watched  a  fascinating 
presentation  about  diving  and 
deep  water  marine  life  in  South 
Africa.  The  photography  was 
incredible!  Marty  was  an 
excellent  host  as  usual  and 
served  beverages  and  catered 
lunch  from  a  local  eatery.  The 
day  went  by  all  too  fast  and  it 
was  time  to  go;  until  next  time. 


ISSN  0738-9388 


Volume:  48 


THE  FESTIVUS 


ISSUE  2 


Jose  and  Marcus  Coltro 

Ten 


Cx.P.  15011  Sao  Paulo  -  SP  Brazil  01537-970 

shells@femorale.com 


WWW.FEMORALE.COM 


More  than  130  thousand  pictures,  new  shells  every  week 
from  all  over  the  world,  from  rare  to  common  species. 
Subscribe  to  our  weekly  list  by  e-mail  -  all  shells  with  photos! 
Articles,  collecting  tips,  shell  people,  links  and  much  more. 


Eg] 


$Mk  Club  Conchylia 

German  Shell  Collector’s  Club  e.v. 

Our  journals: 

@  Conchylia 

(f)  Mitteilungen 

d)  Acta  Conchyliorum 

Yearly  subscription  rate:  50.-  € 

Visit  our  site: 

www.club-conchylia.de 

Further  information: 

Klaus  Kittel 

Sonnenrain  10 

D-97859  Wiesthal 

e-mail:  klaus__kittel@hotmail.com 


g/o 


Be  a  member  of  AFC,  the  French  Conchological  Association 
and  receive  free  our  quarterly  magazine  XENOPHORA  and  its 
supplement  Xenophora  Taxonomy,  enjoy  our  various  Shell 
Shows  in  France  all  over  the  year. 

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2  square  La  Fontaine 
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Visit  our  site  www.xenophora.org 

Subscription  Europe :  50  euros 
Other  countries  :  60  euros 
Pay  by  Paypal  at  souscription@xenophora.org 


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Volume:  48 


THE  FESTIVUS 


ISSUE  2 


Collection  Management  System  is  a  museum 

style  database  program  which  enables  a  collector 
to  keep,  organize,  and  maintain  the  individual 
records  and  data  from  their  shell  collection  in  a 
readily  accessible  form.  The  program  is  easy  to 
use,  and  is  menu  driven  by  self-explanatory  pull 
tabs.  Reports  and  labels  are  easy  to  print.  This 
latest  version  is  readily  adaptable  to  work  with 
any  systematic  collection,  including 
malacologists  and  entomologists,  and  runs  in  a 
Windows  operating  environment.  See 
www.shellcollections.com  or  our  page  on 
Facebook  for  more  information. 


Calendar  membership  (Jan  -  Dec)  =  $25  (USA) 
Postal  surcharges:  +  $5  for  USA  first  class, 
Canada  &  Mexico  +  $5,  other  nations  +  $15 

New  members  apply  to  Doris  Underwood,  Membership  Director 
7529  Ensemble  Lane 

Melbourne,  FL  32940-2603  M* 

USA 

dunderwoodl3@cfl.rr.com 

Quarterly  Journal  of  the  Conchologists  of  America,  Inc. 


BACK  COVER:  Live  Barycypraea fultoni  (Sowerby,  1 903) 
on  reef  at  85m,  90  miles  south  of  Durban  off  southern  KwaZulu, 
Natal,  South  Africa,  April  8, 2015.  Photo  by  Valda  Fraser, 
published  with  written  permission.  All  rights  reserved. 

(Cover  artistic  credit:  Rex  Stilwill) 


Barycypraea  fultoni  fultoni  (Sowerby  1903) 


THE 


Festivus 


Vol.  48(3) 


August  2016 


White  Neobernaya  spadicea 
"Cambrian  Explosion"  of  abalone 
A  new  South  African  Marginella 
A  new  olive  from  Indonesia 
Cones,  cones,  and  more  cones 


Quarterly  Publication  of  the  San  Diego  Shell  Club 


ISSN  0738-9388 


THE  FESTIVUS 

A  publication  of  the  San  Diego  Shell  Club 


Volume:  48 


August  2016 


ISSUES 


CLUB  OFFICERS 

President 

Vice-President 

Corresp.  Secretary 

Recording  Secretary 

Treasurer 

Past  President 


David  Berschauer 
Bill  Schramm 
Lisa  Dawn  Lindahl 
Rick  Negus 
David  Waller 
Larry  Buck 


COMMITTEE  CHAIRPERSONS 


Librarian 
Historian 
Parliamentarian 
Co-Editor 
Co-Editor 
Art  Editor 
Publicity  Chair 
Botanical  Garden  Rep. 


Dr.  Paul  Tuskes 
Dr.  Paul  Tuskes 
David  Waller 
David  Berschauer 
David  Waller 
Rex  Stilwill 
David  Berschauer 
Dr.  Wes  Farmer 


MEMBERSHIP  AND  SUBSCRIPTION 
Annual  dues  are  payable  to  the  San  Diego  Shell  Club 
Membership:  Domestic/Foreign  $20  (receive  e-mail  copy 
of  The  Festivus );  Domestic  $35  (receive  The  Festivus  by 
mail).  Foreign/outside  the  continental  United  States  $55 
(receive  a  copy  of  The  Festivus  by  mail).  Single  copies  of 
each  regular  issue  are  $10.00  plus  postage. 


Address  all  correspondence  to: 

The  San  Diego  Shell  Club,  Inc. 

P.O.  Box  230988,  Encinitas,  CA  92023 


REGULAR  CLUB  MEETINGS 

Club  meetings  are  held  on  the  third  Thursday  or  Saturday 
of  the  month,  except  April,  September  and  December,  at 
either  7:30  p.m.  in  Room  104,  Casa  del  Prado,  Balboa 
Park,  San  Diego,  or  at  12:00  noon  at  Holiday  Inn  Express, 
751  Raintree  Dr.,  Carlsbad,  conference  room  or  as  noticed. 


FACEBOOK 

https://www.facebook.com/grouDs/620724271299410/ 


WEBSITE 

http://www.sandiegoshellclub.com 

Submit  comments  or  suggestions  regarding  our  website  to 

our  Webmaster  David  Waller  at  dwaller@dbwipmg.com. 


FRONT  COVER: 

Live  animal  photo  of  Festilyria  africana  (Reeve,  1856),  taken 
by  Valda  Fraser  while  scuba  diving  at  155  feet  off  Port 
Shepstone,  Southern  Kwa-Zulu-Natal  Province,  South  Africa,  on 
June  16,  2016;  photo  used  with  written  permission,  all  rights 
reserved.  (Cover  artistic  credit:  Rex  Stilwill) 


MISSION  STATEMENT 

The  San  Diego  Shell  Club  was  founded  in  1961  as  a  non¬ 
profit  organization  for  educational  and  scientific  purposes. 
More  particularly  to  enjoy,  study  and  promote  the 
conservation  of  Mollusca  and  associated  marine  life 
through  lectures,  club  meetings  and  field  trips.  Our 
membership  is  diverse  and  includes  beginning  collectors, 
scientists,  divers,  underwater  photographers  and  dealers. 

THE  FESTIVUS  is  the  official  quarterly  publication  of  the 
San  Diego  Shell  Club,  Inc.  and  is  issued  as  part  of 
membership  dues  in  February,  May,  August  and 
November.  The  Festivus  publishes  articles  that  are  peer 
reviewed  by  our  volunteer  Scientific  Peer  Review  Board, 
as  well  as  articles  of  general  interest  to  malacologists, 
conchologists,  and  shell  collectors  of  every  level. 

Members  of  the  Peer  Review  Board  are  selected  to  review 
individual  articles  based  upon  their  chosen  field  of 
expertise  and  preference.  Available  by  request  or  on  our 
website  are: 

•  Guidelines  for  Authors 

•  Guidelines  for  the  Description  of  New  Taxa 

Submit  articles  to  Editor,  David  Berschauer,  at 
shellcollection@hotmail.com 


All  correspondence  pertaining  to  articles,  including  all 
submissions  and  artwork  should  be  addressed  to  the 
Editorial  Board. 

ADVERTISING  in  The  Festivus  is  presented  as  a  service 
to  our  membership  and  to  supplement  publication  costs. 
Advertising  does  not  imply  endorsement  by  the  San 
Diego  Shell  Club,  Inc.  or  its  officers.  Advertising  space  is 
available  at  the  following  rates:  Black  and  White  -  Vi 
page  $300,  %  page  $150,  or  Vs  page  $75,  Color  -  Vi  page 
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UPCOMING  CLUB  EVENTS: 

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December  Party:  12/10/16 


Publication  date:  August  1, 2016 


Volume:  48 


THE  FESTIVUS 


ISSUE  3 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

Peer  Reviewed  Articles 

•  White  Chestnut  Cowrie  Neobemaya  spadicea  ........... ................................. . . . ........ 

By  Paul  Tuskes 

•  Haliotis  arabiensis  Owen  etal ,  2016  specimens  from  Oman  in  the  ...................... 

Naturaiis  Museum,  Leiden,  The  Netherlands,  Incorrectly  Identified 

as  H.  varia  Linnaeus,  1758,  and  H.  pustulata  Reeve,  1846 
By  Buzz  Owen  &  Wilco  Regter 

•  Description  of  a  new  species  of  Marginella :  Marginelia  spadix  from  the  East ......... 

Coast  Province,  South  Africa 

By  Stephan  G.  Veldsman 

•  The  “Cambrian  Explosion”  -  a  study  of  the  abnormally  large  population  of .......... . 

Haliotis  kamtschatkana  kamtschatkano  /  kamtschatkana  assimilis  “intergrades” 
following  species  decline  due  to  several  years  of  unusually  warm  temperatures 

in  San  Luis  Obispo  County,  California 
By  Buzz  Owen 

•  Nutricola  lordi  (Baird,  1 863)  [Bivalvia:  Veneridae]  depth  extension  recorded  ......... 

in  Puget  Sound,  Washington 

By  Angela  Eagleston  and  Paul  Valentich-Scott 

•  Viduoliva  tricolor  abbasi ,  new  subspecies  (GastropodaiOlividae)  from  Indonesia 

By  Nguyen  Ngoc  Thach  and  David  P.  Berschauer 

•  Five  New  Species  of  Jaspidiconus  Petuch,  2004  (Conilithidae:  Coeilithinae)  from  . . 
the  Caribbean  Molluscan  Province 

By  Edward  J.  Petuch,  David  P.  Berschauer,  and  Andre  Poremski 

•  Some  spotted  cone  shells  (subfamily  Conilithinae)  from  the  East  Pacific  region  ...... 

By  John  K.  Tucker 

•  A  New  Species  of  Miliariconus  Tucker  and  Teeorio,  2009  (Coeidae:  Puncticulieae) 
from  the  Northern  Red  Sea 

By  Edward  J.  Petuch  and  David  P.  Berschauer 
Club  News  ............................................................................................................................. 

Articles  of  General  Interest 

•  Olive  Shells  Don’t  Care  What  You  Call  Them  ....................................................... 

By  Richard  L.  Goldberg 

•  Red  Abalone  Out  Plant  Project  ......................................................................... 

By  Aijay  Kaffety 

•  Attack  Behavior  of  the  King  Helmet  Cassis  tuber os  a  and  Avoidance  Behavior ........ 

of  the  Long-Spine  Sea  Urchin  Diadema  antillamm 

By  Paul  Tuskes 

•  Diving  the  Horseshoe  .................................................................................... 

By  Paul  Kanner 

•  West  Coast  Shell  Show » 2016  ....................................................................... 

By  Lisa  Dawn  Lindahl 

•  Dad  they’re  just  shells  . . . .  . . .  . . 

By  David  Waller 

Editor’s  Note:  Errata  and  Updates 


..  p.  145 
..  p.  148 

.  p.  152 

P  159 


p.  166 
.p.  168 

p.  172 

p.  179 
,p.  183 

p,  188 

,p.  189 
.p.  193 
.  p.  199 

.  p.  202 

.  p.  204 

.  p.  206 

.  p.  147 


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White  Chestnut  Cowry  Neobernaya  spadicea 


Paul  Tuskes 

3808  Sioux  Ave,  San  Diego,  California  92117 
tuskes@aol.com 


145 


ABSTRACT  Neobernaya  spadicea  (Swainson,  1823)  occurs  from  Southern  California  to  central 
Baja  California  Sur,  Mexico.  Although  there  is  no  notable  geographical  variation  in  the  phenotype, 
there  are  numerous  color  forms  and  unique  patterns  that  occur  throughout  the  population.  The  most 
unique  color  form  is  white.  An  examination  of  a  limited  number  of  white  specimens  determined  that 
shell  color  changed  after  maturity;  the  factors  that  may  have  contributed  to  such  a  transformation  are 
discussed. 


INTRODUCTION 

In  this  paper  the  unusual  white  form  of 
Neobernaya  spadicea  (Swainson,  1823)  is 
illustrated  (Figure  1)  and  both  when  and  how 
the  shell  might  become  white  are  discussed.  In 
April  of  2014,  the  author  found  a  white  N. 
spadicea  at  a  study  site  on  the  Mission  Bay 
Jetty,  San  Diego,  California,  and  then  in  May 
2014,  the  author  collected  a  second  specimen 
near  Fish  Hook  on  the  north  side  of  San 
Clemente  Island.  During  fifty  plus  years  of 
diving  in  Southern  California  these  were  the 
first  the  author  had  seen  in  situ,  and  it  provided 
the  opportunity  to  examine  the  nature  of  this 
unique  color  form. 

Cypraea,  and  for  that  matter  all  other  marine 
gastropods,  extract  calcium  carbonate  (CaCCb) 
from  the  ocean  water  to  build  shell,  a  process 
within  the  scope  of  biomineralization.  The 
CaCC>3  has  a  white  appearance  when 
incorporated  into  the  shell  structure.  The 
binding  material  is  the  protein  conchiolin  and  it 
is  during  this  process  that  various  pigments  are 
laid  down  to  give  the  shell  its  characteristic 
pattern  and  color  (Abbott  &  Sandstrom,  1968). 
Numerous  types  of  pigments  have  been 
identified  as  contributing  to  shell  coloration  and 
include  but  not  limited  to:  carotenoids,  pyrrole, 
indigoids,  melanin,  polyenes,  pteridines,  and 


porphyrins  (Comfort,  1949;  Comfort,  1951; 
Vershinin  1996;  Hedegaard,  et.  al,  2006). 
These  materials  typically  have  biological 
functions  beyond  pigmentation. 


Figure  1.  White  N.  spadicea  (from  the  Don  Pisor  Collection), 
showing  mature  color  and  pattern  under  the  overlaid  white  shell. 

DISCUSSION 

Neobernaya  spadicea  is  a  generalist,  feeding  on 
sessile  marine  invertebrates  (MacGinitie  & 
MacGinite,  1968;  Tuskes,  2013).  The  diet  of 


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mollusks  is  the  source  of  pigments  that  color  the 
shell.  One  common  suggestion  is  that  the  white 
color  form  specimens  of  N.  spadicea  have  a  diet 
that  lacks  the  necessary  pigments.  However, 
even  if  one  organism  in  the  diet  did  not  have  the 
correct  assortment  of  pigments,  or  their 
precursors,  these  may  be  available  from  other 
organisms  in  their  diet.  This  species  of  Cypraea 
is  often  found  in  clusters,  and  if  diet  was  the 
cause,  one  might  expect  others  feeding  in  the 
same  area  to  also  produce  eon-pigmented  shells, 
however  that  is  not  the  case.  Although  this 
article  refers  to  the  shell  of  the  white  color  form 
of  K  spadicea  as  non-pigmented,  there  is  no 
proof  that  it  is  truly  not  pigmented,  as  white 
pigments  could  be  involved. 

When  in  development  did  these  specimens 
become  white?  In  Cypraea  the  dark  browns, 
brown,  orange,  and  red  are  thought  to  be 
derived  from  porphyrin  groups  (Comfort,  1951). 
Three  hypotheses  for  when  K  spadicea 
becomes  white  came  to  mind  and  all  center  on  a 
block  in  the  pathway  that  incorporates  pigment 
(especially  porphyrins)  into  the  shell:  (1)  The 
shells  may  have  been  white  since  their  earliest 
development,  an  albino;  (2)  they  may  have 
become  white  as  the  snail  matured  and  changed 
from  the  juvenile  to  the  adult  when  shape,  color, 
and  pattern  change;  or,  (3)  it  may  have  become 
white  after  maturity.  It  seemed  most  likely  that 
a  break-down  in  the  metabolic  pathway  during 
the  change  from  juvenile  to  adult  was  probable. 
For  more  information  on  the  transition  of  N. 
spadicea  from  the  juvenile  to  the  adult  stage  see 
Ingrain,  1938. 

Having  two  white  specimens,  the  author  masked 
half  of  the  shell  and  removed  the  upper  most 
layer  of  shell  from  the  other  half  to  determine 
what  lay  beneath.  In  both  instances  the  pattern 
and  color  under  the  white  N.  spadicea  was  that 
of  the  typical  mature  adult  specimen  (see 
Figures  2  and  3).  Placing  a  high  intensity  light 


on  two  other  white  specimens  of  N  spadicea  (in 
the  collection  of  Don  Pisor)  revealed  that  both 
specimens  had  a  faint  outline  of  the  typical 
mature  color  pattern  beneath  the  white  overlay. 
(Figure  1)  White  N.  spadicea  are  rarely  seen, 
and  based  on  these  four  specimens  the  author 
could  not  conclude  that  all  N  spadicea  that 
become  white  achieve  this  rare  color  form  by 
only  one  path.  In  this  instance,  all  four 
individuals  had  successfully  incorporated 
pigments  in  the  recent  past  and  had  the  typical 
adult  color  and  pattern  prior  to  becoming  white. 


Figure  2.  White  N.  spadicea  Figure  3.  White  N.  spadicea 
from  Mission  Bay  Jetty.  from  San  Clemente  Island. 


How  might  these  specimens  become  white? 
Rather  than  pigments  missing  from  the  diet  of 
the  snail,  the  author  suspects  that  a  failure  in  the 
metabolic  pathway  that:  (1)  prevents  the 
pigments  from  passing  through  the  gut 
membrane;  (2)  pigments  are  not  transported  to 
the  glands  that  secrete  them  in  the  mantle;  (3) 
the  glands  in  the  mantle  become  defective  (4)  a 
defect  in  the  synthesis  results  only  in  the 
production  of  white  pigments,  or,  (5)  the 
pigments  are  metabolically  modified  in  the  gut 
or  snail  tissue  such  that  they  lose  their  activity. 
In  other  organisms  the  author  has  researched 
(including  arthropods),  pigments  such  as 
pteridines  are  modified  to  form  a  family  of 
pigments  such  as  sepiapterin  (browns). 


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xanthopterin  (yellow),  erythopterin  (red)  and 
leucopterin  (white),  with  multiple  pigment 
pathways  having  different  end  points  such  that 
various  pigments  may  be  supplied  from  an 
initial  precursor.  If  the  end  point  of  the  pathway 
is  leucopteim  only  white  pigments  are  observed. 

The  author  was  not  able  to  locate  literature 
describing  metabolic  manipulation  of 
porphyrins  or  pteridines  in  gastropods,  only 
their  presences  in  the  shells  of  mollusks.  As  N. 
spadicea  is  a  generalist  feeder,  the  author 
doubts  that  diet  alone  is  the  cause  of  white  N. 
spadicea ,  but  rather  that  any  number  of 
metabolic  processes  may  fail,  preventing  normal 
pigmentation  in  this  species. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

The  author  thanks  Don  Pisor  for  allowing  the 
examination  and  illustration  of  a  specimen  from 
his  collection,  and  thanks  Ann  Tuskes  for 
reviewing  and  commenting  on  the  draft 
manuscript,  and  for  recommendations  from  the 
editors. 


REFERENCES 

Abbott,  R.T.,  and  G.F.  Sandstrora,  1968. 
Seashells  of  North  America.  Golden  Press, 
NY.  H.  Zim,  Editor. 

Comfort,  A.,  1949.  Acid-soluble  pigments  of 
shells.  Biochemical  Journal,  44: 1 1 1-1 17. 
Comfort,  A.,  1951.  The  Pigmentation  of 
Molluscan  Shells.  Biological  Reviews, 
26:285-301. 

Hedegarrd,  C.,  J.-F.  Bardeau  and 
D.  Chateigner.  2006.  Molluscan  shell 
Pigments:  an  in  situ  resonance  raman  study.  J. 
Molluscan  Studies  72(2):  157-162. 

Ingram,  W.M.,  1938.  Notes  on  the 
Cowry,  Cypraea  spadicea  Swainson.  The 
Nautilus  52(1):  1-4. 

MacGinite,  G.E.  &  N.  MacGinite,  1968. 

Natural  History  of  Marine  Animals.  2nd  ed. 
McGraw-Hill,  New  York,  1968.  523  pp. 
Tuskes,  P.,  2013.  Observations  on  the 
Chestnut  cowry  Neobernaya  spadicea  in 
Mission  Bay.  The  Festivus  XLV(9):77-80. 
Vershinin,  A.,  1996.  Carotenoides  in  Mollusca: 
Approaching  the  functions.  Comparative 
Biochemistry  and  Physiology  1 13:63-71. 


EDITORS’  NOTE 

Errata: 

Berschauer,  D.P.  &  E.J.  Petuch.  2016.  A  New  Species  of  Harpa  (Gastropoda:  Harpidae)  from  the  Coral  Sea  Archipelago  of 
Queensland,  Australia.  The  Festivus  48(2):  102-1 08. 

•  Type  Locality:  change  to  “dredged  at  10  m  depth  in  coral  sand  off  East  Diamond  Islet,  Queensland,  Australia.” 

•  Etymology:  change  to  “species”  not  subspecies. 

•  Figure  2:  Holotype  shown  as  image  “C”  is  34.5  mm. 

Updates; 

Clark,  R.N.  2016.  Notes  on  Some  Little  Known  Arctic  Alaskan  Mollusks.  The  Festivus  48(2):73-83. 

In  this  paper  the  author  introduces  a  new  combination  for  the  forgotten  buccinid,  Buccinum  rodgersi  Gould, 

1860 ,  Anomalosipho  rodgersi.  Dr.  Yuri  Kantor,  Severtzov  Institute  of  Ecology  and  Evolution,  Russian  Ac.  Sci.  Moscow,  Russia, 
recently  brought  to  the  author’s  attention  a  very  recent  paper  by  A.  V.  Merkuljev,  "Forgotten  species  from  the  Bering  Strait 
Buccinum  rodgersi  Gould,  1860  (Neogastropoda:  Buccinidae)"  Ruthenica  25  (3):  89-92.  In  this  paper  (in  Russian)  that  author 
reports  on  the  forgotten  species,  assigning  it  to  the  genus  Plicifusus  Dali,  1902,  and  includes  a  synonym,  Plicifusus 
mcleani  Sirenko,  2009.  However  the  author  believes  that  this  species  should  be  retained  in  the  genus  Anomalosipho  Dautzenberg 
&  H.  Fischer,  1812,  due  to  its  lack  of  axial  sculpture  and  because  members  of  the  genus  Plicifusus  have  well  developed  axial 
ribs. 

Clark,  R.N.  2016.  Pteropurpura  festiva  in  Monterey  Bay.  Festivus  48  (1):  32. 

The  author  reported  on  the  finding  of  two  specimens  of  Pteropurpura  festiva  in  Monterey  Bay,  on  May  7, 201 1,  at  12  m,  and 
again  on  April  8,  2015  at  8  m.  On  April  4,  2016  another  dive  was  made  at  the  site,  and  several  specimens  P.  festiva,  up  to  4  cm  in 
length  were  observed  and  photographed. 


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Haliotis  ambiensis  Owen  et  aL,  2016  specimens  from  Oman  in  the 
Naturalis  M  useum,  Leiden,  The  Netherlands,  Incorrectly  Identified 
as  IL  varia  Linnaeus,  1758,  and  H,  pustulata  Reeve,  1846 

Buzz  Owen1  and  Wilco  Regter2 
1  P.O.  Box  601,  Gualala,  California  95445 

buzabman@mcn.org 

2 1  Cleadon  Gardens,  Gateshead,  NE9  7BA,  United  Kingdom 

wilco-regter@hotmail.  com 


INTRODUCTION 

This  brief  paper  closely  follows  the  publication 
of  a  Haliotis  species  new  to  science  (H 
ambiensis  Owen,  Regter,  and  Van  Laethem, 
2016),  and  presents  the  results  of  an 
examination,  of  Omani  Haliotis  deposited  in  the 
Naturalis  Museum  of  Leiden,  Netherlands 
(NCB).  Of  the  35  total  lots  in  this  collection,  18 
are  catalogued  as  either  H  pustulata  Reeve, 
1846  (now  H  mgosa  pustulata)  or  H  varia 
Linnaeus,  1758.  The  remaining  17  lots  can 
clearly  be  attributed  to  H  mariae  W.  Wood, 
1828,  the  common  commercially  taken  Haliotis 
of  Oman. 

Regter  visited  the  Museum  in  April,  2016,  and 
photographed  all  specimens  identified  as  H. 
pustulata  or  H.  varia.  Examination  of  this 
material  clearly  revealed  the  entire  group  of  27 
shells  were  the  newly  described  species  (with 
the  exception  of  one  specimen  of  typical 
Philippine  H.  varia  labeled  as  being  from 
“Kuwait”  -  an  obvious  error). 

Twenty  five  of  the  27  specimens  are  illustrated 
on  Figures  1  and  2,  while  Figure  3  (Tables  1 
and  2)  provides  a  key  to  the  data  for  each  lot 
when  compared  to  the  number  accompanying 
each  of  the  25  specimens. 

Remarks;  The  following  background 
information  provides  details  on  how  these 
specimens  arrived  into  the  Naturalis  Museum 
collection:  Robert  G.  Molenbeek  and  several 
other  malacologists  were  involved  with  the 
publication  of  the  book  “Seashells  of  Eastern 
Arabia”  (Bosch  et  al ,  1995)  and  shells  collected 
in  Oman  by  Mm  and  other  malacologists  were 
added  to  Zoological  Museum  Amsterdam 


(ZMA),  Netherlands.  A  few  years  ago  this  ZMA 
collection  was  consolidated  into  the  Dutch 
National  Biodiversity  Collection  (NBC)  in 
Leiden.  Information  on  the  shell  data  tags  in  the 
NCB  collection  seems  to  indicate  that  the 
species  can  also  be  found  intertidally.  Perhaps 
due  to  increased  collection  pressures  locally,  or 
an  increased  human  population,  this  might  now 
be  more  difficult.  Currently,  it  is  against  the  law 
to  collect  any  mollusks  in  Oman. 

The  type  and  two  paratype  specimens  of  H. 
ambiensis  are  illustrated  on  Figure  2,  images 
13-15,  and  three  specimens  from  United  Arab 
Emirates  are  on  Figure  3,  images  1-4.  Figure  3 
also  has  a  map  of  the  areas  where  specimens 
have  been  found.  (Owen  et  al ,  2016) 

Abbreviations  of  Colectioni;  NMMZ: 
National  Museum  of  New  Zealand  Te  Papa 
Tongarewa,  Wellington,  New  Zealand;  WRC: 
Wilco  Regter  Collection,  United  Kingdom; 
BOC:  Buzz  Owen  Collection;  ARC:  Arjay 
Kaffety  Collection. 

REFERENCES 

Bosch,  D.  T.,  S.P.  Dance,  R.G.  Molenbeek,  & 
O.  P,  Graham,  1995.  Seashells  of  Eastern 
Arabia,  Motivate  Publishing,  ISBN:  1873544 
64  2. 

Geiger,  D.  L,  &  B.  Owen.  2012.  Abalone 
Worldwide  Haliotidae.  Conchbooks, 
Hackenheim,  361  pp.,  92  pis. 

Owen,  B.,  W.  Regter  &  K.  Van  Laethem, 
2016.  Review  of  the  Haliotis  of  Yemen  and 
Oman  with  Description  of  a  New  Species, 
Haliotis  ambiensis ,  from  Oman  and  United 
Arab  Emirates.  The  Festivus  48(2): 84-87,  5 
figures. 


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Tabic  1  -  Haliotis  arabiensis  specimens  in  Naturalis  Museum  Collection 

Registration 

Originally 

Plate  & 

Size 

Number: 

Indcntificd  As: 

Locality  (in  Oman): 

Fig.  no: 

(mni) 

ZM  A.MOLL.354 1 6 

Haliotis  raria 

Masirah  is.,  E.  coast 

1-1 

40.4 

ZMA.MOLL.59498 

Haliotis  pustulata 

Masirah  Is.,  Ras  Radum,  E.  coast 

1-2 

33.0 

ZMA.MOLL.60133 

Haliotis  pustulata 

Muscat,  1991 

1-3 

27.0 

ZMA.MOLL35416 

Haliotis  varia 

Masirah  Is.,  E.  coast 

1-4 

38.4 

ZMA.MOLL.59498 

Haliotis  varia 

Masirah  Is.,  Ras  Radum,  E.  coast 

1-5 

37.3 

ZMA.MOLL.60945 

Haliotis  varia 

Masirah  Is.,  Ras  Radum,  E.  coast 

1-6 

35.1 

ZMA.MOLL35416 

Haliotis  varia 

Masirah  Is.,  E.  coast 

1-7 

34.3 

ZMA.MOLL.59498 

Haliotis  varia 

Masirah  Is.,  Ras  Radum,  E.  coast 

1-8 

33.0 

ZMA.MOLL.70765 

Haliotis  varia 

Masirah  Is.,  Ras  Ad  Dan 

1-9 

32.4 

ZMA.MOLL.72703 

Haliotis  pustulata 

Masirah  Is.,  Haql,  beach.  1997 

1-10 

29.4 

ZMA.MOLL.72703 

Haliotis  pustulata 

Masirah  Is.,  Haql,  beach.  1997 

1-11 

293 

ZM  A.MOLL.  1 61162 

Haliotis  varia 

Al  Bustan,  Jan.  2003 

1-12 

283 

ZMA.MOLL.89970 

Haliotis  varia 

Oman  (only  data) 

1-13 

27.2 

ZMA.MOLL36273 

Haliotis  pustulata 

Masiiah  Is.,  E.  coast 

1-14 

27.1 

ZMA.MOLL.60133 

Haliotis  pustulata 

Muscat,  1991 

1-15 

27.0 

Table  2  -  Haliotis  arabiensis  specimens  in  Naturalis  Museum  Collection 

Registration 

Originally 

Plate  & 

Size 

Number: 

Indcntificd  As: 

Locality  (in  Oman): 

Fig.  no: 

(mm) 

ZMA.MOLL-35416 

Haliotis  pustulata 

Haramal  near  Muscat,  1991 

2-1 

26.8 

ZMA.MOLL.60133 

Haliotis  pustulata 

Muscat,  1991 

2-2 

26.8 

ZMA.MOLL.60133 

Haliotis  pustulata 

Muscat,  1991 

2-3 

23.5 

ZMA.MOLLJ6398 

Haliotis  pustulata 

Haramal  near  Muscat,  1991 

2-4 

25.8 

ZMA.MOLL.89879 

Haliotis  varia 

Oman 

2-5 

25.8 

ZMA.MOLL.60133 

Haliotis  pustulata 

Muscat,  1991 

2-6 

23.5 

ZMA.MOLL.  161162 

Haliotis  varia 

Al  Bustan,  1/2003 

2-7 

233 

ZM  A.MOLL.740 1 0 

Haliotis  varia 

Dhofar  Province,  Hoon's  Bay  11/2003 

2-8 

213 

ZMA.MOLL  J6530 

Haliotis  pustulata 

Haramal  near  Muscat  11/1991 

2-9 

20.5 

ZMA.MOLL36530 

Haliotis  pustulata 

Haramal  near  Muscat  11/1991 

2-10 

19.4 

ZMA.MOLL35552 

Haliotis  varia 

Between  Haramal  and  Al  Bustan 

2-11 

19.2 

ZMA.MOLL.89970 

Haliotis  pustulata 

Oman 

2-12 

19.0 

FIGURE  3  -  Tables  1  &  2:  Haliotis  arabiensis  specimens  in  Naturalis  Museum  with  locality 
data  corresponding  to  numbers  appearing  on  Figs.  1  and  2.  MAP:  Red  dots  indicate  localities 
specimens  taken.  1-4:  Specimens  from  Fujairah  area  of  United  Arab  Emirates.  12-15  m. 


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Description  of  a  new  species  of  Marginella:  Margindla  spadix 
from  the  East  Coast  Province,,  South  Africa 

Stephan  G.  Veldsman 

Institute  for  Marine  and  Environmental  Science,  Pretoria,  South  Africa 

conus@enviromarine.co.za 


ABSTRACT  Marginella  spadix ,  a  new  species,  is  described  from  the  East  Coast  Province,  South 
Africa.  The  new  species  is  compared  to  Marginella  minuscula  Turton,  1932,  Marginella  dimidiata 
Thiele,  1925  and  Marginella  eucosmia  Bartsch,  1915. 

KEYWORDS  Marginella ,  minuscula,  spadix,  croukampi ,  dimidiata,  eucosmia,  East  Coast  Province, 
South  Africa. 


INTRODUCTION 

The  small  Marginella  species  from  the  Eastern 
Cape  -  East  Coast  Province  (Figure  1),  South 
Africa  have  been  discussed  and  researched  since 
the  early  19G0?s.  Marginella  eucosmia  Bartsch, 
1915  was  first  described,  then  M.  dimidiata 
Thiele,  1925,  followed  by  M.  minuscula  Turton, 
1932.  More  recently,  Hayes  (1996)  described  a 
small  white  shell  as  M.  croukampi. 
Unfortunately,  the  specimens  he  thought  to  be 
M.  minuscula,  were  in  fact  M.  dimidiata  Thiele, 
1925,  and  the  small  white  shell  he  described 
was  actually  a  specimen  of  M  minuscula. 
Consequently,  M.  croukampi  has  now  become  a 
junior  synonym  of  M  minuscula.  Through 
intensive  research  on  the  genus  Marginella  over 
the  last  6  years  by  the  author,  it  became 
apparent  that  there  is  another  small  shell  in  this 
group  that  has  not  been  described,  hence  the 
description  of  M  spadix,  a  new  species. 

SYSTEMATICS 

Family:  Marginellidae  Flemming,  1828 
Genus:  Marginella  Lamarck,  1799 

Marginella  spadix  S.G.Veldsman,  new  species 


Figure  1.  The  East  Coast  Province,  illustration  of  the  Sub- 
Provinces  and  major  towns  where  species  were  collected 
(modified  after  Veldsman  2014). 

Description: 

The  shell  is  small  in  size  (on  average  1 1-1 4mm), 
fusiform-ovate  in  shape  with  a  slightly  rounded 
shoulder.  Shell  surface  smooth,  spire  high, 
wide  protoconch.  No  labial  denticles  or 
posterior  labial  notch  developed.  Columella, 
with  four  continuous  plications,  the  lower 
(fourth)  plica  ending  at  base  of  shell  Callus 


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covering  the  plicae.  Aperture  narrow,  off-white 
color.  Thick  lip,  ofF-white  color,  with  a  few 
light  markings  on  the  top.  Apex  ofF-white,  spire 
has  fall  pattern,  white,  light  brown  and  thin  dark 

Paratype  3: 

brown  markings  present  in  a  block-like  pattern 
with  thin  creamy  spiral  lines.  Background  color 
of  the  body  whorl  is  off-white  to  light  cream 
with  a  light  brown  block-like  pattern  arranged 

Paratype  4: 

in  spiral  bands  around  the  body-whorl  on  the 
first  half  of  the  shell  from  the  shoulder,  a  thin 
off-white  band  around  the  body-whorl  in  the 
middle,  followed  by  a  dark  brown  block-like 

Paratype  5: 

patterned  band  around  the  body-whorl  ending  at 
the  base  with  a  light  brown  to  cream  block-like 
pattern  arranged  in  spiral  bands  around  the 
body-whorl. 

Paratype  6: 

Type  and  locality: 

Type  locality  of  the  Holotype  of  M  spadix  new 
species,  is  East  London  (33°06.6'S  and 
27°52.5,E),  Central  East  Coast  Sub-Province, 

Paratype  7: 

East  Coast  Province,  South  Africa;  dredged 
65m,  on  sand. 

Paratype  8: 

The  Holotype  of  M.  spadix  new  species  is 
illustrated  in  Figure  2  (2).  The  type  material  is 
as  follows: 

Paratype  9: 

Holotype:  12.07  x  7.42  mm  [Figure  2  (2)]; 

East  London  (33°06.6  N  & 
27°52.55E),  Central  East  Coast 

Paratype  10: 

Sub-Province;  Dredged  65m,  on 
sand;  Coll.  Natal  Museum  South 
Africa  (NMSA),  ID  No: 

Paratype  1 1 : 

P0676/T4207.  Donated  by  S.G. 
Veldsman. 

Paratype  1:  12.71  x  7.55  mm  [Figure  2  (1)]; 

Paratype  12: 

Port  Alfred,  Southern  East  Coast 
Sub-Province;  Scuba  20m; 
Veldsman  Collection. 

Paratype  13: 

Paratype  2:  13.66  x  8.35  mm  [Figure  2  (3)]; 

Jeffreys  Bay,  Algoa  Sub- 
Province;  Dredged  65 -70m; 
Veldsman  Collection. 

Paratype  14: 

153 


ISSUES 


12,06  x  7.39  mm  [Figure  2  (6)]; 
East  London,  Central  East  Coast 
Sub-Province;  Dredged  65m; 
Veldsman  Collection. 

13.56  x  7.76  mm  [Figure  2  (5)]; 
East  London,  Central  East  Coast 
Sub-Province;  Dredged  65m; 
Aiken  Collection. 

1 1.92  x  7. 14  mm;  East  London, 
Central  East  Coast  Sub-Province; 
Dredged  65m;  Veldsman 
Collection. 

11.53x6.81  mm  [Figure  2  (4)]; 
Algoa  Bay,  Algoa  Sub-Province; 
Scuba  13m;  Coll.  Natal  Museum 
South  Africa  (NMSA),  ID  No: 
P0677/T4208. 

13.82  x  7.69  mm;  East  London, 
Central  East  Coast  Sub-Province; 
Dredged  65m;  Veldsman 
Collection. 

12.67  x  7.57  mm;  East  London, 
Central  East  Coast  Sub-Province; 
Dredged  65  m;  Aiken  Collection. 
13.45  x  7.70  mm;  Jeffreys  Bay, 
Algoa  Sub-Province;  Dredged 
70m;  Veldsman  Collection. 

14.01  x  7.67  mm;  Algoa  Bay, 
Algoa  Sub-Province;  Scuba  20- 
25m;  Kloos  Collection. 

13.10  x  7.48  mm;  East  London, 
Central  East  Coast  Sub-Province; 
Dredged  65m;  Aiken  Collection. 
13.36  x  7.72  mm;  Jeffreys  Bay, 
Algoa  Sub-Province;  Dredged 
65m;  Veldsman  Collection. 

13.36  x  7.65  mm;  East  London, 
Central  East  Coast  Sub-Province; 
Dredged  65m;  Aiken  Collection. 
13.20  x  7.51  mm;  Algoa  Bay, 
Algoa  Sub-Pro vin.ce;  Scuba  20 
25m;  Kloos  Collection. 


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Paratype  15: 
Paratype  16: 


Paratype  17: 

Paratype  18: 
Paratype  19: 

Paratype  20: 


13.34  x  8.04  mm;  Jeffreys  Bay, 
Algoa  Sub-Province;  Beach 
collected;  Veldsman  Collection. 
13.88  x  7.94  mm;  East  London, 
Central  East  Coast  Sub-Province; 
Dredged  65m;  Aiken  Collection. 
13.72  x  7.82  mm;  East  London, 
Central  East  Coast  Sub-Province; 
Dredged  65m;  Veldsman 
Collection. 

13.80  x  8. 10  mm;  East  London, 
Central  East  Coast  Sub-Province; 
Dredged  65m;  Aiken  Collection. 
12.78  x  7.54  mm;  Kwelera,  Port 
Elizabeth,  Algoa  Sub-Province; 
Beach  collected;  Veldsman 
Collection. 

12.93  x  8.10  mm;  East  London, 
Central  East  Coast  Sub-Province; 
Beach  collected;  Aiken 
Collection. 


Etymology: 

The  author  believes  that  the  term  “spadix” 
refers  to  the  chestnut  color  of  the  shell's  pattern. 

DISCUSSION 

The  new  species,  Marginalia  spadix  (Figure  2) 
resembles  M  minuscula  (Figure  3),  M. 
dimidiata  (Figure  4)  and  A£  eucosmia  (Figure  5) 
in  general  morphology  and  size.  Each  of  the 
three  species  has  its  own  characteristic  color 
pattern.  The  spire  of  M  spadix  has  fall  pattern, 
white,  light  brown  and  thin  dark  brown 
markings  present  in  a  block-like  pattern  with 
thin  creamy  spiral  lines,  M  dimidiata  has  fall 
dark  brown  pattern,  sometimes  with  some  white 
markings  present,  whereas  M  minuscula  has  an 
off-white  and  dark  brown  spiralling  band  on 
spire.  Marginella  eucosmia  has  fall  color 
pattern  on  the  spire,  with  a  block-like  pattern 
consisting  of  red-brown  blocks  with  white  and 
black  inserted  spots. 


The  background  color  of  the  body  whorl  of  M 
spadix  is  off-white  to  light  cream  with  a  very 
light  brown  block-like  pattern  arranged  in  spiral 
bands  around  the  body-whorl  on  the  first  half  of 
the  shell  from  the  shoulder,  a  thin  off-white 
band  around  the  body-whorl  in  the  middle, 
followed  by  a  dark  brown  block-like  patterned 
band  around  the  body-whorl  in  the  middle 
below  the  white  band,  and  at  the  base  a  light 
brown  to  cream  block-like  pattern  arranged  in 
spiral  bands  around  the  body-whorl.  The  body- 
whorl  of  M  minuscula  is  off-white  to  light 
cream  color,  with  no  pattern,  except  for  a  thin 
dark  brown  band  at  the  base  of  the  shell, 
whereas  M  dimidiata  has  brown  color  pattern, 
either  in  the  form  of  spotting  or  blotches. 
Marginella  dimidiata  farther  has  a  broad  dark 
brown  band  (solid  to  broken  patterned)  around 
the  body-whorl  at  the  lower  third  of  the  shell. 
Marginella  eucosmia  has  an  off  white 
background,  sometimes  a  very  faint  color 
pattern  visible  over  the  first  half  of  the  body- 
whorl.  The  lower  half  of  the  body-whorl  of  M. 
eucosmia  consists  of  a  red-brown  block-like 
pattern  arranged  in  spiralling  lines  around  the 
body-whorl,  with  white  and  black  inserted  spots. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

Special  acknowledgment  to  the  following 
persons:  Vellies  (J.H.)  Veldsman  for  his 
professional  input  into  the  article,  proofreading 
and  support;  Roy  Aiken  for  supplying  several 
Paratypes;  Jacobus  Kloos  for  supplying  two 
Paratypes;  Sulize  Veldsman  for  careful  editing 
of  the  photos;  Christine  Zom  from  the  Museum 
far  Naturkunde  Berlin  (MNB),  with  assistance 
regarding  the  Holotype  photos  of  Marginella 
dimidiata ;  Sammy  de  Grave  from  Oxford 
University  Museum  for  supplying  the  Holotype 
photos  of  Marginella  minuscula ;  Linda  Davis 
with  assistance  at  the  Natal  Museum,  South 
Africa  (NMSA)  and  for  providing  the  Holotype 
and  Paratype  numbers  of  the  new  species. 


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REFERENCES 

Bartsch,  P.  1915.  Report  on  the  Turton 
collection  of  South  African  marine  mollusks, 
with  additional  notes  on  other  South  African 
shells  contained  in  the  United  States  National 
Museum.  Bulletin  of  the  United  States 
National  Museum,  Issued  July  28,  1915. 


Hayes,  B.  1996.  A  new  species  of  Marginella 
Lamarck,  1799  from  the  Eastern  Cape,  South 
Africa.  World  Shells  No.  19. 

Thiele,  J.  1925.  Deutsche  Tiefsee-Expedition 
1898-99  Bd.  XVII  Thiele,  Gastropoda  II.  Taf. 
XXXIII. 

Turton,  W.H.  1932.  The  Marine  Shells  of 
Port  Alfred,  South  Africa.  Humphrey 
Milford,  London. 


Figure  2.  Marginella  spadix  new  species.  1.  (12.71  x  7.55  mm)  -  Paratype  1;  Port  Alfred,  scuba  20m;  Veldsman  Collection.  2.  (12.07 
x  7.42  mm)  -  Holotype;  East  London,  dredged  65  m;  Coll.  Natal  Museum  South  Africa  (NMSA),  ID  No:  P0676/T4207.  Donated  by 
S.G.  Veldsman.  3.  (13.66  x  8.35  mm)  -  Paratype  2;  Jeffreys  Bay,  dredged  65-70  m;  Veldsman  Collection.  4.  (11.53  x  6.81  mm)  - 
Paratype  6;  Algoa  Bay,  dredged  65  m;  Coll.  Natal  Museum  South  Africa  (NMSA),  ID  No:  P0677/T4208.  5.  (13.56  x  7.76  mm)  - 
Paratype  4;  East  London,  dredged  65  m;  Aiken  Collection.  6.  (12.06  x  7.39  mm);  East  London,  dredged  65  m;  Veldsman  Collection. 


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Figure  3.  Marginelia  minuscula  Turton,  1932.  1.  (1 1.02  x  6.51  mm)  -  Holotype;  Port  Alfred,  beach  collected;  Coll.  Oxford  University 
Museum,  courtesy  of  Sammy  de  Grave.  2.  (9.73  x  6.11  mm)  -  Paratype  1;  Port  Alfred,  beach  collected;  Coll.  Oxford  University 
Museum,  courtesy  of  Sammy  de  Grave.  3,  (13.56  x  7.76  mm);  south  of  Great  Kel  River  mouth,  dredged  75  m;  Veldsman  Collection.  4. 
(9.97  x  5.79  mm),  -  ex.  M  croukampi  Hayes,  1996,  Paratype  1;  Kenton-on-Sea  (south-east  of  Port  Alfred),  scuba  18-20  m;  Coll.  Natal 
Museum  South  Africa  (NMSA),  ID  No:  V4255/T1448.  5.  (i  1.01  x  6.51  mm)  -  ex.  M  croukampi  Hayes,  1996,  Holotype;  Kenton-on- 
Sea  (south-east  of  Port  Alfred),  scuba  18-20  m;  Coll.  Natal  Museum  South  Africa  (NMSA),  ID  No:  V4254/T1447.  6.  (12.54  x  7.39 
mm);  East  London,  beach  collected;  Veldsman  Collection.  1.  (13.22  x  8.02  mm);  East  London,  beach  collected;  Veldsman  Collection. 


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Figure  4.  Marginella  dimidiata  Thiele,  1925.  1.  (11.53  x  5.93  mm)  -  Holotype;  Cape  St.  Francis,  dredged;  Coll.  Museum  fur 
Naturkunde  Berlin,  courtesy  of  Christine  Zorn.  2.  (11.52  x  6.36  mm);  Port  Elizabeth,  scuba  25  m;  Veldsman  Collection.  3.  (12.46  x 
7.35  mm);  Jeffreys  Bay,  dredged  75  m;  Veldsman  Collection.  4.  (1 1.16  x  6.34  mm);  Port  Elizabeth,  scuba  25  m;  Veldsman  Collection. 
5.  (10.78  x  6.22  mm);  Port  Elizabeth,  scuba  25  m;  Veldsman  Collection. 


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Figure  5.  Marginella  eucosmia  Bartsch,  1915.  1.  (12.50  x  6.00  mm)  -  Illustration  of  Holotype  (Bartsch  1915);  Port  Alfred,  beach 
collected.  2.  (10.83  x  6.44  mm);  Port  Elizabeth,  beach  collected;  Veldsman  Collection.  3.  (10.70  x  6.14  mm);  Xora  River  mouth,  beach 
collected;  Veldsman  Collection.  4.  (1 1.01  x  6.34  mm);  Xora  River  mouth,  beach  collected;  Veldsman  Collection.  5.  (10.19  x  6.21  mm); 
Jeffreys  Bay,  beach  collected;  Veldsman  Collection.  6.  (10.24  x  5.96  mm);  East  London,  beach  collected;  Veldsman  Collection.  7. 
(11.10  x  6.21  mm);  Jeffreys  Bay,  beach  collected;  Veldsman  Collection.  8.  (11.38  x  6.42  mm);  East  London,  beach  collected; 
Veldsman  Collection. 


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Volume:  48  THE  FESTIVUS  ISSUE  3 


The  “Cambrian  Explosion”  -  a  study  of  the  abnormally 
large  population  of  Haliotis  kamtschatkana  kamtschatkana  l  kamtschatkana 
assimilis  “inter grades”  following  species  decline  due  to  several  years  of  unusually 
warm  temperatures  in  San  Luis  Obispo  County,  California 

Buzz  Owen 

P.O.  Box  601,  Gualala  California  95445 
buzabman@mcn.org 


INTRODUCTION 

This  article  describes  an  intriguing  event  that 
took  place  in  the  Mono  Bay  area  of  Central 
California  from  the  late  1950’s  to  about  1968.  It 
began  with  a  serious  ecological  change  which 
caused  an  apparent  disruption  of  the  usual  ocean 
cunents  and  temperature  which  lasted 
approximately  two  years:  1957  and  1958  (Cox, 
1962).  During  this  period,  the  sea  temperature 
was  unusually  warm,  and  the  usual  heavy 
growth  of  brown  algae  (kelp)  that  generally 
grows  abundantly  in  the  cold  (10-12  degrees 
Celcius)  spring  and  summer  seas,  didn’t  appear. 
The  local  Haliotis  rufescens  Swainson,  1822, 
populations  became  severely  food  depleted  and 
ceased  growing  normally.  Thus,  commercial 
abalone  divers  were  unable  to  harvest  sufficient 
numbers  of  legal-sized  abalone  to  sustain  the 
fishery.  Many  divers  living  in  the  Morro  Bay 
area  left  the  fishery  and  took  up  other  lines  of 
work.  The  abnormally  warm  water  conditions 
persisted  for  over  two  years,  and  many  adult 
abalone  lost  tissue  size  dramatically,  stopped 
producing  gonadal  tissue  (gametogenesis),  and 
didn’t  spawn.  The  usual  abundance  of  red  and 
brown  algal  Haliotis  food  species  ceased  to 
exist,  and  the  underwater  Morro  Bay  area 
assumed  the  appearance  of  a  barren  wasteland 
(D.  Gallagher,  S.  Pearce,  G.  Bickford,  K.W. 
Cox,  personal  communication). 

This  article  also  confirms  a  suspicion  long  held 
by  a  number  of  specialists  in  West  Coast 
Haliotis  taxonomy:  that  the  populations  of 


abalone  which  have  been  called  H. 
kamtschatkana  kamtschatkana  and  H 
kamtschatana  assimilis  which  range  from 
throughout  California  and  into  Mexico  actually 
represent  a  single  species,  and  not  a  pair  of 
subspecies.  A  more  thorough  and  detailed  study 
supporting  this  conclusion  is  in  progress. 

OBSERVATIONS  AND  DISCUSSION 

In  1959,  the  cold-water  temperatures  abruptly 
returned,  and  extremely  rapid  growth  of  large, 
brown  algal  forms  resumed,  especially 
Nereocystis  leutkeana ,  the  large  “Bull”  kelp 
which  is  the  primary  food  for  the  Haliotis 
species  of  this  area  (with  the  possible  exception 
of  H.  cracherodii  cracherodii  Leach,  1814). 
The  animals  which  survived  the  two-year  warm 
water  period,  began  growing  rapidly  -  both 
shell  and  animal  -  developing  gonadal  tissue 
and  spawning  profusely  within  a  few  months  (in 
late  1959,  and  again  in  mid  1960).  Many  of  the 
divers  who  had  left  the  fishery,  returned  in  1961 
to  discover  that  very  large  numbers  of  sub- 
legal-sized  animals  had  rapidly  grown  and 
become  legal  size.  Huge  landings  of  red 
abalones  were  suddenly  common-place  in  the 
Morro  Bay  fishery.  At  depths  greater  than  15  m 
(50  feet),  occasional  specimens  of  H. 
kamtschatkana  ssp.  could  be  observed  by  divers 
who  were  harvesting  the  much  larger  red 
abalone  (H  rufescens ).  They  were  of  little  or  no 
interest  to  the  great  majority  of  commercial 
Haliotis  divers,  as  they  were  too  small  (usually 
<125  mm),  not  very  common,  and  no  fishery 


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existed  for  the  species.  However,  not  being 
regulated  by  a  size  limit  in  the  early  19605s, 
specimens  of  H.  kamtschatkana  ssp.  could  be 
taken  legally. 

It  was  about  this  time  (1960-1961)  that  I  first 
started  diving  the  Monro  Bay  area  commercially, 
and  I  almost  immediately  noticed  these  small 
Haliotis  and  started  paying  close  attention  to 
them,  as  they  were  considered  an  uncommon 
species  to  shell  collectors.  At  that  time,  most  I 
observed  were  “older”  specimens,  and  it  was 
unusual  to  find  shells  that  weren’t  damaged  by 
erosion  and/or  boring  or  encrusting  organisms 
on  their  exterior  surfaces.  Young  fast-growing 
specimens  appeared  nonexistent.  What  I  hadn’t 
realized  at  the  time  was  that  the  warm  water 
temperature  and  lack  of  algal  food  species  that 
had  existed  in  the  late  1950’s,  had  affected  more 
than  just  the  large  red  abalone  -  additionally  it 
had  had  a  profound  effect  on  this  species  (and 
very  probably  other  algae  grazing  mollusks)  as 
well.  Thus  it  was  in  about  the  fall  of  1962  when 
I  first  started  noticing  the  incredible 
phenomenon  that  was  beginning  to  occur 
throughout  many  areas  outside  of  approximately 
15  m  depth:  small  sub-adult  (50-75  mm)  K 
kamtschatkana  ssp.  were  starting  to  move  out  of 
the  protection  of  crevices,  where  they  were  too 
small  and  hidden  to  be  noticed  previously. 
Careful  examination  of  these  animals, 
reinforced  with  knowledge  gained  a  few  years 
later  in  a  commercial  Haliotis  hatchery,  clearly 
indicated  they  were  two  to  three  years  old  (50- 
75  mm).  Closer  to  shore,  in  shallower  water 
(approximately  8-12  ml  many  juvenile 
specimens  of  II  mfescens  became  apparent, 
protected  in  crevices,  with  occasional  75  to  80 
mm  specimens  starting  to  move  out  onto  more 
exposed  surfaces  as  well.  This  was  happening  in 
areas  where  virtually  all  older  legal  sized 
animals  had  been  previously  harvested.  It  was 
becoming  very  apparent  that  both  species  of 
Haliotis  were  undergoing  “population 


explosions”  as  juveniles  and  sub-adults  of  both 
species  (approximately  2-3  years  of  age)  were 
abundant.  Further,  it  was  clear  that  these  small 
animals  were  the  result  of  spawnings  that  had 
occurred  and  coincided  with  the  radical 
transformation  that  had  taken  place  with  the 
return  of  cold  water  and  copious  algal  growth  in 
1959.  From  1962  to  1965,  the  numbers  of  these 
fast-growing,  small,  adult  H.  kamtschatkana  ssp. 
increased,  and  by  1964-1965,  many  were 
measuring  100  to  125+  mm.  All  were  clearly 
the  fast-growing,  thin- shelled  “new  growth” 
animals  from  the  extraordinarily  successful 
recruitment  events  that  had  resulted  from  the 
spawnings  of  1959  and  1960.  The  few  older 
animals  that  were  mixed  in  with  this  population 
were  very  obvious,  being  thick-shelled,  mature, 
badly  eroded  and/or  encrusted,  and  often  almost 
senile.  It  was  evident  from  the  extremely  bright 
and  varied  coloration  of  the  thin  and  fast- 
growing  shells  of  this  population,  that  their  diet 
was  rich  in  species  of  red  algae,  in  addition  to 
the  brown  alga  Nereocystis  leutkeana ,  as  the 
“genetic”  chevron-like  color  patterns  were 
heavily  blended  with  intense  shades  of  red.  This 
contrasts  with  the  dull  pale  blue-green  colors 
which  are  so  often  observed  in  specimens  from 
Southern  California  and  Baja  California, 
Mexico  -  the  result  of  a  diet  of  almost  entirely 
brown  algae. 

Remarks:  At  the  time  of  this  writing  (June, 
2016),  a  similar  situation  is  occurring  on  the 
coast  of  California  that  may  be  a  parallel  to  the 
disastrous  environmental  conditions  of  1957- 
1958.  For  the  past  year,  a  warm  water  mass  of 
unknown  origin  has  existed  off  the  coast  that 
has  prevented  the  normal  regrowth  of  the  large 
brown  algal  species  that  sustain  the  Haliotis 
species,  sea  urchins,  and  other  herbivorous 
mollusks.  As  a  result,  starvation  on  a  mass 
scale  is  happening  with  the  Haliotis  animals 
ceasing  to  add  new  shell  increment,  visibly 
losing  weight  and  weakening  where  many 


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cannot  maintain  attachment  to  the  bottom 
substrate  and  are  tom  loose  during  large  winter 
swells.  Cursory  diving  these  areas  reveals  that 
all  algae  food  species  are  gone  and  that  the 
abalone  are  in  a  tissue  wasting  state. 
Additionally,  a  massive  increase  of  biomass  of 
the  purple  sea  urchin,  Strongylocentrotus 
purpuratus  has  coincided  with  this  warm  water 
increase  and  large  areas  have  become 
completely  denuded  of  what  sparse  algae 
remains  due  to  this  sea  urchin’s  aggressive 
feeding.  How  long  these  warm  water  conditions 
will  remain  is  unknown.  A  second  warming 
trend  has  additionally  been  induced  by  a  large 
“El  Nino”  event  which  is  occurring 
simultaneously  and  may  exacerbate  this  warm 
water  problem.  How  long  these  El  Nino 
conditions  will  remain  in  effect  is  also  currently 
unknown. 

CONCLUSIONS 

Plates  1  through  3  illustrate  examples  of  these 
brightly  colored  H.  kamtschatkana  ssp. 
specimens  from  the  “Cambrian  Explosion”  -  so 
named  as  the  small  town  of  Cambria,  near  the 
Hearst  Castle  at  San  Simeon,  is  near  the  center 
of  the  area  where  this  brief  and  extreme 
population  explosion  was  observed.  During  the 
years  1963-1965,  literally  thousands  of  H. 
kamtschatkana  ssp.  could  be  observed  during  4- 
5  hours  of  diving  commercially  for  the  larger 
red  abalone.  Unfortunately,  in  1968,  the  Sea 
Otter,  Enhydra  lutris,  encroached  into  this  area 
of  the  California  coastline,  and  decimated  both 
the  red  abalone  fishery  and  all  exposed  animals 
(over  approximately  35-40  mm)  of  this  beautiful 
small  abalone  species.  To  my  knowledge, 
extremely  few  H.  kamtschatkana  ssp.  specimens 
had  been  taken  from  this  area,  as  virtually  no 
commercial  abalone  divers  of  that  time 
collected  these  small  Haliotis.  Thus,  the 
specimens  illustrated  on  these  plates  may 
represent  a  large  percentage  of  the  “Cambrian 


Explosion”  H.  kamtschatkana  ssp.  specimens 
that  exist  in  collections. 

The  Cambria  area  is  located  approximately  in 
the  center  between  the  areas  where  what  has 
been  called  the  southern  subspecies  (H. 
kamtschatkana  assimilis  Dali,  1878)  and 
northern  subspecies  (//.  k.  kamtschatkana  Jonas, 
1845)  are  distributed.  Interestingly,  the 
morphology  of  the  H.  kamtschatkana  ssp. 
specimens  collected  in  the  Cambria  area  exhibit 
traits  of  both  subspecies,  which  explains  why 
this  localized  population  could  be  described  as 
“intermediate”  between  the  typical  northern  and 
southern  forms.  These  differences  may  be 
described  as  follows:  (1)  Shell  proportions  - 
Northern  shells  are  more  elongate  with  an 
elevated  spire;  southern  specimens  are  more 
round  in  proportion  and  the  spire  is  usually  low 
and  often  depressed  into  shell;  (2)  Surface 
sculpture  -  Northern  shells  have  a  quite  lumpy 
surface,  often  with  strong  folded  ridges,  and 
usually  show  little,  or  very  weak,  spiral  ribbing; 
southern  specimens  often  have  a  smooth  surface 
usually  lacking  a  lumpy  surface,  and  frequently 
have  strong  spiral  ribbing.  (3)  Groove  below 
row  of  holes  -  Northern  shells  possess  a  strong 
and  deep  channel  in  the  peripheral  area  between 
the  holes  and  columella;  southern  shells  have  a 
much  weaker  and  more  shallow  channel  in  this 
area.  (4)  Shell  thickness  -  Northern  shells  tend 
to  be  quite  thin  and  very  light  in  weight; 
southern  shells  are  often  thicker  and  heavier.  On 
Plate  1,  Images  1-8  illustrate  shells  of  a  more 
northern  morphology,  whereas  Images  9-16 
illustrate  shells  of  a  more  southern  morphology. 
The  remainder  of  the  specimens  on  all  three 
plates  show  a  mixture  of  characteristics  from 
the  typical  northern  and  southern  forms  and 
could  be  best  be  described  as  “intermediate” 
between  the  two  extremes.  Additional 
specimens  of  both  subspecies  in  their  more 
typical  forms  are  illustrated  on  Plates  32  and  33 


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in  Abalone  Worldwide  Hatiotidae  (Geiger  & 
Owen,  2012). 

There  is  debate  whether  the  species 
kamtschatkana  is  properly  parsed  into  two 
subspecies  {kamtschatkana  kamtschatkana  and 
kamtschatkana  assimilis ),  is  just  one  single 
highly  variable  species,  or  should  become  two 
different  species.  If  two  subspecies  or  even  two 
different  species  designation  is  indeed 
appropriate,  there  is  debate  on  the  range  and 
characteristics  of  the  two.  Owen  and  Raffety 
plan  to  consider  these  subjects,  review  countless 
shell  specimens  of  these  enigmatic  animals,  and 
draw  a  conclusion  of  how  these  issues  should  be 
resolved.  This  will  take  place  in  a  future 
publication,  so  for  the  time  being,  the  current 


designation  of  subspecies  is  being  withheld  for 
the  article  at  hand. 

REFERENCES 

Cox,  K,  W.  1962.  California  Abalones,  Family 
Haliotidae.  California  Department  of  Fish 
and  Game ,  Fish  Bulletin  118:1-131,  pis.  1-8. 
Dali  W.  H.  1878.  Description  of  a  new  species 
of  shell  from  California  in  the  collection  of 
the  National  Museum.  Proceedings  of  the 
United  States  National  Museum  1 :47-  48. 
Geiger,  D.  L.  &  Owen,  B.  2012.  Abalone 
Worldwide  Haliotidae.  Conchbooks , 
Hackenheim,  361  pp.,  92  pis. 

Jonas,  J.  I  I  1845.  Neue  Conchylien.  Zeitschrift 
fir  Malakozoologie  3:168-173. 


In  Memorlam 

Robert  Kershaw  of  Narooma,  Australia,  passed  away  on  July  1,  2016,  after  a  battle  with  an 
aggressive  form  of  skin  cancer.  He  will  be  sorely  missed  by  friends,  family  and  the  malacological 
community.  Robert  discovered  a  new  subspecies  of  abalone  on  Niue  Island,  which  was  named 
after  him  by  his  lifelong  friend  Buzz  Owen  as  Haliotis  jacnensis  kershawi  Owen,  2012.  A  more 
lengthy  and  proper  memoriam  is  being  written  by  Buzz  Owen  and  will  be  published  in  a  future 
issue  of  The  Festivus. 


Miriam  &  Buzz  Owen,  and  Robert  Kershaw  at  Lord  Howe  Is.  Haliotis  jacnensis  kershawi  Owen,  2012,  13.0  mm 

Robert  Kershaw  Collection 


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122.4 


117.3 


Plate  1 


All  Rows:  Haliotis  kamtschatkana  kamtschatkana/kamischatkana  assimilis .  1-8  =  more  “northern”  morphol¬ 
ogy.  9-16  =  more  “southern”  morphology.  Bottom  row  variable  (more  or  less  intermediate  morphology). 
Cambria  to  Point  Estero,  California.  20-25  m.  Live  taken  1961-1963. 


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Nutricola  lordi  (Baird,  1863)  [Bivalvia:  VenerMae]  depth  extension 
recorded  in  Puget  Sound,  Washington 

Angela  Eagleston1  and  Paul  Valentich-Scott2 

1  Washington  State  Department  of  Ecology,  300  Desmond  Dr.  SE,  Lacey  Washington  98503 

angela.eagleston@ecv.wa.gov 

2  Santa  Barbara  Museum  of  Natural  History,  2559  Puesta  del  Sol,  Santa  Barbara,  California  93105, 

pvscott@sbnature2.org 


INTRODUCTION 

Nutricola  lordi  (Baird,  1863)  is  a  small, 
moderately  common,  venerid  bivalve  extending 
from  the  Bering  Sea,  Alaska,  to  Punta  Pequefia, 
Baja  California  Sur,  Mexico  (Coan  &  Valentich- 
Scott,  2012).  Due  to  its  diminutive  size,  the 
species  is  often  overlooked  as  a  juvenile,  or 
misidentified.  We  herein  extend  the  known  depth 
distribution  of  N,  lordi  by  an  order  of  magnitude, 
and  provide  an  expanded  description  and 
illustrations  of  the  species. 

Coan  et  al.  (2000)  and  Coan  &  Valentich-Scott 
(2012)  record  the  bathymetric  distribution  of  N. 
lordi  (Baird,  1863)  to  extend  from  the  intertidal 
zone  to  22  m.  Based  on  records  from  Washington 
State  Department  of  Ecology  (Ecology),  the  depth 
for  N.  lordi  is  here  extended  by  over  240  m  (Table 
1,  Figure  1).  The  deepest  depth  recorded  by 
Ecology  for  N.  lordi  was  268  m,  collected  in  1992 
at  Historical  Station  26  (Central  Basin).  The 
earliest  Ecology  record  in  1989  shows  N.  lordi 
collected  at  195  m  from  Temporal  Station  38 
(Point  Fully).  Eagleston  and  Valentich-Scott 
examined  N  lordi  specimens  from  several  deep 
water  stations  to  confirm  the  old  Ecology  records 
and  to  validate  this  depth  extension. 

Description;  Shell  small  (to  10  mm),  trigonal, 
thick,  moderately  inflated;  beaks  small  but 
prominent;  subequilateral  to  posterior  end  slightly 
longer;  dorsal  margin,  strongly  sloping  down  from 
beaks;  anterior  and  posterior  ends  broadly 


rounded;  sculpture  of  commarginal  striae  and  fine 
ribs,  stronger  anteriorly;  periostracum  translucent, 
yellow-white,  shiny;  lunule  broad,  moderately 
shallow;  escutcheon  absent;  pallial  sinus  short, 
broad,  rounded,  directed  between  the  anterior 
adductor  muscle  scar  and  the  cardinal  teeth;  three 
cardinal  teeth  in  each  valve;  without  lateral  teeth. 
(See  Figures  2-4) 


Depth  distribution  for  Nutriaola  Mi  In  Puget  Sound 


Depth  (meters) 

Figure  1.  Depth  distribution  of  N.  lordi  in  Puget  Sound, 
Washington. 

REFERENCES 

Coan,  E.V.,  Valentich-Scott^  P.,  and  F.R. 
Bernard.  2000.  Bivalve  seashells  of  western 
North  America.  Marine  Bivalve  Mollusks 
from  Arctic  Alaska  to  Baja  California.  Santa 
Barbara  Museum  of  Natural  Histoiy 
Monographs  Number  2.  Studies  in 
Biodiversity  Number  2.  Santa  Barbara:  Santa 
Barbara  Museum  of  Natural  History.  764  pp. 


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Goan,  E.V.  and  Valentkh-Scott,  P.  2012. 

Bivalve  seashelk  of  tropical  west  America . 
Marine  bivalve  mollusks  from  Baja 
California  to  northern  Peru.  Santa  Barbara 


Museum  of  Natural  History,  Monographs  6. 
Studies  in  Biodiversity  4,  Santa  Barbara, 
California.  1258  pp. 


Material  examined 

Qty 

Project 

Station  ID 

Location 

Date 

Depth  (m) 

Historical 

14  (Rep  2) 

Hood  Canal,  Bangor 

01  April  1989 

133 

1  . 

Historical 

26  (Rep  1) 

Central  Basin 

01  April  1992 

268 

1 

Temporal 

29  (Rep  1) 

Shilshole 

18  April  2000 

199 

9 

Regional 

323 

Coon  Bay 

14  June  2004 

103 

97 

Regional 

3855 

Useless  Bay 

18  June  2014 

80 

Table  1.  Listing  of  “deep-water”  N.  lordi  specimens  examined  by  the  authors. 


Figure  2.  Typical  “deep-water”  (199  m)  N.  lordi  Figure  3.  Interior  and  exterior  views  of  N.  lordi. 

from  Puget  Sound  Washington. 


Figure  4.  Interior  view  of  hinge  of  right  valve  of  N.  lordi. 


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Viduoliva  tricolor  abbasi ,  new  subspecies  (Gastropoda:  Olividae) 
from  Indonesia 


Nguyen  Ngoc  Thach !  and  David  P.  Berschauer  2 


1  Former  Research  Associate,  Oceanographic  Institute  Nha  Trang,  Vietnam 
kurodashvietnam@vahoo.com 
2  25461  Barents  Street,  Laguna  Hills,  California  92653 
shellcollection@hotmail.com 


ABSTRACT  A  new  Viduoliva  Petuch  &  Sargent,  1986  taxon  is  described  from  Solor  Island, 
Indonesia  and  compared  with  Viduoliva  tricolor  (Lamarck,  1811),  Viduoliva  vidua  form  cincta 
(Dautzenberg,  1927),  Viduoliva  reticulata  form  azona  (Dautzenberg,  1927),  Miniaceoliva  irisans 
(Lamarck,  1811)  and  Mineaceoliva  caerulea  (Roding,  1798). 

KEYWORDS  Gastropoda,  Olivoidea,  Olividae,  Viduoliva ,  Solor  Island,  Indonesia,  new  subspecies. 


INTRODUCTION 

Viduoliva  is  a  major  genus  within  Olividae  with 
many  species  collected  in  Indonesia.  In  the 
summer  of  2011,  two  specimens  of  another 
Viduoliva  taxa  were  collected.  This  taxon  was 
not  included  in  the  works  by  Dharma  (2005), 
Thach  (2015),  Springsteen  &  Leobrera  (1986), 
Hinton  (1972),  Wilson  (1994),  Swennen  et  al. 
(2001),  Zeigler  (1969),  Abbott  &  Dance  (1986), 
Tursch  &  Greifeneder  (2001)  and  Sterba  (2003). 
In  this  article,  it  is  described  as  new  to  science. 

Abbreviations: 

ANSP  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences 
Philadelphia,  USA 

MNHN  Museum  National  d’Histoire  Naturelle, 

Paris,  France 
SH  Shell  height 

SYSTEMATICS: 

Class  Gastropoda  Cuvier,  1797 
Superfamily  Olivoidea  Latreille,  1825 
Family  Olividae  Latreille,  1825 
Genus  Viduoliva  Petuch  &  Sargent,  1986 
Type  species:  V  vidua  (Roding,  1798) 


Viduoliva  tricolor  abbasi  Thach  &  Berschauer 
new  subspecies  (Figures  1-10) 

Diagnosis:  Viduoliva  tricolor  abbasi  n.  ssp.  is 

readily  recognized  by  its  characteristic  grayish 
blue  color  without  orange  dashes,  widely- 
spaced  axial  stripes,  broad  or  numerous  spiral 
bands,  slightly  convex  lateral  sides  and  yellow 
plications  plate  with  highly  raised  plaits  at  the 
fasciole. 

Description:  Shell  medium-sized  for  the  genus 
(39.2-44.2  mm  in  height)  and  slightly 
cylindrical  in  shape  with  inflated  whorls.  Spire 
low  onion-shaped  and  ornamented  by  black 
tangential  strokes  with  orange  margins,  apex 
highly  raised.  Body  whorl  cloak  glossy  with 
slightly  convex  sides,  broad  double  spiral  band 
and  widely-spaced  axial  stripes,  pattern-free 
shoulder  zone  very  narrow.  Shell  width  48.4% 
of  shell  height  (after  measurements  made  on 
two  types).  Filament  channel  open  and 
occupying  1.5  whorls,  posterior  callus  slightly 
above  level  of  channel.  Anterior  band  with 
blackish  dots,  fasciole  with  highly  raised  plaits 
that  are  separated  by  deep  grooves.  Parietal  wall 
with  strong  distinct  and  regular  parietal  plaits. 


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Aperture  elongate  with  length  88.9%  of  shell 
height,  outer  lip  thick  with  numerous  black  dots 
at  outer  margin.  Color  grayish  blue  (without 
orange  dashes  on  dorsal  side)  with  darker  spiral 
bands  and  axial  stripes,  yellow  plications  plate, 
bluish  white  aperture  and  white  apex. 

Type  material:  Holotype  39.2  mm  SH  in  ANSP 
(Figures  1-5  &  10b).  Paratype  44.2  mm  SH  in 
MNHN  (Figures  6- 10a);  Holotype  and  Paratype 
from  type  locality. 

Type  locality:  Solor  Island,  Indonesia. 


Habitat:  The  specimens  were  found  at  30m 
from  the  shore  in  fine  white  sand  with  sea  grass 
on  sand  banks  off  Northeastern  part  of  Island. 

Etymology:  This  new  species  is  named  in  honor 
of  John  Abbas  who  discovered  the  type  material. 

DISCUSSION 

•  Viduoliva  tricolor  abbasi  n.ssp.  is  closest  to 
Viduoliva  tricolor  (Lamarck,  1811)  (Figure  11) 
but  differs  by  eight  characters  that  are 
summarized  in  Table  1. 


V.  tricolor  abbasi  n.  ssp. 

V.  tricolor 

Spiral 

bands 

Broad  or  more 

numerous 

Narrower  or  obsolete 

Axial 

stripes 

Widely-spaced 

Usually  obsolete 

Color 

Grayish  blue 

Three  colors 

Pattern 

Lacking 
orange  dashes 

With  numerous 
orange  dashes 

Lateral 

sides 

Slightly  convex 

Nearly  straight 

Plications 

plate 

Yellow  with  highly 
raised  plaits 

Yellowish  with  smooth 
or  slightly  raised  plaits 

Aperture 

Bluish  white 

White 

Mean 
adult  size 

Medium-sized 
(40-45  mm  high) 

Larger 

(50-55  mm  high) 

Table  1.  Comparison  of  Viduoliva  tricolor  abbasi  with  Viduoliva  tricolor 


•  Viduoliva  vidua  form  cincta  (Dautzenberg, 

1927)  (Figure  12)  differs  mainly  from  V 

tricolor  abbasi  by  not  convex  lateral  sides, 
white  (not  yellow)  plications  plate,  not  grayish 
blue  color  and  lacking  axial  stripes. 

•  Viduoliva  reticulata  form  azona  (Dautzenberg, 

1927)  (Figure  13)  differs  mainly  from  V 

tricolor  abbasi  by  tripartite  (not  bipartite) 
anterior  band,  not  grayish  blue  color,  cloak 
pattern  reaching  filament  channel  and  lacking 
axial  stripes. 


•  Miniaceoliva  irisans  (Lamarck,  1811)  (Figure 

14)  differs  mainly  from  V  tricolor  abbasi  by 
not  convex  lateral  sides,  not  grayish  blue  color, 
tripartite  (not  bipartite)  anterior  band,  plications 
plate  paler  in  color  and  lacking  axial  stripes. 

•  Miniaceoliva  caerulea  (Roding,  1798)  (Figure 

15)  differs  mainly  from  V  tricolor  abbasi  by 
purple  (not  bluish  white)  aperture,  not  greyish 
blue  color,  high  conical  (not  low  onion-shaped) 
spire,  ivory  white  (not  yellow)  plications  plate 
and  lacking  axial  stripes. 


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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

The  authors  sincerely  thank  Bernard  Tursch  and 
Dietmar  Greifeneder  for  the  photo  of  Viduoliva 
tricolor ,  and  Philippe  and  Guido  Poppe  for  the 
photo  of  Viduoliva  reticulata  form  azona. 
Thanks  are  also  due  to  the  anonymous 
reviewers  for  valuable  comments. 

REFERENCES 

Abbott,  T.  &  P.  Dance.  1986.  Compendium  of 
Seashells.  American  Malacologists  Inc, 
Florida,  USA,  411  pp. 

Dharma,  B.  2005.  Recent  &  Fossil  Shells  of 
Indonesia.  CondxBooks,  Hackenheim, 
Germany,  432  pp. 

Hinton,  A,  1972.  Shells  of  the  New  Guinea  and 
Central  Indo-Pacifc.  Jacandra  Press, 
Melbourne,  Australia,  98  pp. 

Sterba,  G.H.W.  2003.  Olividae  A  Collectors 
Guide.  ConchBooks,  Hackenheim,  Germany, 
172  pp. 


Swennen,  et  al  2001.  The  Molluscs  of  the 
Southern  Gulf  of  Thailand.  Biodiversity 
Research  and  Training  Program.  Bangkok, 
Thailand,  166  pp.  &  44  color  plates. 
Springsteen,  F.J.  &  F.M.  Leebrera.  1986. 
Shells  of  the  Philippines.  Carfel  Shell 
Museum,  Manila,  Philippines,  377  pp. 

Thach,  N.N.  2015.  Shells  of  Vietnam. 
ConchBooks,  Hackenheim,  Germany,  337  pp. 
and  91  color  plates. 

Tursch,  B.  &  D.  Greifeneder.  2001.  Oliva 
Shells.  The  Genus  Oliva  and  the  Species 
problem.  LTnformatore,  Piceno,  Italy  & 
Bosque  BMT,  Costa  Rica,  569  pp. 

Wilson,  B.  1994.  Australian  Marine  Shells.  Vol. 
II.  Odyssey  Publishing  Co.,  Kallaroo, 
Australia,  370  pp.  &  53  color  plates. 

Zeigler,  R.F.  1969.  Olive  Shells  of  the  world. 
Rochester  Polychrome  Press,  New  York, 
USA,  96  pp. 


C*P.  15011  Slo  Paulo  ■  8P  iraii!  01537-970 
shells@fem0ral6.com 


WWW.FEMORALE.COM 


Note  than  130  thousand  pictures,  new  shells  every  week 
from  all  over  the  world,  from  rare  to  common  species. 
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a 


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ISSUE  3 


Figures  1-10:  Viduoliva  tricolor  abbasi  n.  ssp.  Solor  Island,  Indonesia,  Figures  1-5  &  10b:  Holotype  (39.2  mm  SH)  in  ANSP; 
Figures  6-10a:  Paratype  1  (44.2  mm  SH)  in  MNHN;  Figure  11:  Viduoliva  tricolor  (Lamarck,  181 1)  for  comparison,  photo  of  Tursch 
&  Greifeneder;  Figure  12:  Viduoliva  vidua  form  cincta  (Dautzenberg,  1927),  48  mm  for  comparison;  Figure  13:  Viduoliva  reticulata 
form  azona  (Dautzenberg  1927),  29.1  mm  for  comparison,  photo  of  P.  &  G.  Poppe;  Figure  14:  Miniaceoliva  irisans  (Lamarck,  1811), 
53  mm  for  comparison;  Figure  15:  Miniaceoliva  caerulea  (Roding,  1798)  54.7  mm  for  comparison. 


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Five  New  Species  of  Jaspidiconus  Petuch,  2004  (Conilithidae:  Conilithinae)  from 
the  Caribbean  Molluscan  Province 

Edward  1.  Petuch1,  David  P.  Berschauer2,  and  Andre  Poremski3 

1  Department  of  Geosciences,  Florida  Atlantic  University,  Boca  Raton,  Florida  33431 
epetuch@fau.edu 

2  25461  Barents  Street,  Laguna  Hills,  California  92653 
shellcollection@hotmail.com 
3  51  S  Street  NW,  Washington,  DC  20001 
aporemski@gmail.com 


ABSTRACT 


Five  new  species  of  the  endemic  western  Atlantic  conilithid  genus  Jaspidiconus  Petuch,  2004  are 
described  from  the  Caribbean  Molluscan  Province:  Jaspidiconus  boriqua  n.  sp.  (endemic  to  Puerto 
Rico),  Jaspidiconus  culebranus  n.  sp.  (endemic  to  Culebra  Island),  Jaspidiconus  janapatriceae  n.  sp. 
(endemic  to  Grand  Cayman  Island),  Jaspidiconus  marcusi  n.  sp.  (endemic  to  Eleuthera  Island, 
Bahamas),  and  Jaspidiconus  masinoi  n.  sp.  (endemic  to  the  Utila  Cays,  Honduras).  With  the  addition 
of  these  five  new  taxa,  40  Jaspidiconus  species  have  now  been  described  from  the  Tropical  Western 
Atlantic  Region,  with  at  least  25  others  still  in  need  of  description. 


KEY  WORDS 

Conilithidae,  Jaspidiconus ,  Tropical  Western  Atlantic  Region,  Caribbean  Molluscan  Province, 
Bahamian  Subprovince,  Antillean  Subprovince,  Nicaraguan  Subprovince,  Jaspidiconus  boriqua, 
Jaspidiconus  culebranus,  Jaspidiconus  janapatriceae,  Jaspidiconus  marcusi,  Jaspidiconus  masinoi. 


Bahamas,  Puerto  Rico,  Honduras. 
INTRODUCTION 

The  conilithid  genus  Jaspidiconus  Petuch,  2004 
is  the  single  largest  group  of  cone  shells  found 
in  the  western  Atlantic,  containing  35  described 
species  and  at  least  25  still-undescribed  species. 
The  genus  also  represents  the  largest  single 
species  radiation  found  within  the  family 
Conilithidae,  rivalling  other  large  species 
radiations  seen  in  its  sister  family  Conidae  (such 
as  the  Africonus  species  complex  of  the  Cape 
Verde  Islands  (Berschauer,  2015)).  This 
species-richness  reflects  the  widespread 
biogeography  of  the  genus,  with  several  species 
complexes  being  restricted  to  the  three 


biogeographical  provinces  of  the  Tropical 
Western  Atlantic  Region  (the  Carolinian, 
Caribbean,  and  Brazilian  Molluscan  Provinces; 
see  Petuch  and  Sargent,  2011;  Petuch,  Myers, 
and  Berschauer,  2015).  As  in  many  conoideans, 
most  Jaspidiconus  species  exhibit  direct 
development  and  lack  a  long-lived 
planktotrophic  veliger.  Because  of  this  lack  of 
dispersibility  (vagility)  and  the  strong 
propensity  for  genetic  isolation,  most  of  the 
known  taxa  are  restricted  to  single  islands  or 
single  archipelagos,  allowing  for  a  proliferation 
of  endemic  species  (Berschauer,  2015). 

Recently,  three  new  Jaspidiconus  species  were 
brought  to  our  attention  by  several  renowned 


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shell  collectors  and  divers,  including  Dr .  Felix 
Lorenz  (a  new  species  from  Grand  Cayman 
Island),  Robert  Masino  (a  new  species  from,  the 
Utila  Cays,  Honduras),  and  Marcus  Coltro  (a 
new  species  from  Eleuthera  Island,  Bahamas). 
One  of  the  junior  authors,  Andre  Poremski,  also 
discovered  two  additional  new  species  from 
Puerto  Rico;  one  from  the  island  mainland  and 
one  from  nearby  Culebra  Island.  Altogether, 
five  new  species  are  described  here  and  these 
attest  to  the  amazing  conoidean  biodiversity  of 
the  Caribbean  Molluscan  Province.  The  new 
taxa  include: 

Jaspidiconus  boriqua  new  species  (endemic  to 
Puerto  Rico) 

Jaspidiconus  culebranus  new  species  (endemic 
to  Culebra  Island) 

Jaspidiconus  janapatriceae  new  species 
(endemic  to  Grand  Cayman  Island) 

Jaspidiconus  rnarcusi  new  species  (endemic  to 
southern  Eleuthera  Island,  Bahamas) 
Jaspidiconus  masinoi  new  species  (endemic  to 
the  Utila  Cays,  Honduras) 

The  holotypes  of  the  new  species  are  deposited 
in  the  molluscan  type  collection  of  the 
Department  of  Malacology,  Los  Angeles 
County  Museum  of  Natural  History,  Los 
Angeles,  California,  and  bear  LACM  numbers. 

SYSTEMATICS 

Class  Gastropoda 
Subclass  Sorbeoconcha 
Order  Prosobranchia 
Infraorder  Neogastropoda 
Superfamily  Conoidea 
Family  Conilithidae 
Subfamily  Conilithinae 
Genus  Jaspidiconus  Petuch,  2004 


Jaspidiconus  boriqua  Petuch,  Berschauer,  and 
Poremski,  new  species 
(Figure  1A  &  B) 

Description:  Shell  of  average  size  for  genus, 
fusiform,  biconic,  with  distinctly  rounded  sides; 
spire  high  and  elevated,  pyramidal;  shoulder 
sharply-angled,  distinctly  sloping,  bordered  by 
prominent,  overhanging  undulating  carina; 
carinal  undulations  proportionally  large, 
producing  distinct  coronations  on  shoulder  and 
spire  whorls;  body  whorl  polished  and  shiny, 
sculptured  with  15  deeply- incised  spiral  sulci, 
which  become  deeper  and  more  closely-packed 
toward  anterior  end;  areas  between  spiral  sulci 
ornamented  with  single  large,  wide,  raised 
pustulated  cord;  base  shell  color  violet-purple 
(as  in  holotype),  bright  pink,  or  purplish-pink; 
base  color  overlaid  with  prominent  large  dark 
reddish-brown  longitudinally-arranged 

amorphous  flammules,  often  arranged  in  a  zebra 
pattern;  evenly-spaced,  tiny  brown  dots  present 
on  raised  body  whorl  cords;  coronated  shoulder 
and  carina  marked  with  alternating  dark  brown 
and  purplish-white  spots,  with  brown  spots 
being  present  between  each  low  knob;  spire 
whorls  pale  violet,  marked  with  very  prominent, 
widely- spaced  dark  brown  amorphous 
flammules,  which  often  connect  to  brown 
longitudinal  body  whorl  flammules;  aperture 
wide  and  flaring,  becoming  wider  toward 
anterior  end,  cream-white  within  interior; 
protoconch  proportionally  large,  rounded, 
composed  of  2  whorls;  protoconch  and  early 
whorls  white;  periostracum  smooth,  pale  yellow, 
transparent. 

Type  Material:  Holotype:  length  20.7  mm,  on 
clean  coral  sand  near  reef,  3  m  depth  off  Playa 
Boqueron,  Cabo  Rojo,  southwestern  side  of 
Puerto  Rico,  Greater  Antilles,  Caribbean  Sea 
(collected  by  Andre  Poremski),  LACM  3351. 
Other  Material  Studied:  length  21.5  mm, 
same  locality  and  depth  as  the  holotype,  in  the 


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research  collection  of  E  J.  Petuch;  length  22.0 
mm,  same  locality  and  depth  as  the  holotype,  in 
the  collection  of  Andre  Poremski 

Type  Locality:  Off  Playa  Boqueron,  Cabo  Rojo, 
Puerto  Rico,  on  clean  carbonate  sand  in  3  m 
depth. 

Distribution:  At  present,  known  only  from  the 
southwestern  coast  of  Puerto  Rico,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Cabo  Rojo. 

Ecology:  The  new  species  prefers  clean 
carbonate  sand  substrates  near  coral  reefs  and 
sea  grass  beds  in  depths  of  2-3  m. 

Etymology:  Named  for  the  “Boriquas”,  the 
Arawak-based  name  to  which  native  Puerto 
Ricans  refer  to  themselves;  in  reference  to  the 
new  species  being  endemic  to  Puerto  Rico. 
Named  as  a  noun  in  apposition. 

Discussion:  Of  the  known  Caribbean  Province 
Jaspidiconus  species,  J.  horiqua  is  most  similar 
to  the  southern  Caribbean  Sea  J  jaspideus 
(Gmelin,  1791)  from  Trinidad  and  Tobago  and 
the  northern  Venezuelan  islands  (southern 
Grenadian  Subprovince)  and  the  coast  of 
Venezuela  (Venezuelan  Subpro vince)  (Petuch, 
2013:  133,  figure  9.4C).  The  new  northern 
Caribbean  (Antillean  Subprovince)  species 
differs  from  its  southern  Caribbean  (Grenadian 
and  Venezuelan  Subpro vinces)  congener  in 
being  a  smaller,  more  slender,  and  more 
fusiform  shell  with  more  rounded  sides,  and  in 
being  a  less  sculptured  shell  that  lacks  the 
prominent  large  bead-like  pustules  seen  on  the 
body  whorl  and  spire  of  J.  jaspideus .  The  new 
Puerto  Rican  cone  is  also  a  more  colorful 
species,  having  a  bright  violet  or  pinkish-violet 
base  color  and  distinctive  reddish-brown 
longitudinal  flammules. 


Jaspidiconus  culebranus  Petuch,  Berschauer, 
and  Poremski,  new  species 
(Figure  1C  &  D) 

Description:  Shell  of  average  size  for  genus, 
elongately  fusiform,  biconic,  with  slightly 
rounded  sides;  shoulder  sharply-angled, 
subcarinated;  spire  high  and  protracted,  slightly 
stepped,  pyramidal;  body  whorl  smooth  and 
shiny,  ornamented  with  12-15  evenly-spaced 
incised  spiral  sulci,  which  become  stronger  and 
more  closely-packed  toward  anterior  end;  entire 
shell  uniform  pale  cream-white  or  whitish- 
orange,  becoming  darker  on  spire  whorls; 
aperture  proportionally  wide,  pale  yellow-cream 
within  interior;  protoconch  proportionally  large, 
rounded,  composed  of  2  lA  whorls,  pale  cream- 
orange  in  color;  periostracum  thin,  smooth, 
transparent  yellow. 

Type  Material:  Holotype:  length  17. 7  mm,  in  4 
m  depth,  within  pockets  of  clean  sand  among 
Turtle  Grass  beds,  near  the  municipal  landfill  on 
Culebra  Island,  off  eastern  Puerto  Rico 
(collected  by  Andre  Poremski),  LACM  3352. 
Other  Material  Studied:  length  16.9  mm, 
same  locality  and  depth  as  the  holotype,  in  the 
research  collection  of  EJ.  Petuch;  length  16.4 
mm,  same  locality  as  the  holotype,  in  the 
collection  of  Andre  Poremski. 

Type  Locality:  4  m  depth,  within  pockets  of 
clean  sand  among  Turtle  Grass  ( Thalassia 
testudinum)  beds,  offshore  of  the  municipal 
landfill,  Culebra  Island,  northern  Caribbean  Sea. 

Distribution:  At  present,  known  only  from 
Culebra  Island  off  the  eastern  coast  of  Puerto 
Rico.  The  species  is  apparently  endemic  to 
Culebra. 

Ecology:  The  new  species  prefers  dean 
carbonate  sand  substrates,  in  3-4  m  depths,  near 
Turtle  Grass  {Thalassia  testudinum )  beds. 


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Etymology:  Named  for  the  type  locality, 
Culebra  Island  (“Snake  Island”  in  Spanish). 

Discussion:  In  size,  shape,  and  height  of  the 
spire,  the  new  Culebra  Island  endemic  is  most 
similar  to  Jaspidiconus  boriqua  (described  in 
the  previous  section),  but  differs  in  being  an 
uncolored,  uniformly  pale  shell  which  lacks  any 
type  of  color  pattern  or  markings  and  in  being  a 
smoother,  less-sculptured  shell  that  lacks  any 
raised  cords,  beads,  and  shoulder  coronations. 
As  can  be  seen  on  Figure  1A,  B,  C  &  D),  the 
protoconch  of  J  culebranus  is  proportionally 
much  larger  and  more  bulbous  than  that  of  the 
closely-related  J.  boriqua .  The  rich  pale  orange- 
cream  shell  color  of  the  new  Culebra  cone  is 
distinctive  and  is  not  seen  on  any  other  known 
Caribbean  congener. 

Jaspidiconus  janapatriceae  Petuch,  Berschauer, 
and  Poremski,  new  species 
(Figure  IE  &  F) 

Description:  Shell  small  for  genus,  fusiform, 
with  only  slightly  rounded  sides;  shoulder 
sharply-angled,  bordered  by  large,  well- 
developed  smooth  prominent  carina;  spire 
subpyramidal,  only  slightly  stepped;  spire 
whorls  smooth  and  unsculptured;  body  whorl 
smooth  and  shiny,  with  8  10  deeply-incised 
spiral  sulci  around  anterior  one-half  of  body 
whorl;  posterior  one-half  of  body  whorl  smooth 
and  unsculptured;  entire  shell  uniformly  pure 
white;  aperture  proportionally  wide  and  flaring, 
becoming  wider  toward  anterior  end,  pure  white 
within  interior,  protoconch  proportionally  large, 
rounded,  composed  of  2  whorls,  pure  white  in 
color;  periostracum  thin,  smooth,  transparent 
yellow. 

Type  Material:  Holotype:  length  16.0  mm,  on 
open  carbonate  sand  sea  floor  in  4  m  depth,  near 
George  Town,  Grand  Cayman  Island,  Cayman 
Islands,  western  Caribbean  Sea  (collected  by  Dr. 


Felix  Lorenz),  LACM  3353.  Other  Material 
Studied:  2  specimens,  lengths  15.5  mm  and 
16.2  mm,  same  locality  and  depth  as  the 
holotype,  in  the  research  collection  of  E.J. 
Petuch;  2  specimens,  lengths  15.7  mm  and  16.0 
mm,  in  the  collection  of  Andre  Poremski;  and  1 
specimen,  length  15.7  mm,  in  the  collection  of 
David  P.  Berschauer. 

Type  Locality:  4  m  depth  on  clean  carbonate 
sand,  near  George  Town,  Grand  Cayman  Island, 
Cayman  Islands,  western  Caribbean  Sea. 

Distribution:  Known  only  from  Grand  Cayman 
Island,  Cayman  Islands. 

Ecology:  The  new  species  prefers  clean 
carbonate  sand  and  open  sea  floors,  in  depths  of 
2-5  m. 

Etymology:  Named  for  Jana  Patricia  Kratzsch 
of  Giessen,  Germany,  noted  underwater 
photographer  and  naturalist,  and  life  companion 
of  Felix  Lorenz. 

Discussion:  Jaspidiconus  janapatriceae  stands 
out  from  all  the  other  known  Caribbean 
Jaspidiconus  species  by  being  so  unusually 
generalized  and  beautifully  simplistic;  the  shell 
is  only  pure  white  and  lacks  any  coloring  or 
color  pattern  and,  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
incised  sulci  around  the  anterior  half  of  the  body 
whorl,  it  is  essentially  smooth,  lacking  any 
raised  cords,  pustules,  or  coronations.  Besides 
its  smaller-than-average  size,  the  main 
distinguishing  feature  of  the  new  Caymanian 
cone  is  the  well- developed  shoulder  carina, 
which  is  proportionally  larger  than  other 
congeners  and  which  tends  to  extend  beyond  the 
edge  of  the  shoulder  angle. 


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Jaspidiconus  marcusi  Petuch,  Berschauer,  and 
Poremski,  new  species 
(Figure  1G  &  H) 

Description:  Shell  very  small  for  genus, 
averaging  only  9  mm,  stocky,  truncated,  broad 
across  shoulder;  shoulder  sharply-angled, 
bordered  by  thin  sharp  carina;  spire 
proportionally  low,  subpyramidal,  only  slightly 
stepped;  body  whorl  smooth  and  shiny, 
ornamented  with  10-12  deeply-incised  spiral 
sulci  around  anterior  one-half;  base  shell  color 
pale  Canary  yellow,  overlaid  with  wide,  evenly- 
spaced  deep  orange-yellow  amorphous 
longitudinal  flammules  arranged  in  zebra 
pattern;  shoulder  carina  white,  marked  with 
widely-spaced  dark  reddish-brown  elongated 
spots;  spire  whorls  bright  yellow,  marked  with 
large,  widely-spaced  dark  reddish-brown 
flammules;  aperture  proportionally  wide,  bright 
yellow  within  interior;  protoconch 
proportionally  very  large,  rounded,  bulbous, 
composed  of  2  whorls,  bright  cherry  red  in  color; 
periostraeum  thin,  smooth,  transparent  yellow. 

Type  Material:  Holotype:  length  9.0  mm,  on 
open  carbonate  sand  sea  floor,  3  m  depth  off 
Tarpum  Bay,  Eleutliera  Island,  eastern  Exuma 
Sound,  Bahamas,  LACM  3354  (collected  by 
Marcus  Coltro);  Other  Material  Studied: 
length  9.0  mm,  same  locality  and  depth  as 
holotype,  in  the  research  collection  of  E.J. 
Petuch;  length  8.7  mm,  same  locality  as  the 
holotype,  in  the  collection  of  David  P. 
Berschauer;  length  10.5  mm,  same  locality  as 
the  holotype,  in  the  collection  of  Andre 
Poremski. 

Type  Locality:  On  carbonate  sand  in  3  m  depth, 
off  Tarpum  Bay,  Eleuthera  Island,  eastern 
Exuma  Sound,  Bahamas. 


Distribution:  Known  only  from  the  Exuma 
Sound  area  of  southern  Eleuthera  Island, 
Bahamas,  near  Tarpum  Bay. 

Ecology:  The  new  Bahamian  cone  prefers  open 
sea  floors  in  quiet,  sheltered  lagoons,  where  it 
lives  on  substrates  composed  of  fine,  clean 
carbonate  sand  and  silt. 

Etymology:  Named  for  the  renowned  diver, 
shell  collector,  and  shell  dealer,  Marcus  Coltro, 
of  Sao  Paulo,  Brazil  and  Miami,  Florida,  who 
discovered  the  new  species  in  Tarpum  Bay. 

Discussion:  Of  the  7  known  Bahamian 
Jaspidiconus  species  (see  Petuch,  2013:  81-85; 
Petuch,  Myers,  and  Berschauer,  2015; 
Berschauer,  2015),  J  marcusi  is 
morphologically  closest  only  to  J.  oleiniki 
Petuch,  2013  from  the  Bimini  Chain  of  islands 
along  the  western  side  of  the  Great  Bahama 
Bank  (see  Petuch,  2013:  85).  Both  species  share 
the  same  stocky,  broad  shell  shape  and  the  same 
type  of  subpyramidal  spire,  but  the  Biminian  J, 
oleiniki  differs  in  being  a  larger  shell  with  a 
much  more  stepped  spire,  and  in  lacking  the 
bright  yellow  base  color  of  J.  marcusi ,  and 
having,  instead,  a  pure  white  shell  with  large 
pale  orange-pink  blotches.  The  Eleutheran  J. 
marcusi  also  has  a  more  colorful  spire,  marked 
with  large  reddish-brown  flammules,  and  has 
small  brown  spots  along  the  shoulder  carina; 
these  characters  are  missing  on  the  Biminian  J. 
oleiniki . 

Jaspidiconus  masinoi  Petuch,  Berschauer,  and 
Poremski,  new  species 
(Figure  1  I  &  J) 

Description:  Shell  of  average  size  for  genus, 
fusiform,  slightly  inflated,  with  rounded  sides; 
shoulder  sharply-angled,  bordered  by  low, 
rounded  carina;  spire  distinctly  subpyramidal, 
only  slightly  stepped;  body  whorl  smooth  and 


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shiny,  sculptured  with  12-15  incised  spiral  sulci, 
which  become  deeper  and  closer  together 
toward  anterior  end;  body  whorl  base  color  pink 
or  pale  lavender  (as  on  holotype),  overlaid  with 
12-15  rows  of  alternating  brown  and  white  spots 
and  also  numerous  widely-spaced  amorphous 
dark  tan  or  brown  longitudinal  flammules; 
shoulder  carina  white,  marked  with  widely- 
spaced  small  brown  dots;  suture  of  spire  whorls 
edged  with  tiny,  evenly-spaced  brown  dots; 
some  specimens  (such  as  the  specimen  in  the 
Poremski  collection)  are  uniformly  pale  pink, 
with  only  traces  of  longitudinal  flammules  and 
bands  of  dots;  aperture  proportionally  wide  and 
flaring,  becoming  wider  at  the  anterior  end, 
deep  purplish-pink  within  interior;  protoconch 
and  early  whorls  pale  orange- white;  protoconch 
proportionally  large,  rounded,  composed  of  2 
whorls;  periostracum  thin,  smooth,  transparent 
yellow. 

Type  Material:  Holotype:  length  12.1  mm, 
collected  at  night  on  fine  carbonate  sand  near 
Turtle  Grass  beds,  in  7  m  depth  off  Sandy  Cay, 
Utila  Cays,  Honduras  (collected  by  Robert 
Masino),  LACM  3355;  Other  Material 
Studied:  length  13.0  mm,  same  locality  as  the 
holotype,  in  the  research  collection  of  E.J. 
Petuch;  length  12.0  mm,  same  locality  as  the 
holotype,  in  the  collection  of  Andre  Poremski. 

Type  Locality:  5-7  m  depth  on  fine,  clean 
carbonate  sand  near  Turtle  Grass  beds,  off 
Sanday  Cay,  Utila  Cays,  Honduras,  Western 
Caribbean  Sea. 

Distribution:  Known  only  from  the  Utila  Cays 
of  the  Caribbean  coast  of  Honduras. 

Ecology:  The  new  Honduran  cone  prefers  clean, 
fine  carbonate  sand  and  silt,  near  Turtle  Grass 

(: Thalassia  testudinum)  beds,  in  5-7  m  depths. 


Etymology:  Named  for  Robert  Masino  of 
Naples,  Florida,  renowned  diver,  shell  collector, 
tour  guide,  and  amateur  naturalist,  in 
recognition  of  his  generous  donations  of  rare 
specimens  to  research  malacologists.  These 
have  led  to  many  important  contributions  to 
Caribbean  malacology. 

Discussion:  Of  the  Honduran  Jaspidiconus 
species,  J.  masinoi  is  most  similar  to  J. 
roatanensis  Petuch  and  Sargent,  2011  from 
Roatan  Island.  Both  species  are  of  similar  size 
and  have  the  same  type  of  stocky,  inflated  shell 
form  with  rounded  sides.  Jaspidiconus  masinoi, 
however,  is  a  more  elongated  and  much  more 
colorful  shell,  having  a  base  color  of  bright  pink 
or  lavender,  marked  with  rows  of  brown  dots 
and  large  brown  flammules.  Jaspidiconus 
roatanensis,  on  the  other  hand,  is  a  pure  white 
shell  with  a  zebra-like  pattern  of  slender 
reddish-brown  longitudinal  flammules  {see 
Petuch  and  Sargent,  2011;  Petuch,  2013:105) 
and  characteristically  exhibits  rows  of  small 
pustules  on  the  body  whorl.  This  pustulated 
ornamentation  is  missing  on  the  new  Utila  Cays 
cone.  The  distinctive  deep  purple-pink  color 
seen  inside  the  aperture  of  J.  masinoi  is  unique 
among  Western  Caribbean  Jaspidiconus  species, 
and  readily  separates  it  from  similar-appearing 
taxa. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

The  authors  thank  Robert  Masino  (Naples, 
Florida),  Dr.  Felix  Lorenz  (Giessen,  Germany), 
and  Marcus  Coltro  (Sao  Paulo,  Brazil  and 
Miami,  Florida)  for  their  generous  donations  of 
study  specimens. 


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REFERENCES 

Berschauer,  D.P.  2015.  A  comparison  of 
adaptive  radiation  in  Conidae  and 
ConilitMdae  (Gastropoda:  Conoidea)  in  the 
Eastern  and  Western  Atlantic,  together  with 
an  iconography  of  the  conilithid  genus 
Jaspidiconus.  The  Festivus  47(2):99-l  13. 

Petuch,  E.J.  2013.  Biogeography  and 
Biodiversity  of  Western  Atlantic  Mollusks . 


CRC  Press,  London,  New  York,  Boca  Raton. 
234  pp. 

Petuch,  E.J.  and  D.M.  Sargent  2011.  New 
Species  of  Conidae  and  ConilitMdae 
(Gastropoda)  from  the  Tropical  Americas  and 
Philippines,  with  Notes  on  Some  Poorly- 
Known  Species.  Visaya  3(3):37-58. 

Petuch,  E.J.,  R.  Myers,  and  D.P.  Berschauer. 
2015.  Additions  to  the  Cone  Shell  Faunas  of 
Australia  and  Aruba  (Conidae,  Conilithidae). 
The  Festivus  47(3):2 19-228. 


Figure  1.  New  Species  of  Jaspidiconus  Petuch.  2004  from  Puerto  Riee,  Culebra  Island,  Grand  Cayman  Island,  Eleuthera 
Island,  and  the  Until  Cays.  Images:  A,  B-  Jaspidiconus  boriqua  new  species.  Holotype,  length  20.7  mm,  LACM  3351.  From  3  m 
depth  off  Playa  Boqueron,  Cabo  Rojo,  Puerto  Rico.  C,  D=  Jaspidiconus  culehranus  new  species.  Holotype,  length  17.7  mm,  LACM 
3352.  From  4  m  depth,  off  the  public  landfill  on  Culebra  Island,  Puerto  Rico.  E,  F-  Jaspidiconus  janapatriceae  new  species.  Holotype, 
length  16.0  mm,  LACM  3353.  From  4  m  depth  off  George  Town,  Grand  Cayman  Island,  Cayman  Islands.  G,  H=  Jaspidiconus 
marcusi  new  species.  Holotype,  length  9.0  mm,  LACM  3354.  From  3  m  depth  off  Tarpum  Bay,  Eleuthera  Island,  Bahamas.  I,  J= 
Jaspidiconus  masinoi  new  species.  Holotype,  length  12.1  mm,  LACM  3355.  From  7  m  depth  off  Sandy  Cay,  UtiSa  Cays,  Honduras. 


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Some  spotted  cone  shells  (subfamily  Conilithinae) 
from  the  East  Pacific  region 

John  K.  Tucker 

Illinois  Natural  History  Survey  (Retired) 

731  Cantonment,  Rantoul,  Illinois  61866 
johntucker@gtewc.com 


179 


INTRODUCTION 

Compared  to  the  Western  Atlantic  cone  shells, 
there  are  relatively  few  East  Pacific  cone  shells. 
Tenorio,  et  al.  (2012)  identified  44  species  that 
they  placed  in  two  families  containing  21 
genera.  Most  of  the  species  (3 1  species)  belong 
in  the  family  Conidae.  Another  13  species  are 
members  of  the  family  Conilithidae.  In  contrast 
Kohn  (2014)  listed  more  than  50  valid  species 
of  cone  shells  from  the  Western  Atlantic  despite 
excluding  species  endemic  to  Brazil  and  those 
described  after  2011.  It  seems  likely  then  that 
there  are  about  twice  as  many  Western  Atlantic 
cone  shells  as  there  are  East  Pacific  cone  shells. 

Consequently  the  availability  of  a 
comprehensive  volume  on  all  of  the  East  Pacific 
cone  shell  species  (i.e.,  Tenorio,  et  al. ,  2012) 
should  simplify  identifications  for  these  species. 
It  should  be  noted  that  no  new  species  have 
been  described  after  Tenorio,  et  al  (2012)  was 
published.  Contrast  that  record  to  the  near 
overwhelming  number  of  new  species  described 
from  the  Western  Atlantic,  West  African,  and 
Indo-Pacific  regions.  Their  validity  is  not  the 
issue  here,  but  their  existence  makes  cone  shells 
difficult  to  study  for  those  that  do  not  have 
access  to  all  of  the  primary  literature,  something 
that  most  collectors  do  not  have. 

Despite  the  relative  stability  of  the  taxonomy  of 
the  East  Pacific  species,  some  problem  areas 
seem  to  remain.  A  series  of  short  articles  are 
planned  to  address  the  most  important  problem 
areas  in  a  simple  format  utilizing  descriptive 


illustrations  and  figure  captions  rather  than  the 
full  scale  sort  of  descriptions.  Such  descriptions 
are  already  published  along  with  comprehensive 
illustrations  by  Tenorio,  et  al.  (2012).  those 
interested  in  the  East  Pacific  cone  shells  should 
consult  that  book. 

This  first  article  considers  identifications  for 
five  species  of  spotted  cone  shells  that  belong  in 
the  Conilithidae  (Figures  1  and  2,  herein).  The 
Conilithidae  have  radular  teeth  that  do  not  have 
serrations  or  a  terminating  cusp  (Tucker  & 
Tenorio,  2009;  Tenorio,  et  al.,  2012;  Figure  3, 
herein).  These  are  species  that  Duda  &  Kohn 
(2005)  included  in  their  small  major  clade  based 
on  molecular  phylogenetics.  The  molecular 
based  phylogenetics  were  actually  reproduced 
in  an  independent  cladistic  analysis  of  radular 
and  shell  anatomy  done  by  Tucker  &  Tenorio 
(2009,  text-fig.  13). 

REFERENCES 

Chaney,  H.  W.  1987.  A  comparative  study  of 
two  similar  Panamic  cones:  Conus  ximenes 

and  Conus  mahoganl  The  Veliger  29:428- 
436. 

Duda,  T.  F.,  Jr.  &  Kohn,  A.  J.  2005.  Species- 
level  phylogeography  and  evolutionary 
history  of  the  hyperdiverse  marine  gastropod 
genus  Conus.  Molecular  Phylogenetics  and 
Evolution  34:257-272. 

Kohn,  A.  J.  2014.  Conus  of  the  Southeastern 
United  States  and  Caribbean.  Princeton 
University  Press,  Princeton,  New  Jersey,  xiii 
+  457  pp. 


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Tenorio,  M,  X,  Tucker,  J.  K.,  &  Chaney,  H. 
W.  2012.  A  Conchological  Iconography: The 
Families  Conilithidae  and  Conidae,  The 
Cones  of  the  Eastern  Pacific.  ConchBooks, 
Hackenheim,  Germany,  1 12  pp. 

Tucker,  J.  K.  1985.  Conus  ximenes  I.  E.  Gray, 
1839,  Conus  mahogany  [sic]  Reeve,  1843  and 
friends.  Shells  and  Sea  Life  17(8):20 1-202. 
Tucker,  J.  K.  2007.  Conus  ximenes  and  C 
mahogam:  two  similar  but  distinct  species. 
The  Cone  Collector  2:5-10. 


Tucker,  J.  K.  &  Tenorio,  M.  J.  2009. 
Systematic  Classification  of  Recent  and 
Fossil  Conoidean  Gastropods,  with  Keys  to 
the  Genera  of  Cone  Shells.  ConchBooks, 
Hackenheim,  Germany,  296  pp. 

Tucker,  J.  K.  &  Tenorio,  M.  J.  2013. 
Illustrated  Catalog  of  the  Living  Cone  Shells. 
MdM  Publishing,  Wellington,  Florida,  iv  + 
517  pp. 


Figure  1.  Two  species  of  Ximeniconus  from 
the  East  Pacific.  Figure  1(1).  Specimen  of 
Ximeniconus  mahogam,  34.4  mm  shell  length, 
from  Venado  Island,  Panama,  fllinois  Natural 
History  Survey  (INHS)  44548.  Note  the 
absence  of  a  row  of  small  spots  along  the 
suture  between  adjacent  whorls  (Fig.  1(1A). 
Figure  1(1  A).  Specimen  of  Ximeniconus 
mahogam,  26.1  mm  shell  length,  from 
Quevedo,  Sinaloa,  West  Mexico  (John  K. 
Tucker  collection  (JKT)  6577)  that  is  not  so 
darkly  colored  as  is  the  one  shown  in  Figure 
1(1).  Body  also  has  well-spaced,  pustulose 
spiral  ridges  but  spire  is  not  scalariform  and 
posterior  notch  is  shallow  confirming  the 
identification  as  X.  mahogam  despite  the  light 
coloration.  An  enlargement  of  the  spire  is 
shown  demonstrating  the  absence  of  a  row  of 
spots  along  the  suture  between  adjacent 
whorls,  which  is  present  in  X.  ximenes.  The 
spire  whorls  of  G.  tomatus  are  distinctly 
scalariform  but  like  X.  mahogam  do  not  have 
that  row  of  small  spots  along  the  suture  (Fig. 
3(4)).  Figure  1(2).  Specimen  of  Ximeniconus 
ximenes  52.6  mm  shell  length  from  San 
Felipe,  Baja  California,  Mexico,  Manuel  J. 
Tenorio  (MIT)  collection.  Arrow  points  to  a 
row  of  small  spots  along  the  suture  between 
adjacent  whorls  (also  see  enlargement  in 
Figure  1(2A).  These  spots  are  only  present  in 
X.  ximenes  (Tucker,  1985  and  2007;  Chaney, 
1987).  The  enlargement  of  the  anterior  end  of 
X.  ximenes  in  Fig.  2(2B)  shows  the  lack  of 
development  of  an  anterior  notch  (compare  to 
Fig.  2(5A». 


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Figure  2.  Three  related  species  of  Conilithinae  from  the  East  Pacific.  Figure  2(3).  Specimen  of  Globiconus  baccatus,  23.3  mm  shell 
length,  from  Golfo  de  Chiriqui,  Panama  MJT  collection.  Figure  2(4).  Specimen  of  Globiconus  tomatus,  38.1  mm  shell  length,  dredged 
off  Cabo  San  Lucas,  Mexico,  INHS  44502.  The  scalariform  spire  is  shown  in  Fig.  4A  and  the  absence  of  an  anterior  notch  at  the 
anterior  end  in  Fig.  4B.  Figure  2(5).  Specimen  of  Perplexiconus  perplexus,  31.4  mm  shell  length,  from  Isla  Santa  Clara,  Mexico  INHS 
44742.  Arrow  points  to  the  pronounced  anterior  notch  located  at  the  anterior  end  of  the  shell  of  P.  perplexus.  The  anterior  notch  is 
enlarged  in  Fig.  5A.  This  structure  is  only  well  developed  in  Perplexiconus. 


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ISSUES 


Figure  3.  Drawings  of  the  radular  teeth  of  various  spotted  cones  from  the  East  Pacific  all  belonging  to  Conilithinae.  All  drawings  were 
previously  published  by  Tenorio  et  al. ,  2012  or  by  Tucker  &  Tenorio,  2013.  Drawings  vary  in  scale.  See  Tenorio  et  al ,  2012  for 
further  information  on  sources  and  citations.  Genus  Ximeniconus  Emerson  &  Old,  1962.  Figure  3(1).  Ximeniconus  mahogani  (Reeve, 
1843).  Sonora,  Mexico.  Specimen  SBMNH  424126.  Tooth  Length  (TL)  =  1.07  mm;  Shell  Length  (SL)  =  38.5  mm;  drawing  from 
Tucker  &  Tenorio,  2009,  pi.  XV,  fig.  10.  Figure  3(2).  Ximeniconus  ximenes  (J.  E.  Gray,  1839).  Golfo  de  Panama.  TL  =  1.37  mm;  SL  = 
45.2  mm,  drawing  from  Tucker  &  Tenorio,  2009,  pi  XV,  fig.  9.  Genus  Globiconus  Tucker  &  Tenorio,  2009.  Figure  3(3).  Globiconus 
baccatus  (G.  B.  Sowerby  HI,  1877).  Specimen  SBMNH  150658,  Mas  Secas,  Golfo  de  Chiriqui,  Panama.  TL  =  0.54  mm;  SL  =  21  mm, 
drawing  from  Tenorio  et  al,  2012,  pi.  1,  fig.  1.  Figure  3(4).  Globiconus  tomatus  (G.  B.  Sowerby  I,  1833).  Gulf  of  Panama.  TL  =  0.5 
mm;  SL  =  21.9  mm,  drawing  from  Tucker  &  Tenorio,  2009,  pi.  XIII,  fig.  22.  Arrow  points  to  the  internal  tubular  structure 
characteristic  of  Globiconus  found  in  the  radula  tooth  of  G.  tomatus  and  G.  baccatus.  Genus  Perplexicottm  Tucker  &  Tenorio,  2009 
Figure  3(5).  Perplexiconus  perplexus  (G.  B.  Sowerby  II,  1857).  Specimen  SBMNH  150818,  Sonora,  Mexico.  TL  =  0.45  mm;  SL  =  27 
mm,  drawing  from  Tucker  &  Tenorio,  2013,  p.  27. 


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A  New  Species  of  Miliariconus  Tucker  and  Tenorio,  2009  (Conidae:  Puncticulinae) 
from  the  Northern  Red  Sea 


Edward  J.  Petuch1  and  David  P.  Berschauer2 
1  Department  of  Geosciences,  Florida  Atlantic  University,  Boca  Raton,  Florida  3343 1 
epetuch@fau.edu 

2  25461  Barents  Street,  Laguna  Hills,  California  92653 
shellcollection@hotmail.com 


ABSTRACT  A  new  shallow  water,  coral  reef-dwelling  cone  shell  of  the  genus  Miliariconus  Tucker 
and  Tenorio,  2009  is  described  from  the  Sinai  Peninsula  and  Gulf  of  Aqaba  (Gulf  of  Elat)  of  Egypt 
and  Israel.  The  new  species,  Miliariconus  sinaiensis,  is  most  similar,  especially  in  color  pattern,  to  M 
fulgetrum  from  Japan  and  the  Ryukyu  Islands  of  the  northwestern  Pacific,  but  differs  in  being  a 
smaller  and  smoother  shell  with  less-developed  shoulder  knobs,  and  in  having  a  base  shell  color  of 
bright  pink  or  salmon  pink.  The  new  Red  Sea  cone  is  endemic  to  the  southern  Gulf  of  Suez,  the  coast 
of  the  Sinai  Peninsula,  and  to  the  Gulf  of  Aqaba. 


KEY  WORDS  Conidae,  Miliariconus ,  Red  Sea,  Sinai  Peninsula,  Gulf  of  Aqaba,  Gulf  of  Elat,  Egypt, 
Israel. 


INTRODUCTION 

The  expansion  of  global  tourism  during  the 
early  21st  Century  has  resulted  in  greatly- 
improved  travel  conditions  to  previously- 
inaccessible  tropical  and  subtropical  areas 
around  the  world.  One  of  the  most  understudied 
of  these  newly-available  venues  is  the  Sinai 
Peninsula  and  Gulf  of  Aqaba  (Gulf  of  Elat)  of 
the  northern  Red  Sea.  In  response  to  the 
demands  of  an  ever-increasing  population  of 
tourists,  many  new  resorts  have  been  built  in  the 
cities  of  Sharm  el-Sheikh  (Egypt)  and  Elat 
(Israel)  and  these  have  acted  as  “base  camps” 
for  divers  and  exploratory  conchologists.  The 
Egyptian  and  Israeli  beach  resorts  have  allowed 
shell-collecting  divers  to  have  access  to  many 
previously-unexplored  marine  habitats,  in 
particular  the  shallow  fringing  reefs  that  line  the 
southern  Sinai  Peninsula.  Within  these 
extensive  reef  complexes,  a  large  resident  fauna 
of  cone  shells  occurs,  with  at  least  15  species 
and  subspecies  of  the  family  Conidae,  several  of 


which  are  endemic  to  the  area.  Some  of  the 
endemic  taxa,  such  as  Calamiconus  quercinus 
akabensis,  Cylinder  textile  neovicarius , 
Harmoniconus  sharmiensis,  and  Pionoconus 
nigropunctatus  elatensis  are  eagerly  sought 
after  by  shell  collectors  and  are  also  considered 
to  be  of  special  interest  to  marine 
biogeographers  and  evolutionary  biologists. 

The  Gulf  of  Aqaba  (which  is  referred  to  as  the 
Gulf  of  Elat  by  the  Israelis)  is  a  shallow, 
elongated  bay  that  originated  as  an  ancillary  rift 
valley  off  the  main  Red  Sea  Rift  System  (Ben- 
Avraham,  1985).  Having  formed  during  the  late 
Oligocene  and  early  Miocene  Epochs,  this 
narrow,  fjord-like  body  of  sea  water  has  had 
several  episodes  of  altered  oceanographic 
conditions,  varying  from  high  salinity-  high 
productivity  conditions  to  normal  salinity-low 
productivity  conditions  (Reiss,  2012).  These 
fluctuating  water  chemistries  resulted  from 
oscillating  sea  levels  during  the  late  Pliocene 
and  Pleistocene  Epochs  (glacioeustatic 
fluctuations)  and  from  tectonic  uplifts  of 


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sections  of  the  Gulf  region.  In  the  early 
Pleistocene,  during  severe  glacial  build-up  in 
the  Northern  Hemisphere,  the  surface  level  of 
the  Red  Sea  dropped  sufficiently  to  cause  the 
shallow  sill  at  the  mouth  of  the  Gulf  of  Aqaba  to 
become  emergent.  This  narrow  land  barrier 
effectively  isolated  the  Gulf  and  transformed  it 
into  a  large  salt  water  lake  that  was  cut  off  from 
the  Red  Sea.  During  this  time  of  oceanographic 
sequestration,  populations  of  cone  shells  trapped 
within  the  Aqaban  salt  water  lake  would  have 
become  genetically- isolated  from  their  parent 
populations  in  the  Red  Sea  and  would  have 
undergone  rapid  speciation,  due  primarily  to  the 
Founder  Effect.  The  Red  Sea,  itself,  underwent 
similar  episodes  of  oceanographic  sequestration 
during  Pleistocene  sea  level  fluctuations, 
leading  to  the  evolution  of  the  rich  endemic 
molluscan  fauna  of  the  Recent  Eritrean 
Molluscan  Province. 

As  sea  level  rose  during  the  late  Pleistocene,  the 
exposed  land  barrier  at  the  mouth  of  the  Gulf 
would  have  become  submerged  with  sea  water 
and  the  Gulf  of  Aqaba  would  again  have 
reconnected  to  the  main  Red  Sea  Basin. 
Possibly  due  to  ecological  competition  with 
congeners,  many  of  the  newly-evolved  Aqaban 
and  Sinai  Peninsula  endemics  remained  close  to 
their  center  of  evolution  and  did  not  disperse 
southward  into  the  main  body  of  the  Red  Sea. 
One  of  these  is  a  small,  shallow  water  cone  shell 
that  has  been  referred  to  as  either  the  wide- 
ranging  Indo-Paciflc  taxon  “ Miliariconus 
miliaris ”  or  to  the  Japanese  endemic 
“ Miliariconus  fulgetrum ”  by  many  workers  over 
the  past  century.  Close  examination  shows  that 
this  small  cone,  although  similar  to  the  true  M. 
miliaris  and  to  M  fulgetrum ,  consistently  differs 
in  many  shell  characters  and  represents  a 
previously-overlooked  species.  The  holotype  is 
deposited  in  the  molluscan  type  collection  of  the 
Department  of  Malacology,  Los  Angeles 
County  Museum  of  Natural  History,  Los 


Angeles,  California,  and  bears  an  LACM 
number.  The  new  Red  Sea  Miliariconus  is 
described  here. 

SYSTEMATICS 

Class  Gastropoda 

Subclass  Sorbeocoecha 

Order  Prosobranchia 

Infraorder  Neogastropoda 

Superfamily  Conoidea 

Family  Conidae 

Subfamily  Puncticulinae 

Genus  Miliariconus  Tucker  and  Tenorio,  2009 

Miliariconus  sinaiensis  Petuch  and  Berschauer, 
new  species  (Figure  1E-H) 

Description:  Shell  of  average  size  for  genus, 
inflated,  stocky,  vasiform,  turbinate,  with 
distinctly  rounded  sides;  spire  proportionally 
low,  broadly  subpyramidal;  shoulder  and  spire 
whorls  ornamented  with  10-12  large,  rounded 
knobs;  body  whorl  smooth  and  shiny, 
ornamented  with  10-12  faintly  incised  grooves 
on  anterior  half  of  some  specimens  (such  as 
holotype,  Plate  IE,  F);  anterior  end  and  siphonal 
area  ornamented  with  6  proportionally  large  and 
conspicuous  spiral  cords;  body  whorl  base  color 
pale  pink  or  salmon-pink,  overlaid  by  2  large 
wide  bands  of  dark  pinkish-rose  or  pinkish-tan, 
one  around  mid-body  and  one  around  anterior 
end,  with  color  bands  separated  by  wide  white 
band  around  mid-body;  body  whorl  color  bands 
overlaid  with  numerous  tan  spiral  lines  and 
large  obliquely-angled  thin  white  flammules, 
arranged  in  zig-zag  chevron  pattern;  anterior  tip 
of  shell  white  or  pale  yellow-white;  large  cords 
around  anterior  end  marked  with  alternating 
white  and  tan  spots;  spire  whorls  and  shoulder 
knobs  white,  with  large  reddish-tan  elongated 
patch  present  between  shoulder  knobs;  aperture 
proportionally  narrow;  interior  of  aperture  white, 
with  2  large  dark  pinkish-tan  patches  that 


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correspond  to  dark  body  whorl  bands; 
periostracum  thin,  adherent,  dark  yellow-tan. 

Type  Material:  Holotype:  length  22.1  mm,  on 
coral  rubble,  1  m  depth,  off  Elat,  Israel,  Gulf  of 
Aqaba  (Gulf  of  Elat),  Red  Sea  (Plate  IE,  F) 
(LACM  3350).  Other  Study  Material:  length 
28.2  mm,  1  m  depth  on  exposed  coral  rubble, 
off  Sharm  ei-Sheikh,  South  Sinai  Govemorate, 
southern  Sinai  Peninsula,  Egypt,  research 
collection  of  E.J.  Petuch  (Figure  1G,  H);  length 
27.5  mm,  on  coral  rubble,  1  m  depth,  off  Elat, 
Israel,  research  collection  of  EJ.  Petuch;  length 
27.8  mm,  exposed  at  low  tide,  on  reef  flat  off 
Hurghada,  Egypt,  research  collection  of  D.P. 
Berschauer. 

Type  Locality:  Northernmost  Gulf  of  Aqaba 
(Gulf  of  Elat),  Red  Sea,  exposed  on  coral  rabble 
in  1  m  depth,  off  Elat,  Israel. 

Distribution:  The  new  species  is  endemic  to 
the  northern  Red  Sea,  where  it  ranges  from  the 
southern  Gulf  of  Suez,  along  the  entire  Sinai 
Peninsula,  and  throughout  the  entire  Gulf  of 
Aqaba  (Gulf  of  Elat). 

Ecology:  Miliariconus  sinaiensis  inhabits  coral 
rabble  areas  and  exposed  reef  platforms,  from 
the  low  tide  mark  to  depths  of  5  m. 

Etymology:  The  new  species  is  named  for  the 
Sinai  Peninsula  of  Egypt,  which  is  the 
biogeographical  center  of  distribution  for  this 
endemic  cone  shell 

DISCUSSION 

Of  the  11  known  species  of  Miliariconus ,  the 
new  species  most  closely  resembles  M. 
fulgetrum  (Sowerby  I,  1 834)  from  Japan  and  the 
Ryukyu  Islands  of  the  northwestern  Pacific 
(Figure  1C,  D).  Both  the  Japanese  and  the 
Eritrean  species  share  a  color  pattern  of 


obliquely-angled  chevrons  that  are  arranged  in  a 
network  of  prominent  zig-zags  flammules. 
Indeed,  the  similar  patterns  of  zig-zag 
“lightning”  markings  have  led  some  cone 
workers  and  shell  dealers  to  consider  M. 
fulgetrum  and  M.  sinaiensis  to  be  conspecific, 
without  considering  that  no  julgetrum-type 
cones  are  found  anywhere  in  the  vast  area 
between  Japan  and  the  Red  Sea.  The  similarity 
of  color  patterns  is  only  superficial,  as  the 
“lightning  pattern”  of  M  fulgetrum  is  better- 
defined  and  breaks  up  into  numerous  small 
flecks  and  dots  that  cover  most  of  the  body 
whorl  The  “lightning”  zig-zag  flammules  seen 
on  M.  sinaiensis  are  proportionally  larger  and 
more  cohesive  and  do  not  break  up  into  small 
dots  and  flecks.  The  Japanese  M.  fulgetrum  is 
also  a  more  darkly-colored  shell,  having  a  base 
color  of  dark  reddish-brown  and  lacking  any  of 
the  pink  and  salmon-pink  colors  of  the  new  Red 
Sea  species.  Miliariconus  fulgetrum  is  also  a 
more  elongated  and  cylindrical  shell  with 
proportionally  much  larger  and  more  rounded 
shoulder  knobs.  Because  there  has  been  some 
confusion  over  the  conspecificity  of  M. 
fulgetrum  and  M.  sinaiensis  and  the  type 
locality  of  M.  fulgetrum  (Filmer,  2012),  we  here 
designate  the  type  locality  of  M.  fulgetrum  as 
“Tean  Bay,  Amami  Gshima  Island,  northern 
Ryukyu  Islands,  Japan”  (based  on  specimens 
collected  in  Tean  Bay,  in  November,  1974,  by 
the  senior  author;  one  illustrated  here  on  Figure 
1C,  D).  We  consider  M.  fulgetrum  and  M 
sinaiensis  to  be  separate,  distinct  species. 

The  new  Red  Sea  cone  is  also  similar  to  the 
wide-ranging  Indo-Pacific  Miliariconus  miliaris 
(Hwass,  1792)  (found  from  southeastern  Africa 
to  Polynesia;  Figure  1A,  B),  but  differs  in  being 
a  smaller,  stockier,  and  more  colorful  shell  with 
proportionally  smaller  and  less-developed 
shoulder  knobs.  Although  some  specimens  of  M 
miliaris  have  a  pattern  of  white  zig-zag 
flammules  on  a  pink  background  (as  seen  here 


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on  Figure  1A,  B),  this  “lightning”  configuration 
is  never  as  well-defined  nor  as  well-developed 
as  that  seen  on  M.  sinaiensis.  Miliariconus 
miliaris  also  is  a  much  more  heavily-sculptured 
shell  than  either  M.  fulgetrum  or  M.  sinaiensis , 
having  large,  prominent  beaded  cords  running 
around  the  anterior  half  of  the  body  whorl.  The 
wide-ranging  M  miliaris ,  extending  from  East 
Africa  to  Polynesia,  is  most  probably  the 
ancestor  of  both  M.  fulgetrum  and  M.  sinaiensis. 
Along  the  Egyptian  coast  near  Hurghada,  the 
new  species  occurs  sympatrically  with  the 
widespread  Eritrean  Molluscan  Province 
congener  M  taeniatus  (Hwass,  1792),  but 
appears  to  be  less  common.  With  the  discovery 
of  the  new  northern  Red  Sea  species,  the  genus 
Miliariconus  is  now  know  to  contain  1 1  species. 
These  include: 

Miliariconus  ahbreviatus  (Reeve,  1843) 

(endemic  to  the  Hawaiian  Islands) 

Miliariconus  aristophanes  (Sowerby  I,  1857) 
Philippines,  Melanesia,  and  Polynesia) 
Miliariconus  coronatus  (Gmelin,  1791) 
(widespread  Indo-Pacific) 

Miliariconus  encaustus  (Kiener,  1845) 

(endemic  to  the  Marquesas  Islands) 

Miliariconus  fulgetrum  (Sowerby  1, 1834) 
(endemic  to  Japan  and  the  Ryukyu  Islands) 
Miliariconus  miliaris  (Hwass,  1792) 
(southeastern  Africa  to  Polynesia) 

Miliariconus  pascuensis  (Rehder,  1980) 
(endemic  to  Easter  Island) 

Miliariconus  roosevelti  (Bartsch  and  Rehder, 
1939)  (endemic  to  Clipperton  Island) 
Miliariconus  sinaiensis  Petuch  and  Berschauer, 
new  species  (endemic  to  the  northern  Red  Sea) 


Miliariconus  taeniatus  (Hwass,  1792)  (Red  Sea 
and  coast  of  Oman) 

Miliariconus  tiaratus  (Sowerby  I,  1833)  (Gulf 
of  California  to  the  Galapagos) 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that,  of  the  11  known 
species,  only  five  {aristophanes,  coronatus , 
miliaris,  taeniatus,  and  tiaratus )  have  wide 
geographical  ranges.  The  other  six  congeners 
(abhreviatus ,  encaustus,  fulgetrum,  pascuensis , 
roosevelti,  and  sinaiensis )  all  are  restricted  to 
small  geographical  areas  or  isolated  islands. 
This  indicates  that  members  of  the  genus  can 
readily  lose  their  planktotrophic  larval  stage  and 
utilize  direct  development  and  low  dispersibility 
(vagility)  as  a  reproductive  strategy.  By  having 
evolved  inside  the  isolated  Aqaban  salt  water 
lake  during  the  Pleistocene,  Miliariconus 
sinaiensis  lost  its  ability  to  disperse  and  spread 
elsewhere  throughout  the  central  and  southern 
Red  Sea  and  it  remains  confined  to  its  center  of 
origin. 

REFERENCES 

Ben-Avraham,  ZvL  1985.  Structural 
Framework  of  the  Gulf  of  Elat  (Aqaba), 
Northern  Red  Sea.  Journal  of  Geophysical 
Research  90  (lB):703-726. 

Filmer,  M.  2012.  Illustrated  List  of  Cone  Taxa 
and  Holotypes.  Cone  Collector  Website. 
www.theconecollector.com 
Reiss,  Zeev.  2012.  The  Gulf  of  Aqaba: 
Ecological  Micropaleontology.  Springer 
Publishing  Company  (Science  and  Business 
Media),  New  York  and  the  Netherlands.  356 

pp. 


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Figure  1.  Species  of  MUiariconus  Tucker  and  Tenorio,  2009  from  the  South  Pacific,  Japan,  and  the  Red  Sea.  Images:  A,  B= 
Miliariconus  miliaris  (Hwass,  1792)  (Type  of  the  genus  MUiariconus).  Length  29.4  mm,  found  in  coral  rubble,  1  m  depth  off  Chapman 
Island,  Great  Barrier  Reef,  northern  Queensland,  Australia.  In  the  research  collection  of  E  J.  Petuch.  C,  D=  Miliariconus  fulgetrum 
(Sowerby  I,  1834).  Length  32.3  mm.  Found  in  sand  and  coral  rubble,  1  m  depth  on  main  reef  off  Tean  Bay,  Amami  Oshima  Island, 
northern  Ryukyu  Islands,  Japan.  In  the  research  collection  of  E.J.  Petuch.  E,  F=  Miliariconus  sinaiensis  Petuch  and  Berschauer,  new 
species.  Holotype,  length  22.1  mm,  LACM  3350.  In  coral  rubble,  1  m  depth  off  Elat,  Israel,  Gulf  of  Aqaba,  Red  Sea.  G,  H= 
Miliariconus  sinaiensis  Petuch  and  Berschauer,  new  species.  Length  28.2  mm,  found  on  exposed  coral  rubble  bottom,  in  1  m  depth,  off 
Sharm  el-Sheikh,  South  Sinai  Govemorate,  southern  Sinai  Peninsula,  Egypt.  In  the  research  collection  of  E.J.  Petuch. 


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Have  a  shell  collection  you  would  like  to 

donate  or  devise? 

The  San  Diego  Shell  Club  is  interested  in  high 
quality  estate  shell  collections.  As  a  501c(3) 
organization  all  donations  to  our  Club  may  provide  a 
tax  write-off.  When  we  receive  a  donation  we 
carefully  record  each  item  and  provide  a  letter 
describing  the  items  for  use  when  filing  your  taxes. 
While  we  cannot  provide  a  value,  donations  of  up  to 
$5,000  do  not  require  a  written  appraisal.  Since  tax 
laws  change  regularly  we  recommend  that  you 
check  with  your  tax  accountant  before  relying  on 
any  information  provided  in  this  paragraph.  We  are 
interested  in  all  types  of  shells,  marine  or  land  and 
all  genera  and  species,  books  on  shells  as  well  as 
items  related  to  shells  such  as  artwork,  storage  cases 
and  tools.  Your  items  will  be  used  to  generate 
income  to  support  the  Club’s  efforts  in  continuing 
Public  education  about  shells  and  conservation  of 
marine  life  throughout  the  world.  If  you  would  like 
to  donate,  please  contact  Dave  Waller,  SDSC 
Acquisition  Chairperson,  at  dwaller@dbwipmg.com 
to  schedule  a  time  to  discuss  charitable  gifting. 


CLUB  NEWS 

May  21-22, 2016  -  West  Coast  Shell  Show 

•  In  lieu  of  regular  meeting.  See  article  on  p.  204 

June  18, 2016,  Regular  Meeting,  751  Raintree  Drive,  Carlsbad,  CA 

•  Meeting  called  to  order  at  12:15  p.m. 

•  Pizza  and  soda  were  provided 

•  Speaker  Bill  Schramm  gave  a  presentation  on  Cowries,  with  specimen  shells  for  viewing 

•  Treasurer’s  report  was  given 

•  Editors  report  was  given 

•  Shells  and  books  were  displayed  and  shells  were  offered  for  sale  via  silent  auction 

•  David  Berschauer  gave  a  brief  talk  on  Sinstral  gastropods 

•  Meeting  adjourned  at  2: 10  p.m. 

July  16,  2016  -  Shell  Bazaar 

•  A  social  meeting  of  members  at  the  home  of  Rick  and  Cheryl  Negus  in  Carlsbad 
—  Cancelled  due  to  an  unexpected  funeral 


Volume:  48 


THE  FESTIVUS 


ISSUES 


Olive  Shells  Don’t  Care  What  You  Call  Them 

Richard  L.  Goldberg 
Worldwideconchology.com 
worldwide@rcn.com 


Let’s  face  it,  taxonomy,  the  science  of  describing,  identifying,  naming,  and  classifying  living  things, 
is  a  manmade  construct  that  since  the  mid- 1700’s  when  Carolus  Linnaeus  introduced  his  system  of 
binomial  nomenclature,  has  evolved  into  a  highly  sophisticated  and  often  contentious  science. 

Genera,  subgenera,  species,  subspecies,  form  names,  etc.  applied  to  living  things  are  introduced  and 
delivered  through  printed  (and  now  even  electronic)  publications,  all  conforming  to  a  tight  and  tidy 
group  of  rules  and  regulations  administered  by  the  International  Commission  on  Zoological 
Nomenclature  (ICZN).  The  ICZN  determine,  to  a  greater  extent,  the  validity  of  the  species  and  its 
description. 

Taxonomy  is  good  for  satisfying  the  human  need  to  organize  and  categorize  living  things  and  allow 
museums,  naturalists  and  collectors  to  sort  and  display  their  collections  systematically  while 
providing  a  consistent  way  to  make  identifications;  “almost”  everyone  is  on  the  same  page,  so-to- 
speak.  If,  in  the  case  of  malacological  taxonomy,  the  mollusca  who  are  being  classified  and 
categorized  understood  the  trials  and  tribulations  that  scientists  have  gone  through  to  create  such  a 
system  for  naming  and  organizing  their  phylum,  I’m  sure  they  would  be  overwhelmingly  impressed! 
The  fact  is,  they  don’t  know  and  they  just  don’t  care!  And  the  reason  might  not  be  as  obvious  as  you 
think. 

The  practice  of  naming  species  forms  seems  to  be  a  plausible  pursuit;  many  species  show  tremendous 
variation  from  location  to  location  and  even  within  individual  populations.  Shells  in  the  genus  Oliva, 
the  Olive  shells,  are  just  one  of  those  groups  that  display  tremendous  variation  within  a  species.  If  a 
form  is  given  a  name,  everyone  should  know  what  you  are  talking  about  when  you  reference  the 
name  in  conversation  or  writing;  that  is,  if  the  shell  stays  true  to  its  color-pattern  for  which  many  of 
these  forms  are  described  and  named. 

Conventional  wisdom  might  say  the  color  and  pattern  of  a  mo  Husk  is  consistent  throughout  the 
growth  of  its  shell.  The  fact  is  conventional  wisdom  has  little  to  no  bearing  on  molluscan 
morphology  and  presumably  even  less  on  the  [early  artificial,  natural  and  then  evolutionary]  sciences 
of  taxonomy! 

Take  for  instance,  Oliva  cameola,  a  common  shallow  water  species  found  throughout  the  Western 
Pacific.  Numerous  form  names  have  been  applied  to  many  of  the  “ cameola ”  variations.  Some  were 
originally  described  as  lull  species  until  it  was  determined  at  a  later  date  to  only  be  a  fonn  of  O. 
cameola ;  in-other-words,  described  at  a  date  after  1798  when  Johann  Friedrich  Gmelin  described 

Valuta  carneolus  (=  Oliva  cameola). 

Figure  1  illustrates  a  series  of  Oliva  cameola  from  one  population  collected  in  the  late  1950’s  from 
Mindoro  Island,  Philippines  by  Pedro  De  Mesa,  a  Filipino  shell  dealer  and  naturalist.  De  Mesa  was 


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instrumental  in  supplying  many  undescribed  and  long  lost  species  from  the  Philippines  to 
malacologists  and  collectors  before  the  heyday  of  modem  moliuscan  discovery  in  the  archipelago 
that  began  in  the  late  1960’s  and  continues  through  today. 


FIGURE  1:  Oliva  cameola  (Gmelin,  1791)  various  forms  from  Mindoro  Island,  Philippines,  (top  row)  O.  cameola,  form:  adspersa 
Dautzenberg,  1927  -  all  under  15  mm.  (bottom  row  left-to-right)  O.  cameola,  forma  trichroma  Dautzenberg,  1927  -  25  mm;  three 
specimens  (arrows)  pointing  to  abrupt  changes  in  pattern  of  shells  from  the  adspersa  form  to  a  more  typical  orange-banded  O.  cameola 
form;  one  specimen  changed  a  third  time  to  a  pattern-less  all  white  shell. 

It’s  surprising  (or,  maybe  not)  that  many  of  the  specimens  from  this  Oliva  cameola  population  (and 
no  doubt  others  too)  start  out  growing  with  one  “named”  color  and  pattern  and  then  abruptly  change 
the  color  and  pattern  as  the  mollusk  continues  to  enlarge  its  shell.  The  smallest  shells  of  this  group 
are  all  covered  with  a  diffuse  netted  pattern  of  tents;  a  form  described  as  O.  cameola  forma  adspersa 
Dautzenberg,  1927.  As  all  of  the  shells  in  this  population  approach  ±  15mm  the  patterns  completely 
changed  to  a  more  typical  O.  cameola  pattern  with  diffuse  bands  of  orange  and  white,  and  some  even 
approaching  another  color  form  that  Dautzenberg  named  trichroma. 


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Inquisitive  minds  might  ask  whether  this  phenomenon  is  genetically  or  environmentally  induced. 

The  latter  is  referred  to  as  Phenotypic  Plasticity,  the  ability  of  a  species  to  change  its  visible  look  or 
morphology  in  response  to  environmental  changes.  Phenotypic  Plasticity  is  often  seen  on  the 
patterns  of  various  Cone  shell  species  (Figure  2)  where  the  shell  starts  out  with  one  color  and  pattern 
and  then  abruptly  changes. 


FIGURE  2:  Color-Pattern  Changes  in  Conus.  1.)  Conus  regius  Gmelin,  1791  form:  citrinus  Gmelin,  1791  -  with  a  sudden  change  to  a 
typical  C.  regius  pattern.  2.)  Conus  striatellus  Link,  1807  -  showing  a  period  of  growth  with  no  pigment.  3.)  Conus  amadis  Gmelin, 
1791,  form:  neptunus  Kiener,  1843  -  changes  back  to  a  typical  C.  amadis  castaneofasciatus  color-pattern  for  a  short  period.  4.) 

Conus  floccatus  Sowerby  I,  1841  -  started  growth  with  a  very  sparse  pattern  that  changes  quickly  to  a  darker  and  more  complex 
pattern.  5.)  Conus  aulicus  Linnaeus,  1758  -  most  of  the  growth  of  this  shell  has  a  typical  aulicus  pattern;  the  color-pattern  changes 
drastically  on  the  last  third  of  the  body  whorl.  6.)  Conus  princeps  Linnaeus,  1758  -  an  abrupt  change  from  a  typical  princeps  pattern 
to  one  that  is  lighter  in  color  and  with  only  sparse  axial  lines  through  to  the  end  of  its  growth.  7.)  Conus  generalis  Linnaeus,  1767  - 
shows  typical  a  bright  orange  color  for  the  early  part  of  the  body  whorl  growth  and  then  changes  to  a  dark  brown  black  color  for  the 
majority  of  the  body  whorl  growth. 


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In  the  case  of  the  Mindoro  Oliva  cameola,  all  of  the  mollusks  in  this  population  might  have  been 
living  an  area  of  the  ocean  where  there  was  a  sudden  change  in  the  temperature,  food  supply  or  even 
water  chemistry.  The  stimulus  might  have  caused  the  entire  population  to  simultaneously  secrete 
pigments  differently  at  this  one  moment  in  time  since  all  of  the  shells  were  collected  at  the  same  time 
so  the  changes  seem  to  have  affected  all  of  the  shells.  Other  questions  such  as  whether  this  is  a 
common  occurrence  for  the  species  are  relevant  to  better  understanding  why  this  change  in  color  and 
pattern  occurs.  It  has  been  shown  that  change  in  diet  of  Haliotis,  the  Abalone,  alters  the  creation  of 
color  and  pattern  of  their  shells.  Why  not  then  for  other  mollusks  like  Oliva ? 

On  the  flipside,  it  has  been  pointed  out  by  collectors  that  the  netted  patterned  Oliva  carneola  form 
adspera  are  always  small;  under  20  mm.  Could  then  the  adspersa  form  of  Oliva  cameola  just  be 
small,  immature  Oliva  cameola  without  a  characteristic  adult  orange  coloration?  A  larger  study 
series  from  various  populations  might  reveal  more  about  this  observation  of  sudden  pattern  changes 
in  Oliva  cameola;  it  may  be  that  all  Oliva  cameola  start  out  growing  with  a  netted  pattern  and  then 
alter  their  pigment  output  at  a  certain  point  in  growth;  then  a  genetic  influence. 

My  tongue-in-cheek  premise  that  mollusks  don’t  care  what  you  call  them  might  also  apply  to  the  oT 
taxonomic  name  game;  no  matter  what  you  call  a  shell,  there  is  no  guarantee  that  the  name  will 
continue  to  apply  as  the  shell  grows  -  dashed  by  Phenotypic  Plasticity  [or  genetics] !  Sure,  a  mollusk 
doesn’t  care  what  you  call  it,  I  guess  as  long  as  you  don’t  call  it  late  for  dinner! 


FIGURE  3 1  Stark  Change  -  This  specimen  that  conforms  to  the  description  of  Oliva  miniacea  miniacea  (Roding,  1798)  form:  sylvia 
Duclos,  1845.  This  Philippines  specimen  is  56  mm  in  length.  Looking  at  the  edge-wise  pattern  from  the  spire  whorls  the  shell  grew 
with  a  consistent  pattern  until  the  last  third  of  the  body  whorl.  The  mollusk  suddenly  and  seemingly  without  warning  stopped  laying 
down  pigment  leaving  a  mostly  white  shell  for  the  last  portion  of  the  shell.  There  is  no  gradual  change.  Viewed  from  the  spire  there 
also  seems  to  be  no  damage  during  growth  that  might  have  caused  damage  preventing  the  mollusk  from  creating  pigment.  It  would 
seem  then  the  sudden  change  was  caused  by  an  environmental  stimuli.  Temperature,  water  chemistry  or  a  change  in  food  source  might 
have  instigated  this  sudden  pattern  change. 


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Red  Abalone  Out  Plant  Project 

Arjay  Raffety 

13214  Fiji  Way,  Unit  A,  Marina  del  Rey,  California  90292 
JAriavR@aol.com 

ABSTRACT  During  a  three  week  period  within  January  of  2016,  the  author  supported  an  effort  to 
out  plant  farm-raised  red  abalone  ( Haliotis  rufescens )  in  southern  California.  This  work  serves  two 
main  objectives.  The  first  is  to  enhance  red  abalone  populations  along  the  southern  California 
mainland  coast  where  they  were  once  plentiful.  The  second  is  to  provide  a  ‘warm  up’  exercise  and 
study  for  the  day  when  the  endangered  white  abalone  ( Haliotis  sorenseni )  will  be  reintroduced 
through  out  planting  into  its  native  range  where  it  has  become  functionally  extinct.  What  follows  is 
an  account  of  this  activity. 

INTRODUCTION:  There  are  seven  species  of  abalone  that  exist  along  the  coast  of  California  with 
common  names  red,  pink  (or  corrugated),  white,  green,  black,  flat,  and  pinto/threaded.  Due  mainly 
to  overfishing  and  other  compounding  environmental  factors,  the  populations  of  abalone  in  southern 
California  dropped  so  far  as  to  no  longer  be  able  to  sustain  a  fishery.  In  1 997  the  abalone  fishery 
south  of  San  Francisco  was  closed  (both  commercial  and  sport).  Careful  monitoring  and  reductions 
in  allowable  catch  when  needed  has  enabled  the  fishery  north  of  San  Francisco  to  remain  open, 
though  solely  for  sport  harvest  and  of  only  red  abalone  {Haliotis  rufescens).  The  moratorium  has 
been  crucial  in  assuring  that  the  northern  fishery  does  not  go  the  way  of  the  southern  fishery. 

The  most  impacted  of  the  southern  California  abalone  fisheries  was  the  white  abalone  {Haliotis 
sorenseni ),  which  can  be  found  in  southern  CA  and  Mexico.  The  white  abalone  was  the  first  marine 
invertebrate  to  be  placed  on  the  endangered  species  list.  Eventually  the  black  abalone  {Haliotis 
cracherodii )  followed  suit  and  this  was  in  part  due  to  ‘withering  syndrome’  which  is  a  disease  that 
afflicts  abalone  particularly  in  warm  water  conditions. 

Today,  two  of  the  seven  California  abalone  species  are  on  the  US  Endangered  Species  List.  There  is 
a  moratorium  of  harvesting  south  of  San  Francisco,  and  although  it  is  the  most  successful  abalone 
fishery  in  the  world,  the  carefully  monitored  red  abalone  fishery  in  northern  California  continues  to 
undergo  a  reduction  to  bag  limits.  The  state  of  California’s  abalone  populations  is  at  a  turning  point 
and  this  is  why  the  author  decided  to  volunteer  his  scientific  diving  skills  to  help  monitor  stocks  and 
assist  with  restoration.  The  goal  is  to  help  restore  the  fisheries  so  hopefully  future  generations  will 
continue  to  enjoy  harvesting  and  eating  abalone. 

Thankfully,  restoration  seems  to  be  a  hopeful  prospect  for  California’s  abalone.  Through  a 
collaborative  effort  between  UC  Davis,  CDFW,  NOAA  and  several  of  California’s  public  aquaria,  a 
captive  breeding  program  at  UC  Davis’s  Bodega  Marine  Laboratory  has  been  very  successful  at 
breeding  and  raising  white  abalone.  The  majority  of  the  white  abalone’s  habitat  remains  intact, 
which  makes  reintroduction  a  tangible  prospect.  And  since  marine  farms  and  laboratories  have  been 
propagating  abalone  for  years,  there  is  a  significant  knowledge  base  to  draw  from.  There  may  now 
be  more  juvenile  white  abalone  growing  in  laboratory  tanks  than  exist  in  the  wild.  Given  this  success, 
the  sooner  the  farm-raised  stock  is  introduced  to  the  wild,  the  sooner  the  ocean  populations  may 


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recover.  Abalone  become  more  labor  and  resource-intensive  to  keep  in  captivity  so  out  planting  is 
also  necessary  to  keep  expenses  of  the  program  in  check.  But  the  out  planting  needs  to  be  done  in  a 
way  that  assures  some  of  the  abalone  survive  and  grow  to  reproduce.  Scientists  have  to  perform 
careful  site  assessments  to  minimize  the  risks  the  out  planted  abalone  will  face  and  to  ensure  that 
they  are  not  just  thrown  into  predator- laden  or  unsuitable  waters. 

DISCUSSION:  In  order  to  manage  a  population  successfully,  it  is  necessary  to  understand  the 
reproductive  capacity  of  that  population.  In  order  to  assess  the  reproduction  of  different  abalone 
species  within  California,  CDFW  has  maintained  artificial  reef  like  structures  in  northern  and 
southern  California.  These  structures  are  called  Abalone  Recruitment  Modules  (ARMs)  in  the  north 
and  Baby  Abalone  Recruitment  Traps  (BARTs)  in  the  south,  which  are  fondly  termed  “abalone 
condominiums”.  ( see  Figure  1)  They  consist  of  a  cage  filled  with  cinder  blocks  intended  to  provide  a 
refuge  particularly  for  small  abalone.  These  ARMS  and  BARTS  are  surveyed  often  and  the  baby 
abalone  living  within  them  provide  clues  as  to  the  reproduction  of  the  species  as  a  whole.  The  author 
has  helped  survey  these  ‘abalone  condominiums’  many  times  and  it  consists  of  opening  the  cage  and 
carefully  removing  the  cinder  blocks  to  reveal  all  the  critters  that  tend  to  inhabit  them  and  there  are 
many:  urchins,  octopus,  whelks,  stars,  cowries,  crabs,  shrimp,  etc.  Northern  California  surveys  tend 
to  reveal  a  handful  of  young  abalone  that  are  either  reds,  flats,  or  pintos.  Southern  California  surveys 
reveal  only  a  few  young  abalone  and  they  tend  to  be  greens,  pinks,  and  sometimes  reds.  No  white 
abalone  juveniles  have  ever  been  found  inside  of  these  BARTs.  While  the  abalone  fishery  is  still  in 
pretty  good  condition  in  the  north,  recovery  is  still  slow  to  take  place  in  the  south  for  most  of  the 
species  (note  that  all  7  species  can  be  found  in  Southern  California). 

While  there  is  more  to  learn  about  the  effectiveness  of  these  abalone  condominiums  in  assessing 
abalone  recruitment,  part  of  this  red  abalone  out  plant  study  is  to  assess  if  they  can  be  used 
successfully  as  a  basis  for  monitoring  whether  an  out  planting  will  be  effective.  Given  these 
condominiums  already  exist  in  various  places  in  California,  the  thought  is  that  they  would  be  good 
initial  homes  and  refuges  for  out  planted  abalone. 

Many  factors  went  in  to  deciding  where  to  place  the  abalone  condominiums.  The  first  is  that  they 
need  to  be  set  on  reef  (not  sand)  where  abalone  can  cling  and  move  around  if  necessary.  They  need 
to  be  placed  in  habitat  where  there  is  food.  Abalone  graze  on  various  algal  species  that  grow  on  the 
substrate/reef.  The  types  of  kelp  they  eat  vary  along  the  California  coastline.  Kelp  availability  is 
also  influenced  seasonally  by  ocean  conditions,  as  winter  storm  swells  and  surges  can  denude  areas 
of  certain  types  of  kelp  that  require  time  to  recover.  An  ideal  place  to  locate  the  condominiums  is  in 
areas  where  abalone  have  been  historically  present  (as  indicated  by  previous  commercial  landing 
information)  showing  necessary  habitat  conditions  exist  (rock  substrate,  food,  places  to  hide  from 
predators,  cool  enough  water,  etc.). 

The  project  at  hand  used  12  existing  BARTs  sitting  on  the  ocean  floor  across  3  sites  along  mainland 
coastal  southern  California.  A  sampling  of  the  abalone  used  in  the  study  were  immediately  sacrificed 
for  testing  to  assure  they  were  free  of  any  non-endemic  pathogens  or  pests  that  can  afflict  abalone, 
like  sabellid  worms.  A  total  of  3200  abalone  were  out  planted,  1600  at  one  location,  1600  at  another, 
and  none  at  the  third  which  represents  a  ‘control’  condition. 


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Figure  1.  BART  on  rocky  reef  ocean  floor  (Photo  Credit:  Athena  Maguire) 


Before  any  out  planting  took  place,  sites  where  the  BART  clusters  were  located  required  preparation. 
On  the  first  few  dive  days,  the  objective  was  to  lay  out  four  20  meter  lines  on  the  ocean  floor.  One 
line  ran  North-South,  another  East-West,  another  NW-SE,  and  another  NE-SW.  This  configuration 
had  a  central  ‘hub’  and  formed  eight  sectors  or  wedges  that  were  well  defined  and  could  be 
monitored  for  months  to  follow.  Laying  the  lines  out  was  challenging  because  long  period  swells 
were  coming  through  which  stirred  up  the  bottom  and  caused  surge  even  70  feet  down  on  the  ocean 
floor.  Anchoring  the  lines  was  also  challenging  but  facilitated  by  pounding  railroad  spikes  into 
cracks  in  the  reef,  (see  Figure  2)  The  lines  were  then  zip-tied  to  the  spike  anchors.  This  project  does 
assume  the  sites  will  need  maintenance  as  some  spikes  could  dislodge  in  rough  ocean  conditions  as 
well  as  slowly  erode  in  the  salt  water. 


Once  all  the  lines  were  anchored  on  the 
bottom  in  a  glorified  asterisk  pattern  (* 
but  with  8  rays  off  the  hub  rather  than  6), 
the  BARTs  were  moved  with  lift  bags 
and  placed  near  the  hub.  In  order  to  give 
the  abalone  more  of  a  chance  to  survive, 
predators  except  fish  were  gathered  and 
relocated  at  least  a  mile  away  from  the 
sites.  Abalone  have  many  predators 
beyond  humans  -  sea  stars,  whelks, 
octopus,  fish,  crabs,  lobsters,  etc.  (see 
Figures  3-5)  Though  sea  otters  are 
significant  predators  of  abalone  and  other 
shellfish,  there  are  currently  none 
observed  in  the  area  of 
the  out  plant.  Abalone  also  have 
competitors  for  food  -  mostly  sea  urchins 


Figure  2.  Shelby  Kawana  anchoring  spike  into  reef  (Photo  Credit: 
Athena  Maguire) 


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Figures  3, 4,  and  5.  Predators:  Left:  Kellet’s  Whelk,  Middle:  Octopus,  Right:  Sheephead  Fish  (Photo  Credits:  Athena  Maguire) 


There  were  several  other  activities  performed  at  each  of  the  study  locations.  The  types  of  algae  on 
the  substrate  along  the  lines  were  recorded.  Also,  the  ‘rugosity’  of  the  lines  was  measured.  The  20 
meter  anchored  lines  did  not  truly  stretch  20  linear  meters  because  the  ocean  floor  in  these  areas  is 
not  flat  -  it  is  reef  with  boulders  which  provide  a  topography.  The  linear  distance  from  the  hub  of 
each  draped  line  was  measured  and  that  is  called  rugosity.  Also  at  these  sites  the  different  types  of 
fish  were  assessed  as  some  (particularly  sheephead,  see  Figure  5)  will  vacuum  little  abalone  right  off 
the  reef,  digest  the  animal,  and  then  regurgitate  the  shell  which  then  appears  different  because  it  is 
etched  by  stomach  acid.(see  Figure  11) 

Three  PVC-like  tubes  containing  100  one-inch  abalone  were  placed  within  each  BART  and  two  more 
PVC-like  tubes  containing  50  two-inch  abalone  were  attached  outside  each  BART,  (see  Figure  6)  So 
each  BART  received  400  juvenile  abalone  within  tubes  that  were  bungee-corded  shut  with  a  zinc 
fastener  that  would  erode  and  release  the  end-covers  of  the  tubes  after  roughly  eight  hours.  The  eight 
hour  delay  was  to  ensure  the  abalone  were  released  at  night  when  there  are  fewer  predators  around. 
Two  different  sizes  of  abalone  were  purposefully  chosen  in  order  to  try  to  determine  if  survival  rate 
differs  with  size. 


Figure  6.  Tagged  abalone  in  tube  at  Aquarium  of  the  Pacific  (Photo  Credit:  Athena  Maguire) 


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The  8  BARTs  which  contained  5  tubes  each  were  surveyed  the  very  next  day  to  see  what  happened. 
Some  abalone  had  stayed  put  in  the  tubes,  some  had  migrated  into  the  bricks  within  the  BARTS,  and 
some  had  migrated  out  onto  the  reef.  ( see  Figures  7-9)  During  that  observation,  only  a  handful  of 
empty  shells  were  found  near  the  BARTs  and  these  were  abalone  that  had  succumbed  to  predators  as 
evidenced  by  damage  to  the  shell  like  chips  on  the  growing  margin  or  a  drill  hole  (this  is  how  whelks 
and  octopus  sometimes  take  shellfish).  During  these  dives,  if  predators  were  found  that  had  moved 
into  the  study  area  or  perhaps  had  not  been  seen  during  initial  searches,  they  were  gathered  and 
relocated  as  before. 


Figures  7, 8  and  9.  Left:  Abalone  clustered  within  cinder  blocks  in  a  BART,  Middle:  Abalone  on  cinder  block  on  outside  of  cage. 
Right:  Abalone  that  migrated  onto  reef  (Photo  Credits:  Athena  Maguire) 


The  following  links  contain  time  lapse  video  produced  by  Bill  Hagey  of  the  release  of  the  abalone 
from  the  PVC  tubes  at  just  one  of  the  BARTs  used  for  out  planting: 
https://voutu.be/HzrMiRoeCWQ 

https://voutu.be/vMZvKEr9iOE 


Figure  10.  Divers  removing  empty  tubes  after  out  plant  Figure  1 1.  Shells:  silvery  one  digested/regurgitated 

(Photo  Credit:  Athena  Maguire)  by  fish  (Photo  Credit:  Captain  Chuck  Wagon) 


Within  a  week  the  cages  were  revisited  with  the  primary  purpose  of  collecting  the  P VC-like  tubes. 

( see  Figure  10)  At  this  point  almost  all  of  the  abalone  had  migrated  out  of  the  tubes  and  onto  the 
BART  bricks  or  nearby  reef.  All  of  the  out  planted  abalone  had  been  tagged  with  a  number  sequence 


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and  the  divers  recorded  the  sequences  of  all  of  the  abalone  that  could  be  seen  No  invasive  searching 
was  performed,  meaning  no  turnover  of  rocks  in  the  vicinity  or  removal  of  bricks  from  the  BARTs. 
Empty  shells  were  collected  and  perhaps  10%  of  the  out  plant  had  already  been  located  as  just  shells. 
Some  shells  were  found  beyond  the  asterisk  of  anchored  grid  lines  (this  could  have  been  due  to  a 
predator  moving  their  catch  or  the  significant  surge  on  the  bottom  experienced  on  dive  days  when 
there  were  long-period  large  swells).  Predators  found  during  these  surveys  were  again  relocated  as 
originally  stated. 

Scientific  diving  personnel  from  various  organizations  will  continue  surveying  these  sites  regularly 
for  the  foreseeable  future.  The  hope  is  to  continue  to  find  tagged  abalone  alive  at  these  sites  and 
measure  their  growth  and  survival.  The  primary  purpose  of  this  project  is  to  enhance  local  red 
abalone  populations  while  learning  more  about  the  behavior  and  post-out  planting  dynamics  of 
abalone  and  their  ecosystem. 

CONCLUSION:  Three  weeks  of  intensive  diving  prepared  sites  on  the  ocean  floor  for  out  plant  of 
red  abalone.  3200  farm-raised  and  disease-free  juvenile  red  abalone  were  out  planted  and  after  one 
week,  the  majority  of  them  likely  survived.  Continued  monitoring  will  take  place  to  assess  the 
progress  of  the  study.  Any  conclusions  drawn  from  this  study  will  influence  how,  when,  and  where 
juvenile  red  and  endangered  white  abalone  will  be  out  planted  to  conduct  abalone  restoration  in. 
southern  California. 


For  more  information:  Laura  Rogers-Bennett,  California  Department  of  Fish  and  Wildlife  (email: 

laura.  rogers-bennett@,wildlife .  ca.  gov) 


About  the  author: 


Arjay  Raffety  worked  in  the  aerospace  industry  for  20 
years  on  Guidance,  Navigation,  and  Control  Systems  of 
satellites.  In  2009,  he  walked  away  from,  that  career  to 
see  his  parents  through  to  then-  peaceful  ends.  While 
tending  to  his  father  in  Ms  final  years,  Arjay  began  to 
pursue  his  interest  in  marine  biology;  that  interest  was 
sparked  by  his  father  who  took  him  to  tide  pools  while  a 
child.  Arjay  has  been  a  certified  SCUBA  diver  since 
1990  and  was  a  free-diver  before  then.  In  2012,  he  went 
through  the  scientific  diving  training  program  with  the 
California  Department  of  Fish  and  Wildlife  (CDFW)  which  allowed  him  to  assist  with  studies  they 
conduct.  His  main  focus  is  on  abalone  research  and  restoration.  He  has  a  formidable  abalone  shell 
collection  that  spans  the  globe  and  contains  almost  all  species,  subspecies,  and  forms. 


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Attack  Behavior  of  the  King  Helmet  Cassis  tuberosa  and  Avoidance 
Behavior  of  the  Long-Spine  Sea  Urchin  Diadema  antillarum 

Paul  Tuskes 

3808  Sioux  Ave,  San  Diego,  California  92117 
tuskes@aol.com 

ABSTACT  Predation  by  the  King  Helmet  Cassis  tuberosa  was  observed  and  documented  on  the 
Long-spine  sea  urchin,  Diadema  antillarum  at  Cayman  Brae.  Long-spine  urchins  are  very  mobile 
and  successful  attacks  occurred  when  the  habitat  was  not  optimal  for  the  escaping  urchin.  Two 
different  modes  of  attack  were  documented  and  the  speed  of  the  Long-spine  urchins  exhibiting  flight- 
response  was  estimated  at  1  cm  per  second  while  on  a  flat  hard  surface. 

INTRODUCTION 

The  general  preference  for  sea  urchins  as  prey  species  of  Western  Atlantic  Cassis  is  well  known. 

Two  frequently  cited  papers  are  Moore  1956  and  Gerace  &  Lindsay  1992.  Both  papers  focused  on 
the  Queen  Helmet  Cassis  madagascariensis  Lamarck  1 822  with  regard  to  prey  selection;  mention  of 
the  King  Helmet  Cassis  tuberosa  (L.  1758)  is  made  but  the  details  of  its  feeding  behavior  is  not 
discussed.  In  laboratory  studies  Gerace  &  Lindsey  1992  offered  many  species  of  live  urchins  as  food, 
and  recorded  preferences  for  both  species  of  Cassis.  During  their  study  no  long-spine  urchins 
Diadema  antillarum  Philippi  1845  were  consumed  by  either  species  of  Cassis;  they  remarked  about 
the  speed  and  sensitivity  of  the  Diadema  to  the  Cassis.  The  long-spine  urchin  is  usually  associated 
with  hard  substrate,  while  these  Cassis  are  often  found  in  extensive  areas  of  sand.  The  field 
observations  reported  in  this  short  paper  represents  predator-prey  behavior  under  natural  conditions. 

OBSERVATIONS 

In  late  November  2015  I  spent  a  week  diving  off  Cayman  Brae  and  Little  Cayman  islands.  The  daily 
routine  started  with  Bonine  prior  to  a  small  breakfast,  and  off  to  the  boat  for  a  wall  dive,  followed  by 
a  shallower  dive.  Then  we  went  back  for  a  late  lunch  and  free  time,  which  for  me  was  spent 
snorkeling  in  the  lagoon.  While  snorkeling  I  observed  a  mature  King  Helmet  Cassis  tuberosa  in  less 
than  one  meter  of  water.  I  brushed  some  debris  off  the  shell  and  took  a  photo.  The  area  where  the 
helmet  was  found  has  long  smooth  sections  of  old  reef  bench  that  run  parallel  to  the  shore  and  is 
bounded  by  low  ledges  and  dense  short  eel  grass. 

The  next  day  I  returned  to  show  the  helmet  to  a  few  other  divers,  but  the  helmet  was  gone.  Having 
experience  with  large  Cassis  while  living  in  the  Florida  Keys,  I  followed  the  path  of  least  resistance 
for  a  large  snail  Sixty  meters  along  the  shelf  the  cleaned  helmet  was  found.  The  time  was 
approximately  15:00  hours  and  the  helmet  was  active  and  approaching  a  group  of  long-spine  sea 
urchins;  the  urchins  did  not  exhibit  alarm  behavior.  Having  observed  helmets  attacking  other  species 
of  urchins  in  Florida,  I  mistakenly  assumed  the  long-spine  urchins  were  not  at  risk.  When  the  helmet 
was  within  a  few  centimeters  of  the  urchins’  spines  the  helmet  raised  up  on  its  foot  to  the  height  of 
the  spines  Figure  1.  With  short  spine  urchins,  this  would  allow  the  snail  to  arch  above  the  urchin  and 
then  drop  onto  the  prey  with  the  foot  of  the  snail  securing  the  urchin.  As  soon  the  helmet  reached  its 


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maximum  height,  which  was  not  high  enough  to  extend  above  a  long-spine  urchin,  all  of  the  urchins 
scattered.  Three  quickly  moved  down  the  smooth  reef  bench  and  one  moved  towards  a  slight  rise 
with  eel  grass.  The  flight  response  of  the  urchins  starts  with  the  rapid  movements  of  all  notable 
spines  followed  by  rapid  movement  away  from  the  helmet.  Based  on  subsequent  video,  the  urchins 
on  the  smooth  reef  bench  were  moving  away  from  the  helmet  at  approximately  1  cm/second.  The 
urchin  that  tried  to  move  up  the  incline  was  captured  after  a  change  in  the  attack  partem  of  the  helmet. 
Two  additional  attempts  to  rise  up  and  drop  on  the  urchin  failed.  As  the  helmet's  shell  came  down, 
the  shell  hit  the  long  spins  of  the  urchin,  which  pushed  the  urchin  forward  and  out  of  reach  Figure  2. 
On  the  fourth  attempt,  the  snail  did  not  rise  up;  rather  it  extended  the  body  forward  and  worked  its 
way  past  some  of  the  spines  to  grasp  the  urchin  and  then  raised  the  urchin  slightly  so  that  most  of  the 
tube  feet  were  no  longer  in  contact  with  the  substrate  Figure  3.  Urchin  spines  were  being  broken  off 
and  a  trail  of  debris  was  left  as  the  attack  continued  until  the  urchin  was  subdued  by  pulling  it  closer 
to  the  shell  which  then  raised  and  fell  upon  the  urchin,  trapping  it  in  place  Figure  4.  The  entire 
process  took  less  than  five  minutes. 

The  following  day  the  helmet  was  within  two  meters  of  where  it  had  consumed  the  urchin,  and  was 
surrounded  by  long-spine  urchins  that  exhibited  normal  behavior.  On  my  return  swim,  a  half  hour 
later,  the  urchins  were  in  place  but  the  helmet  had  moved  about  one  meter  and  was  next  to  the  eel 
grass.  It  appeared  the  movement  of  the  helmet  had  not  trigger  the  flight-response  of  the  urchins.  I 
examined  the  remains  of  the  dead  urchin  from  the  previous  day  and  realized  that  urchin  debris  in  the 
area  was  probably  from  other  Cassis  feeding  nearby.  Some  urchin  tests  had  a  distinctive  hole  where 
the  helmet  had  drilled  to  feed;  others  were  crashed,  perhaps  after  the  fact  when  the  test  had  been 
weakened,  only  a  few  small  spines  remained  on  the  tests. 

On  the  fourth  afternoon,  the  helmet  was  on  the  move  so  I  stayed  to  make  more  observations.  The 
helmet  passed  by  two  urchins,  which  showed  no  alarm,  behavior.  The  path  of  the  helmet  was  going  to 
take  it  to  the  other  side  of  the  old  reef  bench,  which  was  densely  lined  with  eel  grass.  As  it 
approached  the  edge,  three  urchins  were  in  its  path  and  the  helmet  stopped.  I  was  shooting  still 
photos  and  at  this  point  moved  to  put  the  sun  on  my  back  and  shoot  HD  video.  Within  seconds  the 
helmet  raised  slightly,  and  the  urchins  scattered  along  the  old  reef.  One  urchin  attempted  to  retreat 
into  the  eel  grass  but  its  long  spines  prevented  any  real  progress  through  or  over  the  grass.  That 
animal  was  captured  on  the  first  attempt,  when  the  helmet  grasped  the  urchin,  then  rose  up  and  pulled 
the  urchin  under  the  shell  Close  up  photos  of  the  foot  shows  that  when  the  helmet  is  raised,  small 
strands  of  mucus  with  debris  from  the  substrate  are  shed.  It  may  be  that  the  response  of  the  urchin 
occurs  when  they  detect  the  presence  of  the  mucus  at  a  level  that  triggers  flight  behavior. 

With  regards  to  capturing  long-spine  urchins,  both  successful  events  were  aided  by  environmental 
factors  that  prevented  the  rapid  egress  of  the  urchin,  an  incline  with  sparse  eel  grass  and  a  dense 
stand  of  eel  grass  which  the  urchin  could  not  negotiate. 


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REFERENCES 

Gerace,  D.  and  W.  Lindsay.  1992.  Cassis  in  Captivity:  An  Ongoing  Research  Project. 

In  Proceedings  of  the  Fourth  Symposium  on  the  Natural  History  of  the  Bahamas,  pp.  59-66. 
Herdy  Eshbaugh  Editor. 

Moore,  D.  1956.  Observations  of  Predation  on  Echinoderms  by  three  species  of  Cassididae. 
Nautilus  69(3):73-76. 


Figure  3.  Helmet  changes  attack  mode.  Note  trail 
of  urchin  spines  and  angle  of  urchin  such  that  most 
tube  feet  are  not  in  contact  with  the  substrate. 


Figure  4.  Urchin  captured 


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Diving  the  Horseshoe 

Paul  Kanner 

10609  Esther  Avenue,  Los  Angeles,  California  90064 
pkann@ca.rr.com 

I’m  a  California  shell  diver,  a  retired  Coast  Guard  licensed  skipper  and  dive  master.  For  25  years  I 
worked  weekends  on  a  Southern  California  charter  boat  taking  divers  to  destinations  off  the 
California  coast.  Working  on  the  charter  boat  afforded  me  unique  access  to  many  places  to  pursue 
my  passion  for  seeking  shells.  The  California  coast  from  Santa  Barbara  to  the  Mexican  border,  all  8 
of  the  Channel  Islands,  the  Coronado  Islands  off  the  Mexican  border  and  the  outer  banks  of  Cortez 
and  Tanner  have  all  been  explored  seeking  shells. 

Shells  and  marine  life  have  been  a  consuming  passion  since  my  childhood.  I’ve  sought  shells  in 
many  places  worldwide.  Belize  and  Eleuthera  in  the  Caribbean,  Galapagos  Islands,  Solomon  Islands, 
Northern  Philippines,  Australia,  New  Caledonia,  Baja  California,  Revillagigado  Islands,  Panama  and 
Tikihau,  Rangiroa,  Nuka  Hiva  in  French  Polynesia.  Of  all  the  places  Eve  been  fortunate  to  visit  and 
dive,  one  place  in  Southern  California  remains  one  of  my  favorites.  That  is  Horseshoe  Kelp. 

Horseshoe  Kelp  is  is  an  area  approximately  2  miles  south  of  the  Los  Angeles  Harbor  entrance. 
Contrary  to  its  name,  no  kelp  is  visible  on  the  surface.  However,  low  lying  bull  kelp  grows  in  several 
areas.  The  Horseshoe  is  comprised  of  several  rock  reefs  spread  many  meters  apart  and  separated  by  a 
sand  bottom.  Depths  range  from  around  70  feet  to  well  over  100  feet.  The  reefs  consists  of  tall  rock 
structures  with  under  cuts,  small  caves  and  crevasses  that  provide  home  to  fishes  and  many  forms  of 
marine  life  including  shells.  It  is  hard  to  put  in  words  how  beautiful  this  area  is  to  dive  on  a  day  with 
clear  visibility.  Affectionately  called  the  Horseshoe,  this  area  has  provided  me  with  some  of  the  best 
shell  collecting  in  all  of  Southern  California.  It  is  best  accessed  by  a  private  boat.  I  don’t  own  my 
own  boat  but  I’m  lucky  to  have  a  close  friend  who  owns  a  25  foot  skiff  set  up  strictly  for  diving.  He 
is  not  a  shell  collector  but  he’s  happy  to  dive  the  Horseshoe  any  time  conditions  warrant.  Charter 
dive  boats  rarely  anchor  there  because  of  its  proximity  to  Los  Angeles  Harbor.  Ship  and  boat  traffic 
that  traverse  the  area  is  a  major  concern  for  divers. 

Diving  for  shells  in  California  is  10%  knowledge  of  habitat  and  90%  persistence  and  luck.  You  may 
know  habitat  but  finding  collectable  specimens  is  still  a  matter  of  luck.  My  preference  for  diving  this 
area  is  because  of  the  number  of  species  that  may  be  found  on  the  rock  structures  and  in  the  gravely 
sand  surrounding  the  reefs.  In  spite  of  its  proximity  to  Los  Angeles  Harbor  it  is  a  surprisingly  prolific 
habitat. 

Here  is  list  of  mollusk  species  I’ve  observed  or  collected  on  The  Horseshoe:  Neobernaya  spadicea, 
Haliotis  corrugata  (protected),  Haliotis  kamchatkana  assimilis  (protected),  Tegula  regina,  Pomulax 
gibberosus,  Calliostoma  annulatum ,  Calliostoma  gloriosum,  Engina  strongi,  Cancellaria  cooperi, 
Forerria  belcheri ,  Bursa  ( Crosatta )  califomica,  Kelletia  kelletii,  Mitra  idae,  Maxwellia  gemma , 
Maxwellia  santarosana,  Ocenebra  foveolata,  Pteropurpura  macroptera,  Pteropurpura  macroptera 


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tremperi ,  Pteropurpura  vokesae ,  Pteropupura  trialata  (on  the  harbor  breakwater)  Ceratostoma 
nuttalli ,  Ceratostoma  fotiatum ,  Chlamys  hastata ,  Euvola  diegensis ,  and  Crassadoma  gigantea. 

As  a  serious  diver/collector  I  leave  most  of  the  shells  I  observe  and  only  take  what  I  feel  are 
exceptional  specimens.  That  said,  diving  the  Horseshoe  Kelp  reefs  has  been  very  rewarding.  Here  are 
images  of  a  few  specimens  I’ve  kept  in  my  collection  from  diving  the  Horseshoe: 


Figure  1.  Pteropurpura  macroptera  tremperi  (left)  and  Figure  2.  Ceratostoma  foliation 

Pteropurpura  macroptera  (right) 


Figure  3.  Calliostoma  annulatum  Figure  4.  Euvola  diegensis  and  Cancellaria  cooperi 


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West  Coast  Shell  Show  -  May  2016 

Lisa  Dawn  Lindahl 

lindahldesigns@gmail.com 


The  San  Diego  Shell  Club  recently  hosted  the  first  annual  West  Coast  Shell  Show.  This  fabulous  free  event, 
located  in  historic  Balboa  Park,  San  Diego,  promises  to  be  the  Pacific  coast’s  premiere 
Conchological/Malacological  gathering.  Featuring  dozens  of  exhibits,  visitors  young  and  old  were  enthralled 
by  the  beauty  of  specimen  shells  from  around  the  world,  as  well  as  two  exciting  and  informative  shell  related 
presentations  by  Dr.  Edward  Petuch  of  Florida  Atlantic  University. 

The  exhibits  showcased  some  of  the  most  beautiful  and 
sought  after  specimens;  these  shells  are  the  gems  of  our  ocean 
world  There  were  numerous  amazing  display  cases  and  the 
exhibit  hall  was  packed  with  tables  overflowing  with  fantastic 
shell  displays  -  which  undoubtedly  made  it  hard  for  the 
judges  to  pick  winners.  Exhibitors  came  from  all  over 
Southern  California  and  from  various  states  around  the 
country  to  show  their  shells  and  compete  for  trophies.  The 
Shell  Show  provided  visitors  the  opportunity  to  meet  and  talk 
to  the  many  of  the  brave  souls  who  dive  to  collect  these  gem 
quality  beauties,  unleashing  a  new  disease » “shell  pox”  on  the 
peaceful  populace  of  casual  strollers  of  Balboa  Park  With  the 
shell  dealers  presence  many  new  (and  even  some  of  the  most  experienced)  shellers  were  able  to  pick  up  some 
great  deals  on  shells  for  their  own  collections.  The  San  Diego  Union  Tribune  even  sent  a  reporter  to  cover  the 
event.  I  can  hardly  wait  until  next  year  to  once  again  put  together  my  owe  shell  exhibits. 


Dealer  Table  displaying  specimen  shells 


'  Shell  Show  guests  exploring  the  world  of  shells 


Viewing  the  dealer  tables 


Ed  Petuch  giving  a  lecture  on  molluscan  biodiversity  There  was  barely  enough  room  for  everyone  to  sit 


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West  Coast  Shell  Show  Tropics  &  Ribbons 


Judge’s  Special  Merit:  David  Berschauer 


Festivus  Award  Winner  -  Leslie  Cmkovic 


Judge’s  Special  Merit:  Rick  Negus 


Ed  Petueh  talking  with  some  Club  members  Some  Club  members  from  Los  Angeles 


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Dad,  they^re  just  shells! 

David  Waller 

505  N.  Willowsprint,  Encinitas,  California  92024 

dwaller@dbwipmg.com 

This  is  the  third  article  in  the  series  on  my  thoughts  regarding  what  to  do  with  my  shell  collection  when  my 
collecting  days  are  over.  In  this  article,  I  discuss  the  option  of  bestowing  my  knowledge  of  shell  collecting  to 
my  family  in  the  event  they  decide  to  sell  the  collection  when  Pm  gone. 

When  I  refer  to  myself  as  a  “collector”  that  includes  learning  about  the  items  Pm  collecting,  obtaining 
specimens,  cataloging  them,  and  yes,  eventually  disposing  of  them  (you  can’t  take  them  with  you!).  In  essence, 
it  is  a  process.  However,  many  of  us,  including  myself,  don’t  consider  disposing  of  our  collections  as  part  of 
this  process.  In  fact,  most  collectors  have  not  even  considered  or  just  can’t  divest  themselves  of  their 
collections.  When  this  happens  we  are,  in  essence,  leaving  our  families  with  the  daunting  task  of  eventually 
having  to  sell  or  donate  our  collections.  I  don’t  particularly  want  to  leave  this  for  my  family  to  take  care  of,  so, 
what  should  I  do?  After  some  deliberation,  the  question  of,  what  should  I  do?  became  “What  can  I  do?” 

Well,  if  your  family  is  interested  in  shells  you  really  don’t  have  a  problem.  They  will  be  please  to  accept 
whatever  you  give  to  them.  However,  there  are  some  of  us  who  are  lone  collectors  and  bestowing  our 
knowledge  of  shell  collecting  to  our  families  would  be  like  asking  them  to  watch  grass  grow  or  count  sand 
grains  on  a  beach.  As  my  son  might  say,  “Dad,  they’re  just  shells!”  With  a  heavy  heart,  I  realized  that  this  is 
just  the  way  it  is.  However,  all  is  not  lost,  we  all  have  special  interests  and  shell  collecting  just  doesn’t  happen 
to  be  one  that  my  family  embraces.  So,  for  individuals  like  myself,  what  can  we  do?  Since  it  is  likely  that  my 
family  will  eventually  sell  my  collection,  I  began  considering  what  would  make  this  process  easier  for  them  to 
accomplish.  I  have  always  maintained  a  listing  of  my  shells  and  this  will  be  helpful  in  knowing  what  shells  are 
in  the  collection.  In  addition,  I  have  always  labeled  the  cases  containing  the  shells,  and  in  many  cases,  retained 
the  original  data  slips  in  the  shells  whenever  possible.  My  list  was  created  as  a  simple  Excel  spreadsheet  when 
there  were  few  programs  available  for  cataloging.  However,  today,  there  are  specialized  databases,  such  as  the 
Shell  CollectionManagement  Software  available  on  www.shellcollections.com.  which  provide  a  number  of 
advanced  search  capabilities  and  image  storage.  The  challenge  is  making  sure  that  it  is  always  updated.  Some 
of  the  fields  that  I  use  include  species  name,  location  collected  and  size  as  well  as  reference  citations.  This 
information  is  relatively  static,  and  once  it  is  logged  into  the  database,  it  usually  doesn’t  change.  However, 
pricing  has  been  a  bit  of  a  problem  because  they  vary  so  significantly  over  time  that  any  actual  value  could  be 
meaningless.  Rice’s  Prices  is  a  shell  catalog  that  provides  prices,  but  it  hasn’t  been  updated  for  over  a  decade. 
Ebay  and  shellauction.net  sell  shells  regularly  and  would  be  a  terrific  resource  for  determining  current  prices 
for  shells.  However,  this  can  be  a  daunting  task  for  a  collection  of  a  few  thousands  shells.  One  suggestion 
would  be  to  label  the  more  valuable  shells  with  an  indicator  so  that  your  family  can  readily  identify  those 
shells.  One  idea  would  be  placing  a  color  or  numerical  indicator  on  the  box  or  label  accompanying  these  shells. 
These  indicators  could  give  a  relative  price  in  10s,  100s  or  1,000s,  whatever  the  case  may  be.  I  currently,  use 
both  color  with  a  numerical  values.  So  for  example,  3  green  would  indicate  a  value  range  of  about  $30, 2.5 
blue  would  indicate  a  range  of  about  $250  and  2.3  red  would  indicate  about  $2,300. 

Although  my  thoughts  of  teaching  my  family  about  shells  seemed  to  be  an  excellent  idea  at  the  time,  it  became 
quickly  evident  that  this  was  not  the  answer.  So  what  is  the  best  answer?  My  last  article  in  this  series  will  let 
you  know  what  I  think  might  be  the  perfect  solution  to  the  “what  to  do  with  one’s  shells”  problem. 


ISSN  0738-9388 


Volume:  48 


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Volume:  48 


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Collection  Management  System  is  a  museum 
style  database  program  which  enables  a  collector 
to  keep,  organize,  and  maintain  the  individual 
records  and  data  from  their  shell  collection  in  a 
readily  accessible  form.  The  program  is  easy  to 
use,  and  is  menu  driven  by  self-explanatory  pull 
tabs.  Reports  and  labels  are  easy  to  print.  This 
latest  version  is  readily  adaptable  to  work  with 
any  systematic  collection,  including 
malacologists  and  entomologists,  and  runs  in  a 
Windows  operating  environment.  See 
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Quarterly  Journal  of  the  Conchologists  of  America,  Inc. 


Editor’s  Note:  The  Festivus  is  accepting  articles  for  fixture  issues. 
Articles  of  a  scientific  nature  may  be  submitted  for  the  peer  reviewed 
portion  of  our  journal.  Please  refer  to  our  Guidelines  for  Authors, 
and/or  Guidelines  for  the  Description  of  New  Taxa  in  The  Festivus , 
both  available  on  our  website:  http://Avww.sandiegoshellclub.com/festivus/ 
Articles  are  subject  to  a  blind  peer  review  process,  and  submission  of 
an  article  does  not  guarantee  acceptance  or  publication.  We  also  accept 
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All  articles  must  be  accompanied  by  either  the  author’s  original 
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Back  Cover:  Shells  and  photos  courtesy  of  Buzz  Owen.  Top  =Haliotis  kamtschatkana  kamtschatkana,  Fisk  Mill  Cove,  California, 
measuring  1 17.3  mm;  Middle  =  H.  kamtschatkana  kamtschatkana  /  H.  kamtschatkana  assimilis  intergrade  (not  a  hybrid),  Cambria, 
California,  measuring  1 11.2  mm;  Bottom  =  H.  kamtschatkana  assimilis.  Point  Conception,  California,  measuring  153.5  mm. 

Photos  used  with  written  permission,  all  rights  reserved.  (Cover  artistic  credit:  Rex  Stilwill) 


3  9088  01879  0311 


THE 


Festivus 


Vol.  48(4)  November  2016 


Eastern  Pacific  Pteropurpiira 

Freshwater  mollusks  of  Bangladesh 

New  landsnalls  from  Sumatra 
and  Vietnam 


Cones,  spindles,  abalone  and  more! 


Quarterly  Publication  of  the  San  Diego  Shell  Club 


ISSN  0738-9388 


THE  FESTIVUS 

A  publication  of  the  San  Diego  Shell  Club 


Volume:  48 


November  2016 


ISSUE 


CLUB  OFFICERS 

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Dr.  Paul  Tuskes 
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FRONT  COVER: 

This  image  shows  a  beautiful  specimen  of  Lyncina  broderipi 
(Gray  in  G.B.  Sowerby  I,  1 832)  at  42  m  on  rocky  reef  off 
southern  KwaZulu  Natal  South  Africa;  the  photo  was  taken  by 
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(Cover  artistic  credit:  Rex  Stilwill) 


MISSION  STATEMENT 

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Publication  date:  November  _4,  2016 


ISSN  0738-9388 


210 


Volume:  48  THE  FESTIVUS  ISSUE  4 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

Peer  Reviewed  Articles 

•  Native  Pteropurpura  of  the  Eastern  Pacific  (Muricidae)  ...... 

By  Paul  Tuskes  and  Ann  Tuskes 

•  Checklist  of  Freshwater  Mollusca  (Gastropoda  and  Bivalvia)  Recorded  from  .............  p.  221 

the  Buriganga  and  Turag  Rivers,  Dhaka,  Bangladesh 

By  Mohammad  Abdul  Baki,  Md.  Muzammel  Hossain  and  Naser  Ahmed  Bhouiyan 

•  Some  cone  shells  with  nodules  that  persist  at  least  into  the  middle  whorls . . . p.  229 

(subfamilies  Conilithinae  and  Coninae)  from  the  East  Pacific  region 

By  John  K.  Tucker 

•  A  new  subspecies  of  Amphidromus  ( Goniodromus )  bulowi  Frahstorfer,  1 905  ............  p.  235 

(Gastropoda:  Pulmonata:  Camaenidae)  from  Sumatra,  Indonesia 

By  Jeff  Parsons  and  John  Abbas 

•  A  new  species  of  Vasticardium  (Bivalvia:  Cardiidae)  from  Queensland,  Australia  . . p.  248 

By  Stephen  J.  Maxwell,  Bradley  C.  Congdon  and  Tasmin  L.  Rymer 

•  Camaena  chuongi,  a  new  species  (Gastropda:  Camaenidae)  from  Vietnam  . . .  p.  253 

By  Nguyen  Ngoc  Thach 

•  Six  New  Species  of  Gastropods  (Fasciolariidae,  Conidae,  and  Conilithidae)  ....... .......  p.  257 

from  Brazil 

By  Edward  J.  Petuch  and  David  P.  Berschauer 

•  An  iconography  of  the  Western  Indian  endemic  abalone  Haliotis  unilateralis . . . .  p.  267 

Lamarck,  1822  (Vetigastropoda:  Haliotidae)  with  notes  on  its  taxonomic  history, 
distribution,  ecology,  and  evolution 

By  Buzz  Owen  and  Aaron  D.  Pan 


Club  News  . . . . . . .  p.  278 

Articles  of  General  Interest 

•  You  Can’t  Take  Them  With  You  . . . . . . . . . . p.  279 

By  David  B.  Waller 


•  2016  COA  Convention  in  Chicago  . . . . . . . . . . p.  281 

By  David  B.  Waller 


New  Taxa  published  in  The  Festivus  in  2016:  Volumes  48(1)  through  48(4) 

Species  and  subspecies: 

Oliva  hirasei  ameliae  Strano,  2016,  Haliotis  arabiensis  Owen,  Regter  &  Van  Laethem,  2016,  Lautoconus 
saharicus  Petuch  &  Berschauer,  2016,  Harpa  queenslandica  Berschauer  &  Petuch,  2016,  Camaena  abbasi 
Thach,  2016,  Amphidromus  stevenliei  Parsons,  2016,  Marginella  spadix  Veldsman,  2016,  Viduoliva  tricolor 
abbasai  Thach  &  Berschauer,  2016,  Jaspidiconus  boriqua  Petuch  &  Berschauer,  2016,  J.  culebranus  Petuch  & 
Berschauer,  2016,  J.  janapatriceae  Petuch  &  Berschauer,  2016,  J.  marcusi  Petuch  &  Berschauer,  2016,  J. 
masinoi  Petuch  &  Berschauer,  2016,  Miliariconus  sinaiensis  Petuch  &  Berschauer,  2016,  Amphidromus  bulowi 
malalakensis  Parsons  &  Abbas,  2016,  Vasticardium  swanae  Maxwell,  Congdon  &  Rymer,  2016,  Camaena 
chuongi  Thach,  2016,  Lamniconus  petestimpsoni  Petuch  and  Berschauer,  2016,  Poremskiconus  fonsecai  Petuch 
and  Berschauer,  2016,  P.  smoesi  Petuch  and  Berschauer,  2016,  Jaspidiconus  josei  Petuch  and  Berschauer,  2016, 
Fusinus  damasoi  Petuch  and  Berschauer,  2016,  F.  mariaodeteae  Petuch  and  Berschauer,  2016. 


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Native  Pteropurpura  of  the  Eastern  Pacific  (Muricidae) 

Paul  Tuskes  and  Ann  Tuskes 
3808  Sioux  Ave,  San  Diego,  California  92117 
tuskes@aol.com 

ABSTRACT  Eight  species  in  the  genus  Pteropurpura  are  known  to  occur  in  the  Eastern  Pacific, 
from  central  California  to  Peru.  All  eight  species  are  found  in  the  California  or  Panamic  marine 
provinces.  Pteropurpura  deroyana  occurs  only  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  Panamic  province  off 
the  Galapagos  Islands.  New  biological,  distribution,  depth,  substrate,  and  shell  length  information  is 
presented.  The  generic  status  of  two  species  P.  leeana  and  P.  /estiva  are  in  flux,  and  until  genetic 
analysis  suggests  otherwise  they  are  assumed  to  belong  to  this  genus. 

KEY  WORDS  Pteropurpura ,  Muricidae,  Gastropoda,  Panamic  Marine  Province,  California  Marine 
Province. 


INTRODUCTION 

On  a  worldwide  basis  there  are  approximately 
27  species  in  the  genus  Pteropurpura. 
Currently,  eight  native  Muricidae  of  the  genus 
Pteropurpura  occur  in  the  Eastern  Pacific;  P. 
centrifuga  (Hinds,  1844),  P.  deroyana  Berry 
(1968),  P.  erinaceoides  (Valenciennes,  1832),  P. 
/estiva  (Hinds,  1 844),  P.  leeana  (Dali,  1 890),  P. 
macroptera  (Deshayes,  1838),  P.  trialata 
(Sowerby,  1841),  and  P.  vokesae  (Emerson, 
1964).  With  the  exception  of  P.  deroyana, 
which  is  restricted  to  the  Galapagos  Islands  of 
Ecuador,  the  other  seven  species  are  shared 
between  the  temperate  to  subtropical  California 
marine  province  and  the  tropical  Panamic 
marine  province. 

The  California  marine  province  extends  from 
Point  Conception,  Santa  Barbara  County, 
southern  California,  past  Cedros  Island,  Baja 
California  to  Asuncion  Bay,  Baja  California  Sur, 
Mexico.  Seven  species  overlap  in  the  southern 
portion  of  the  California  province  and  in  the 
poorly  defined  transition  zone  between  the 
California  and  Panamic  marine  provinces  from 
Asuncion  Bay  to  Magdalena  Bay,  Baja  Sur.  A 
review  of  mollusk  groups  such  as  cones, 


cowries,  murex  and  cassia  indicates  a 
prevalence  of  tropical  Panamic  species  at 
Magdalena  Bay  that  are,  for  the  most  part, 
absent  from  the  area  of  San  Ignacio  Lagoon  and 
Asuncion  Bay  to  the  north  (Keen,  1971).  At 
Asuncion  Bay  many  of  the  gastropods  are 
typical  of  those  found  in  San  Diego,  California. 
The  Panamic  province  includes  the  southern  tip 
of  Baja  California  Sur  on  the  Pacific  side,  and 
from  the  Gulf  of  California  south  to 
Ecuador/Peru.  Pteropurpura  are  not  known 
from  the  South  American  marine  province. 

The  goals  of  this  paper  are  to  discuss  the  native 
Eastern  Pacific  Pteropurpura,  provide  new 
information  regarding  their  biology  and 
distribution,  consolidate  information,  and  to 
briefly  discuss  the  status  of  P.  /estivus  and  P. 
leeana.  Pteropurpura /alcata  (Sowerby  II,  1834) 
(syn  P.  aduncus  Sowerby  II,  1 834)  a  non-native 
species  introduced  to  central  California  is  not 
within  the  scope  of  this  paper.  This  species  is  in 
a  California  Marine  Protection  Area  and 
therefore  presents  regulatory  and  permitting 
issues  that  we  have  not  pursued. 


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Materials/Methods 

Museum  material  examined  included:  Natural 
History  Museum  of  Los  Angeles  County 
(NHMLAC),  Santa  Barbara  Museum  of  Natural 
History  (SBMNH),  San  Diego  Natural  History 
Museum  (SDNHM),  Scripps  Institution  of 
Oceanography  (SIO)  and  the  Benthic 
Invertebrate  Collection,  California  Academy  of 
Science  data  base.  Depth,  substrate  and  specific 
locality  data  from  museums,  collectors,  divers, 
and  research  vessels  are  quite  valuable  and 
summarized  here  in  general  terms.  In  addition, 
we  have  observed  all  of  the  species  that 
typically  occur  at  depths  of  less  than  30  meters. 
Data  based  on  material  from  shrimp  boats  is  not 
included  as  they  travel  extensively  in  the  Gulf, 
so  most  of  those  shells  are  labeled  with  the 
location  they  were  purchased. 

Abbreviations 

Baja  =  Baja  California,  Mexico 
Baja  Sur  =  Baja  California  South,  Mexico 
CA  =  California,  USA 
m  =  meter 
mm  =  millimeter 

DISCUSSION 

Pteropurpura  History  in  the  Eastern  Pacific 

Species.  Pteropurpura  is  placed  in  the 
Subfamily  Ocenebrine  based  primarily  on 
characteristics  of  their  radula,  a  fused  siphon 
canal,  and  structure  of  the  operculum.  The 
genus  contains  four  subgenera  ( Pteropurpura ) 
Jousseaume  (1880),  (. Poropteron )  Jousseaume 
(1880),  ( Ocinebrellus )  Jousseaume  (1880)  and 
0 Calictrapessa )  Berry  (1959)  to  account  for 
diverse  morphologies.  Future  molecular  work 
will  be  critical  in  defining  the  genus,  once  that 
data  is  integrated  with  morphological  and 
biogeographical  studies. 

Past  taxonomic  confusion  within  the  Eastern 
Pacific  Pteropurpura  is  understandable.  When 


described,  Murex  macropterus  (Deshayes,  1838) 
was  not  illustrated,  and  no  locality  data  was 
provided.  That  species  would  eventually 
become  the  type  for  the  genus  Pteropurpura. 
Dali  began  naming  new  species  of  three  winged 
murex  from  California  [M.  rhyssus  Dali,  1919 
and  Pteronotus  carpenteri  Dali  1 899  (=  M.  petri 
Dali,  1902)]  but  issues  with  the  descriptions 
raised  concerns.  The  work  of  Dali  was  used  by 
subsequent  west  coast  authors  (Keep,  1904, 
Oldroyd,  1927)  but  was  not  accepted 
universally.  Abbott  (1954)  treated  Pteropurpura 
as  a  section  under  the  subgenus  Pterynotus 
Swainson  (1833),  he  considered  M.  carpenteri 
to  be  a  subspecies  of  M.  trialatus,  and  listed  M 
rhyssus  as  a  subspecies  of  M.  erinaceoides. 

Between  the  works  of  Abbott  (1954  &  1974), 
Emerson  (1964a)  located  the  type  specimen  of 
M  macropterus  and  provided  the  first 
illustration.  He  recognized  Pteropurpura  as  a 
distinct  genus  and  treated  M.  carpenteri  and  M 
petri  of  Dali  as  junior  synonymies  of  P. 
macroptera.  Next,  Emerson  (1964b)  realized 
that  M.  rhyssus  was  a  homonym  and  offered  the 
replacement  name  P.  vokesae,  treating  it  as  a 
distinct  species  and  pointing  out  how  it  differed 
from  P.  erinaceoides.  Abbott  (1974)  later 
accepted  the  generic  status  of  Pteropurpura  but 
doubted  the  species  status  of  some  California 
material. 

The  Murex  Shells  of  the  World  by  Radwin  & 
D’Attilio  (1976)  includes  a  good  review  of 
morphological  information  and  species 
composition  of  Pteropurpura.  It  is  interesting  to 
note  that  they  retained  both  P.  festiva  and  P. 
leeana  in  Pteropurpura,  refuting  the  past 
positions  of  P.  festiva  in  Jaton  Pusch  (1837)  and 
Shaskyus  Bureh  &  Campbell  (1963)  and  that  of 
P.  leeana  in  Calcitrapessa  Berry  (1959).  In 
addition,  they  raised  the  subgenus  Poropteron 
to  generic  status,  and  both  M.  erinaceoides  and 


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M.  vokesae  were  placed  in  the  genus  Ocenebra 
Gray  (1847). 

Later  D’Attilio  and  Myers  (1983),  focused  only 
on  Pteropurpura  and  listed  the  known  species. 
Without  explanation  they  returned  O. 
erinaceoides  and  O.  vokesae  to  Pteropurpura 
and  returned  P.  /estiva  to  Shaskyus  and  P. 
leeana  to  Calcitrapessa;  the  removal  of  these 
two  species  was  not  widely  accepted. 

Prior  to  1960  most  of  these  shells  were  not 
common  in  institutional  collections,  as  a  vessel 
was  needed  to  collect  deeper  water  species. 
After  the  wide  spread  use  of  SCUBA  gear, 
divers  made  many  rare  species  common  place 
and  readily  available  in  museum  collections. 

Two  problem  species.  A  review  of  the  species 
illustrated  (Figures  1-15)  indicate  how  divergent 
P.  /estiva  and  P.  leeana  are  from  each  other  and 
other  members  of  the  genus.  Mature 
Pteropurpura  have  three  large  varices 
(trivaricate)  that  extend  outward  from  the 
current  and  previous  distal  aperture  of  the  lip. 
The  margins  of  the  varices  may  be  simple  (P. 
/estiva),  scalloped  (P.  macroptera,  P.  trialata), 
have  extended  spurs  on  the  margin  that  form 
distinctive  recurved  hook-like  structures  (P. 
centrifuga,  P.  erinaceoides,  P.  vokesae ),  or  have 
a  single  long  heavy  spine  on  each  varices  {P. 
leeana). 

Pteropurpura  /estiva  appears  to  have  shorter 
varices,  with  a  simple  margin  that  uniformly 
recurves  as  much  as  1 80  degrees  along  its  entire 
length  (Figure  7).  Tuskes  &  Tuskes  (2009) 
pointed  out  that  this  species  can  be  found  in 
surf-prone  rocky  coast  feeding  in  the  intertidal 
and  subtidal  zone.  The  curvature  of  the  large 
varices  effectively  shortens  their  height  and  may 
be  an  adaptation  to  streamline  the  shell,  thereby 
reducing  the  force  of  waves  striking  the  shell. 
It  may  also  allow  an  animal  that  becomes 


dislodged  to  right  itself  more  quickly.  The 
apparent  height  of  the  varices  for  P.  /estiva  (ca 
60  mm  in  length)  is  4  to  5  mm  but  when  the 
width  is  measured,  over  the  180  degree  arc,  it  is 
11  to  13.5  mm.  The  scalloped  varices  of  similar 
sized  P.  macroptera  varied  from  9  to  15mm  in 
height.  As  such,  the  varices  of  P.  /estiva  are 
similar  in  width  to  P.  macroptera  but  because 
they  are  folded,  they  are  approximately  one  half 
to  one-third  the  height.  Unless  genetic  data 
proves  otherwise,  we  believe  that  P.  /estiva  is 
properly  placed  in  Pteropurpura. 

Within  Pteropurpura ,  the  shape  of  large  varices 
found  on  P.  leeana  (Figures  8-9)  are  unique. 
The  apex  of  the  varices  is  nearly  at  a  right  angle 
to  the  columella  of  the  shell.  The  spine  is 
formed  as  the  margins  roll  ventrally  to  produce 
a  channel  while  the  remainder  of  the  varice 
tapers  to  the  anterior  end  of  the  shell  forming 
the  closed  siphon  canal  with  no  additional 
spines,  and  no  apparent  transition  to  form  the 
siphon  canal.  All  other  species  in  the  Eastern 
Pacific  have  a  sharp  distinctive  transition  from 
the  varices  to  the  siphon.  Upon  close  inspection 
of  P.  leeana ,  it  seems  likely  that  if  an  animal 
were  to  be  tipped  to  the  side,  it  would  be 
difficult  for  it  to  gain  sufficient  leverage  to  right 
itself.  Since  P.  leeana  is  a  deeper  water  species, 
and  not  likely  to  be  significantly  impacted  by 
ocean  swells,  tipping  over  may  be  a  low 
probability  event.  Holding  specimens  in  your 
hand  and  noting  the  difference  in  shape, 
orientation,  and  strength  of  the  spines  suggest 
they  may  be  a  defense  against  large  rays  which 
typically  crush  a  shell  to  feed  on  the  animal 
within.  When  tissue  is  available  for  DNA 
analysis,  we  may  have  a  more  definitive  answer 
as  to  its  generic  status. 

Species  Account 

1  .Pteropurpura  centri/uga  (Figures  1-2)  is  the 
second  largest  species  in  the  region.  Specimens 
50  mm  and  greater  typically  express  adult  shell 


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characteristics.  The  final  varices  of  all  mature 
shells  have  3  to  4  extended  spines  that  are 
pinched  together  forming  a  distinctive  dorsal 
ridge  and  the  apical  spine  typically  recurved  by 
up  to  90  degrees.  The  largest  spine  is  at  the  apex 
with  shorter  spines  midway  to  the  anterior 
siphon.  It  is  not  unusual  for  the  large  apical 
spine  of  the  varices  to  be  broken.  The  shell  may 
be  white  or  white  with  distinctive  yellow-brown 
bands  Figure  1.  When  banding  is  present  it  is 
displayed  on  both  sides  of  the  varices. 

A  small  cross  section  of  records  for  depth  and 
substrate  in  Mexico  includes:  Gulf  of  California, 
(Sonora)  Guaymas  64-91  m,  San  Carlos  100  m, 
Doble  Point  also  near  San  Carlos  95-115  m  on 
coarse  sand  and  dead  shell;  (Baja)  San  Juanico 
Bay  64-91  m  in  cobble,  Los  Angeles  Bay  219- 
310  m;  (Baja  Sur  Gulf)  Conception  Bay  46  m, 
Danzante  Island  120  m,  La  Paz  45-55  m, 
Espirita  Santos  Island  164  m;  (Baja  Sur  West 
Coast)  Magdalena  Bay  77-80  m;  and  (Baja 
West  Coast)  Cedros  Island  76  m.  Museum 
records  indicate  divers  have  found  them  on 
occasion  in  the  range  of  30-40  m,  on  sandy-mud 
bottoms  with  notable  shell  debris.  The  depth 
and  substrate  explains  why  specimens  are  taken 
by  shrimpers.  It  is  likely  that  the  prey  species 
are  either  bivalves  or  marine  worms. 

Range:  Uncommon  or  absent  from  the  northern 
Gulf  of  California.  The  occurrence  of  this 
species  is  well  documented  from  the  area  of  Los 
Angeles  Bay  and  Guaymas  in  the  Gulf  of 
California  south  to  Playa  Gauyas  Provence, 
Ecuador.  Recently,  Bertsch  and  Rosa  (2016) 
cited  a  record  from  Caleta  La  Cruz,  Peru.  On 
the  Pacific  coast  of  Baja  they  have  been 
collected  as  far  north  as  Cedros  Island. 

Length:  Most  shells  measure  60-75  mm  in 

length,  large  specimens  range  from  80  to  90+ 
mm. 


2.  Pteropurpura  deroyana  (Figures  3-4)  is 
endemic  to  the  Galapagos  Islands,  Ecuador. 
When  compared  to  P.  centrifuga  the  shell  of  P. 
deroyana  is  easily  distinguished  as  the  apical 
spines  on  the  varices  are  typically  more 
flattened,  extend  upward,  and  are  only  slightly 
recurved;  the  surface  of  the  shell  is  lightly  but 
distinctly  textured  whereas  P.  centrifuga  is 
smooth,  larger  and  more  robust  with  recurved 
spines  on  the  varices.  The  shell  of  Pteropurpura 
deroyana  is  smaller,  fragile  and  narrower  than 
that  of  P.  centrifuga.  The  species  is  uncommon 
in  collections;  Keen  1971  illustrated  the  ventral 
surface  of  a  33  mm  specimen  taken  at  100  m. 
We  examine  two  specimens  collected  in  1969  at 
a  depth  of  179  m  off  the  south  coast  of  Santa 
Cruz  Island,  in  the  Galapagos.  Both  shells  are 
illustrated,  the  largest  measures  58  mm  the  other, 
which  had  been  cleaned  is  43.7  mm,  and  are  in 
the  collection  of  Don  Pisor.  The  texture  of  the 
shell  surface  is  apparent  as  debris  in  the  shallow 
grooves  helps  with  the  contrast  on  the  larger 
individual. 

Range:  Restricted  to  the  Galapagos  Islands  of 

Ecuador. 

Length:  33-58  mm. 

3.  Pteropurpura  erinaceoides  (Figures  5-6)  has 
mature  varices  with  an  apical  spine  that  narrows 
and  recurves,  while  the  rest  of  the  varices  have 
five  to  seven  short  recurved  spines,  with  a  shape 
and  size  similar  to  those  of  P.  vokesae.  Shells 
may  be  white  or  light  brown;  some  have 
contrasting  banding  that  is  dark  to  light  brown 
or  off-white  bands  present  on  the  shell  and  both 
sides  of  the  varices.  With  the  exceptions  of  the 
larger  apical  spine,  most  spines  measure  4  to  7 
mm.  Mature  and  juvenile  animals  are  often 
found  in  the  same  environment  and  can  be 
locally  common.  They  occur  both  intertidal  and 
subtidally  and  are  found  on  rocks,  under  rocks, 
and  occasionally  attached  to  the  base  of  rocks 


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just  below  the  level  of  sand/silt.  Eggs  are 
deposited  on  rocks  in  the  spring,  sometimes  in 
mass  by  many  females.  There  is  no  parental 
care  once  the  eggs  are  deposited. 

The  majority  of  the  records  are  from  intertidal 
collections,  but  specimens  are  also  taken  by 
divers  and  dredging.  There  does  not  appear  to 
be  a  relationship  between  the  depth  and  size  of 
the  shell.  Specimens  over  55  mm  are  not 
common.  The  largest  intertidal  shells  in 
museum  collections  were  58.5  mm  from  Los 
Angeles  Bay,  Baja,  and  61  mm  from  Requeson 
in  Conception  Bay,  Baja  Sur.  Most  specimens 
collected  by  divers  are  from  less  than  20  m  but 
dredged  specimens  have  been  taken  to  at  least 
57  m.  A  series  of  35  shells  from  San  Luis 
Gonzaga,  Baja,  ranged  from  14  to  35  mm  in 
length,  with  a  median  size  of  3 1  mm. 

Range:  Records  extend  from  Puerto  Penasco  in 
the  northern  Gulf  of  California,  south  to  Cabo 
San  Lucas  and  north  on  the  Pacific  coast  of  Baja 
Sur  to  San  Ignacio  lagoon  where  they  were 
found  intertidally  (ISO)  and  to  the  area  of 
Guerreo  Negro.  The  species  is  ubiquitous  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Gulf  and  has  been  found  to  the 
south  in  the  states  of  Nayarit  (Banderas  Bay) 
and  Oaxaca  (Salina  Cruz)  Mexico. 

Length:  25-40  mm  is  typical,  large  specimens 
exceed  55  mm.  The  largest  shell  measured  was 
64.3  mm  in  the  collection  of  Larry  Catarius. 

4.  Pteropurpura  festiva  (Figure  7)  is  found 
from  the  intertidal  zone  to  approximately  25 
meters;  below  that  depth  they  are  not  commonly 
encountered.  Fotheringham  1971  published  a 
paper  on  a  population  of  P.  festiva  found  on  the 
exposed  rocky  coast  just  north  of  San  Diego, 
California,  which  provided  a  comparison  for  our 
later  work  in  varied  habitats.  Immature  and 
small  adults  are  commonly  found  in  the  rocky 
intertidal  zone.  On  the  exposed  rocky  coast  only 


25-35%  of  the  animals  measured  were  greater 
than  30  mm  in  length,  and  no  shells  in  a  sample 
of  661  live  animals  exceeded  45  mm.  While  in 
protected  areas  of  Quivira  Basin,  (Mission  Bay, 
San  Diego,  California)  greater  than  95%  of  the 
160  animals  measured  were  between  31  and  55 
mm. 

Individuals  in  the  intertidal  zone  feed  primarily 
on  barnacles  during  high  tide  and  may  move 
lower  as  the  tide  retreats,  where  they  feed  on 
limpets,  especially  the  file  limpet  Collisella 
limatula  (Carpenter,  1864).  Larger  adults  are 
more  often  found  in  protected  waters  or  in 
deeper  water.  In  Mission  Bay,  large  individuals 
are  found  on  sand  and  measure  55  to  60+  mm. 
Large  animals  feed  primarily  on  bivalves 
especially  Chione  and  Protothaca  and  the  attack 
pattern  varies  by  prey  species  (Tuskes  and 
Tuskes  2009).  Adults  have  also  been 
documented  many  times  feeding  with  Conus 
califomicus  Reeve,  1844  on  live  bubble  snails 
Bulla  gouldiana  Pilsbry,  1893  (Tuskes  2011). 
Adults  breeding  on  the  exposed  rocky  coast  and 
jetty  entries  are  smaller  than  breeding 
populations  in  bays.  The  difference  in  size  may 
not  be  age  related,  but  rather  availability  of 
food  sources.  In  Mission  Bay,  reproduction 
occurs  year-round,  with  a  peak  between  May 
and  August.  Female  P.  festiva  often  lay  their 
eggs  in  mass  on  rocks  and  other  hard  substrate. 
The  biology  of  this  species  (prey  selection, 
reproduction,  habitat  preference,  etc.)  was 
published  by  Tuskes  and  Tuskes  2009. 

Range:  Point  Conception,  Santa  Barbara 
County,  California  south  to  Asuncion  Bay  in 
Baja  Sur.  The  most  southern  record  is  from 
Magdalena  Bay,  Baja  Sur.  North  of  Point 
Conception,  the  species  is  infrequently  found, 
with  a  record  from  Morro  Bay  and  recently  two 
specimens  were  documented  from  Monterey, 
California  (Clark,  2016). 


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Length:  25  to  55mm,  few  shells  exceed  60  mm. 
The  largest  specimen  measured  67.4  mm,  and 
collected  from  San  Pedro  Harbor,  Los  Angeles, 
California,  Negus  (1991). 

5.  Pteropurpura  leeana  (Figures  8-9)  is  a 
distinctive  species  and  infrequently  collected. 
They  are  collected  by  dredging,  tangle  nets,  and 
occasionally  by  shrimpers.  Battered  specimens, 
which  have  lost  most  of  their  distinctive  spines 
occasionally  wash  ashore.  The  shells  of  P. 
leeana  are  the  most  divergent  within  the  genus, 
as  the  varices  are  modified  to  form  large  spines 
that  surround  the  shell.  The  varices  taper 
sharply  from  the  spine  to  the  body  of  the  shell  to 
form  the  closed  siphon  canal  without  the 
distinctive  transition  seen  in  the  other  species. 
This  adaption  makes  the  siphon  much  stronger 
and  reminiscent  of  an  additional  spine.  The 
consecutive  varices  of  P.  leeana  do  not  line  up; 
rather  they  are  offset  by  20-30  degrees 
distributing  the  spines  in  a  greater  arc.  Shells 
with  their  spines  intact  can  be  as  wide  as  the 
shell  is  long. 

Range:  This  species  is  infrequently  taken  in  the 
Gulf  of  California.  Most  specimens  are  from  the 
Pacific  side  of  Baja  and  Baja  Sur  primarily  from 
Cedros  Island  south  to  Magdalena  Bay.  Beach 
worn  specimens  have  been  found  further  north. 
The  most  northern  record  is  a  54  mm  specimen 
taken  NW  off  Anacapa  Light,  Anacapa  Island, 
southern  California  at  86-96  m,  16  March  1941 
R/V  Velero  (Figure  9)  in  the  collection  at 
NHMLAC. 

Length:  Mature  shells  measure  50  to  60  mm; 
shells  60  mm  and  greater  are  notably  sturdier 
than  smaller  shells.  The  largest  shell  measured 
was  81.5  mm  and  in  the  collection  of  John 
LaGrange. 

6.  Pteropurpura  macroptera  (Figures  10-12). 
The  base  color  of  the  shell  varies  from  purple- 


brown  ,  light  brown,  to  nearly  white.  The  color 
form  tremperi  (Figure  12)  has  white  streaks 
across  the  shell  and  varices  and  are  infrequently 
collected.  The  texture  of  the  shell  varies  from 
nearly  smooth  to  vary  scaly  and  the  margin  of 
the  varices  may  be  deeply  or  moderately 
scalloped,  or  have  little  scalloping. 

Most  live  specimens  are  less  than  45  mm  in 
length,  but  divers  often  pick  up  larger 
individuals.  As  a  result  both  museum  and 
private  collections  tend  to  have  specimens  50 
mm  or  greater.  A  high  percentage  of  specimens 
from  central  California  are  said  to  have 
smoother  margins  on  the  varices  than  those 
from  southern  California,  but  we  have  not 
observed  that  based  on  museum  material. 

Bob  Abel  (personal  communication)  has  taken 
P.  macroptera  in  Fish  Mill  Cove,  Sonoma 
County  and  noted  that  smaller  individuals  could 
be  found  at  1 1  m  with  larger  specimens  found 
deeper.  In  southern  California,  this  species  is 
taken  by  divers  as  shallow  as  16  m,  but  more 
often  at  20  m  or  greater  on  hard  surfaces.  A  live 
50  mm  specimen  was  collected  while  dredging 
a  rocky  portion  of  the  9  Mile  Bank,  San  Diego, 
California,  at  155  m  by  J.  LaGrange  in  1992,  and 
at  a  depth  of  100  m  off  Cedros  Island,  Baja  Ca. 
In  Baja  Sur,  they  have  been  dredged  at  37  m 
south  of  Point  Eugenia  and  99  m  off  Point 
Abreojos  (NHMLAC). 

Three  specimens  have  been  collected  in  the 
Gulf  of  California.  Skoglund  (1983)  illustrated  a 
live  38  mm  specimen  collected  while  dredging 
at  a  depth  of  182  m  off  Los  Angeles  Bay,  Baja. 
That  specimen  was  deposited  in  the  SBMNH 
and  we  have  examined  the  shell.  We  found  a  55 
mm  P.  macroptera  mixed  in  with  a  batch  of  P. 
erinaceoides  from  San  Luis  Gonzaga.  Baja,  at 
station  #4  February  1967  by  E.  Hailey,  the  data 
slip  did  not  record  depth  information  (SBMNH). 
A  third  specimen  was  acquired  from  shrimpers 


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at  Loreto  but  the  exact  collection  site  is 
unknown. 

Range:  The  species  is  known  from  Fish  Mill 
Cove  Sonoma  County  California  south  to  Point 
Abreojos  in  Baja  Sur.  Two  confirmed 
specimens  from  the  upper  Gulf  of  California 
may  represent  a  relictual  population. 

Length:  In  Southern  California,  most 

specimens  in  collections  are  50  to  55  mm,  large 
individuals  exceed  60  mm.  The  largest  shells 
measured  were  from  Santa  Barbara  County, 
California  and  measured  72.4  and  72.8  mm 
(SBMNH). 

7.  Pteropurpura  trialata  (Figures  13-14). 
Surprisingly,  unlike  many  other  Pteropurpura 
from  the  region,  the  immature  stages  of  this 
species  appears  to  be  unknown.  The  smallest 
shell  examined  was  a  29  mm  sub-adult.  The 
shell  is  white  to  off-white,  with  light  to  dark 
brown  banding  that  may  coalesce  or  remain 
separate.  Unlike  other  eastern  Pacific 
Pteropurpura,  the  banding  on  the  shell  is  not 
expressed  on  the  inner  varices.  In  Mission  Bay, 
perhaps  5%  of  the  shells  are  alba.  In  Southern 
California,  variation  in  the  extent  of  scalloping 
on  the  margins  of  the  varices,  varices 
orientation,  and  shell  length  to  width  ratio  are 
notably  different  between  San  Diego  and  Los 
Angeles.  For  more  detailed  information  see 
Tuskes  and  Tuskes  (2015). 

Adults  and  sub-adults  feed  on  the  vermetid 
gastropod  Thylacodes  (formally  Serpulorbis) 
squamigerus  (Carpenter,  1857)  which  is  a  filter 
feeder  found  most  commonly  where  there  are 
notable  currents.  Tuskes  and  Tuskes  (2015) 
published  on  the  life  history  of  this  species. 
Growth  occurs  commonly  when  the  water 
temperatures  are  cooler,  from  December 
through  February,  and  tapers  off  with  warmer 
water  after  April.  Most  mature  animals  add  one 


varices  per  year  until  fully  grown.  Sub-adults 
may  produce  multiple  varices  per  year.  Based 
on  (1)  the  extent  of  erosion  on  the  apex,  (2)  the 
inability  to  replace  damaged  syphons,  and  (3) 
accumulation  of  fowling  organisms;  we 
estimate  that  females  live  to  breed  two 
additional  years  after  growth  has  halted. 
Reproduction  peaks  in  April  and  May  as  the 
water  warms.  Clusters  of  egg  capsules  are 
usually  deposited  on  nearly  vertical  rock 
surfaces  with  minimal  growth  of  red  and  brown 
algae  present.  Unlike  P.  festiva  and  P. 
erinaceoides,  female  P.  trialata  do  not  usually 
gather  to  lay  egg  capsules  in  mass.  The  average 
number  of  egg  capsules  per  cluster  is  60,  and 
each  capsule  contained  an  average  of  484 
embryos,  which  emerge  as  veligers  in  19-21 
days  at  70°F. 

Predation  on  adult  animals  has  not  been  directly 
observed,  but  when  empty  shells  of  the  species 
were  glued  to  rocks  and  placed  in  the  habitat 
near  the  rock-sand  interface  to  estimate  fouling 
rates,  the  vast  majority  of  the  shells  were 
crushed  and  removed,  probably  by  bat  rays.  We 
have  observed  and  photographed  bat  rays 
feeding  on  other  large  shelled  gastropods  in 
Southern  California. 

Range:  Point  Conception  Santa  Barbara  County, 
California  south  along  rock  coast  and  islands  to 
similar  habitat  in  Baja  California  Sur,  Mexico, 
In  Baja  Sur,  the  species  has  been  collected 
intertidally  at  Guerreo  Negro  and  Point 
Asuncion,  and  Point  San  Pablo  at  21-30  m.  It 
would  not  be  surprising  if  they  occur  farther 
south  in  suitable  rocky  habitat.  Tuskes  & 
Tuskes  (2015)  found  that  publications 
indicating  this  species  occurs  in  Northern 
California  are  in  error  and  based  on  miss- 
identification  of  Ceratstoma  foliatum  (Gmelin 
1791)  as  P.  trialata. 


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Length:  45  to  70  mm.  Large  shells  exceed  80 
mm.  The  largest  specimen  we  measured  was 
105  mm  in  the  SBMNH  collection;  very  few 
shells  exceed  90  mm.  To  understand  the  size 
distribution  of  a  natural  population,  we  dove 
Mission  Bay,  San  Diego,  California  with  a  goal 
to  measure  the  first  150  specimen  observed 
regardless  of  size.  A  total  of  158  specimens 
were  measured  and  then  released  back  into  their 
environment.  The  size  ranged  from  44. 1  to  74.7 
mm  with  a  mean  of  63.3  mm  and  average  of 
62.4  mm. 

8.  Pteropurpura  vokesae  (Figure  15).  Although 
P.  vokesae  can  be  taken  on  the  same  dive  with  P. 
macroptera  they  are  most  prevalent  in  sand  and 
small  rubble  adjacent  to  rocky  reef  which  is  the 
preferred  habitat  of  P.  macroptera.  Shells  in 
small  rubble  at  a  depth  30  m  off  Point  Loma, 
San  Diego,  are  heavily  encrusted,  whereas,  in 
areas  where  they  spend  time  buried  in  sand, 
they  are  nearly  free  of  fouling  organisms.  Larry 
Catarius  (personal  communication)  found  them 
buried  in  sand  during  the  day  with  only  the 
sponge  covered  dorsal  varices  partly  exposed. 
Catarius  noted  that  during  dense  red  tide  above 
the  thermocline,  dive  lights  were  needed  during 
the  day  in  the  clear  water  below.  During  those 
dives  far  more  P.  vokesae  were  found  on  the 
surface  of  the  sand,  suggesting  they  may  be  an 
active  nocturnal  predator. 

Although  this  species  has  been  found  as  shallow 
as  8  m  in  Mission  Bay,  that  is  an  exception. 
Most  specimens  are  taken  by  divers  at  20-30  m 
and  it  has  been  dredged  in  Baja  Sur  at  99  m. 
It’s  likely  that  in  the  sand  habitat  the  species 
feeds  on  bivalves  or  marine  worms.  It  is 
surprising  that  there  are  no  published  records  as 
to  their  prey  species,  considering  the  number  of 
P.  vokesae  and  P.  macroptera  that  have  been 
collected/observed.  Pteropurpura  vokesae 
exhibits  little  variation  in  color,  other  than 
intensity,  and  does  not  have  white  radial  bands 


as  do  some  of  its  close  relatives,  such  as  P. 
erinaceoides. 

Range:  Point  Conception,  southern  California, 
south  through  Baja,  with  the  southern  records 
off  Point  Abreojos  at  32-38  m  in  Baja  Sur. 

Length:  Individuals  from  35  to  45  mm  are 
typical.  Those  in  the  range  of  55  to  65  mm  are 
less  common.  The  largest  specimen  we 
measured  was  71  mm. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

We  thank  Lindsey  Groves  of  the  Los  Angeles 
County  Museum  of  Natural  History,  Hank 
Chaney  and  Daniel  Gieger  of  the  Santa  Barbara 
Museum  of  Natural  History,  Michael  Wall  of 
the  San  Diego  Museum  of  Natural  History,  and 
Harim  Cha  of  the  Scripps  Institute  of 
Oceanography,  Benthic  Invertebrate  Collection, 
for  allowing  us  access  to  their  collections.  We 
also  thank  Margret  Dyken,  the  San  Diego 
Museum  of  Natural  History  Museum,  Library 
Manager  for  assistance  with  literature,  as  well 
as  Larry  Catarius,  Don  Pisor,  John  LaGrange, 
and  Bob  Abela  for  sharing  information  and 
allowing  access  to  their  collections. 

REFERENCES 

Abbott,  R.T.  1954.  American  Seashells.  Pub.  D 
Van  Nostrand  Co.  Inc.,  Toronto,  Canada, 
pp  205-206. 

Abbott,  R.T.  1974.  American  Seashells.  Pub.  D 
Van  Nostrand  Co.,  Inc,  Toronto,  Canada, 
pp  176-177. 

Bertsch,  H.  and  L.E.  Aguilar  Rosa.  2016. 
Marine  Invertebrates  of  Northwest  Mexico. 
Pub,  Institute  de  Investigaciones 
Oceanologicas  ,  UABC  Ebsebada  xxxii  + 
432  pp. 


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Clark,  R.N.  2016.  Pteropurpura  f estiva 
(Hinds,  1844)  in  Monterey  Bay.  The 
Festivus  48(1  ):32. 

fV  Aitilio,  A.  &  B.  Myers.  1983.  The  genus 
Pteropurpura  Jousseaume,  1880 
(Muricidae:  Ocenebrinae).  The  Festivus 
XV(1 1):  1 1 1-1 12. 

Emmersoe,  W.K.  1964a.  On  the  identity  of 

Murex  macropterus  Deshayes,  1839 
(Mollusca:  Gastropods).  The  Veliger  6(3): 
151-155. 

Emmerson,  W.K.  1964b.  A  New  Name  for 
Murex  rhyssus  Dali,  1919  (Mollusca: 
Gastropods).  The  Veliger  7(l):5-6. 
Fotheringham,  N.  1971.  Life  history  patterns 
of  littoral  gastropods  Shaskyus  festivus 
(Hinds)  and  Ocenebra  poulsoni  Carpenter 
(Prosobranchia:  Muricidae).  Ecology  52(5): 
743-757. 

Keep,  J.  1904.  West  American  Shells.  Pub. 

The  Whitaker  &  Ray  Company,  San 
Francisco.  360  pp. 

Keen,  A.M.  1971.  Sea  Shells  of  Tropical  West 
America.  Stanford  University  Press, 
Stanford,  CA.  1064  pp. 

Negus,  R.  1991.  Pteropurpura  f estiva  (Hinds, 
1844).  The  Festivus.  23(4):29. 

Old  to  yd.  1. 1927.  The  Marine  Shells  of  the 
West  Coast  of  North  America,  Stanford 
University  Press,  Stanford  University  Press, 
Stanford,  CA.  Vol  2,  part  2  pp.  307-311. 


Radwin,  GJE.  &  A.  D’Attilio.  1976.  Murex 
Shells  of  the  World.  An  Illustrated  Guide 
to  the  Muricidae.  Stanford  University 
Press,  Stanford,  CA.  p  119-133. 

Skoglund,  C.  1983.  Range  Extensions  of 
Muricidae  in  the  Gulf  of  California, 

Mexico,  the  Festivus  15  (11):  107-108. 
Tuskes,  P.  2011.  Observations  on  the  Biology 
of  the  Bubble  Snail,  Bulla  gouldiana  in 
Mission  Bay,  San  Diego,  California.  The 
Festivus  43(7):69-75. 

Tuskes,  P.  &  A.  Tuskes.  2009.  Influence  of 
Habitat  on  Growth  and  Prey  Selection  of 
Pteropurpura  f estiva  the  Festive  Murex. 
The  Festivus  41(3)  25-29. 

Tuskes,  P.  &  A.  Tuskes.  2015.  Observations 
regarding  the  Biology  of  Pteropurpura 
trialata.  The  Festivus.  47(2). 85  94 

OTHER  USEFUL  REFERENCES 

McLean,  J.H.  1978.  Marine  Shells  of  Southern 
California.  Science  Series  24,  Zoology  No. 
11.  Los  Angeles  County  Museum  of  Natural 
History.  104  pp. 

Morris,  HR..  D.P.  Abbott  &  E.C.  Haderiie. 
1990.  Intertidal  Invertebrates  of  California. 
Stanford  University  Press,  Stanford,  CA. 
Chapter  13  Prosobranchia:  Marine  Snails, 

pp.  230-307. 


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Pteropurpura  ©f  the  Eastern  Pacific,  Figures  1  to  15.  P.  centrifuga  Guaymas  area,  Sonora,  Mex.  (1)  76  mm  and  (2)  83  mm. 
P.  deroyana  Isla  Santa  Cruz,  Galapagos  Islands,  Ecuador  (3)  Dorsal  &  ventral  surface  58  mm  and  (4)  43.7  mm.  P.  erinaceoides 
Puertocitos,  Baja  Ca.  Mex.  (5)  Dorsal  &  ventral  surface  47  mm  and  (6)  Isla  Danzante,  Baja  Sur,  Mex.  54  mm.  P.  f estiva  (7) 
Dorsal  &  ventral  surface.  Mission  Bay,  San  Diego  CA.  57  mm.  P.  leeana  (8)  Off  Cabo  San  Lucas  Baja  Sur,  Mex.  57  mm  and 
(9)  Ana  Capa  Island,  Santa  Barbara  Co.  CA.  54  mm.  P.  macroptera  (10)  Dorsal  &  ventral  surface,  Santa  Barbara,  CA.  54  mm, 
(11)  white  form,  San  Diego,  CA.  42.9  mm  and  (12)  form  tremperi,  San  Diego,  CA.  62  mm.  P.  trialata  (13)  Ventral  (14)  Dorsal, 
both  San  Pedro  Breakwater,  Los  Angeles,  CA.  86  mm.  P.  vokesae  (15)  Dorsal  &  ventral  surface,  Santa  Barbara,  CA.  53  mm. 


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Checklist  of  Freshwater  Mollusca  (Gastropoda  and  Bivalvia) 

Recorded  from  the  Buriganga  and  Turag  Rivers, 

Dhaka,  Bangladesh 

Mohammad  Abdul  Baki,  Md.  Muzammel  Hossain*  and  Naser  Ahmed  Bhouiyan 
Department  of  Zoology,  Jagannath  University,  Dhaka- 1100,  Bangladesh 
*  Corresponding  author’s  email:  muzammel3@gmail.com 

ABSTRACT  Freshwater  mollusks  have  received  little  attention  from  conservation  scientists. 
We  collected  museum  records  and  conducted  an  inventory  of  freshwater  mollusks  to  develop  a 
species  checklist  for  the  Buriganga  and  Turag  Rivers.  The  study  area  extended  from  the 
Posthoghola  Bridge  (90°26T2"  E  and  23°40'25"N),  Buriganga  River  to  the  Tangi  Bridge,  Turag 
River  (90°24'29"E  and  23°53'59"N).  Surveys  were  conducted  every  two  weeks  from  December 
2012  to  November  2013  in  both  rivers.  During  the  survey  period  we  collected  mollusks  by  hand 
picking.  A  total  of  17  species  belonging  to  8  families  (Ariophantidae,  Viviparidae,  Pilidae, 
Thiaridae,  Lymnaeidae,  Unionidae,  Cyrenidae  and  Solecurtidae)  were  identified  from  both  rivers. 
Among  the  17  species,  14  were  identified  in  the  Buriganga  River  and  12  species  were  found  in 
the  Turag  River.  Corbicula  fluminea  (O.  F.  Muller,  1774),  Lymnaea  luteola  (Lamarck  1822)  and 
Macrochlamys  sequax  (Benson,  1859)  were  found  in  the  Buriganga  River  and  Bellamy  a 
dissimilis  (Muller,  1774),  Paludomus  conica  (Gray,  1834)  and  Novaculina  gangetica  (Benson, 
1853)  were  found  in  the  Turag  River.  Muddy,  sandy  and  stony  benthic  and  littoral  habitats  were 
observed  in  both  rivers.  It  is  our  hope  that  this  study  will  stimulate  additional  mollusk  research  in 
this  area. 


KEY  WORDS  Freshwater  Mollusca,  Buriganga  and  Turag  Rivers. 


INTRODUCTION 

Freshwater  mollusks  (Gastropod:  Snails; 
Mussels:  Bivalvia  and  Unionoida)  are  an 
important  component  of  many  healthy  river 
ecosystems.  In  addition,  freshwater  mollusks 
often  are  used  by  various  agencies  to  monitor 
environmental  quality,  including  trends  of 
chemical  contamination  (Rosenberg  and  Resh 
1993;  Supian  &  Ikhwanuddin,  2002). 
Mollusks  are  one  of  the  most  threatened  major 
taxonomic  groups  worldwide,  comprising 
42%  of  all  species  extinctions  (Lydeard  et  al, 
2004).  Within  this  group,  the  freshwater 
mussels  of  the  order  Unionoida  are  highly 
threatened  throughout  their  distribution 
(Bogan  1993).  Today,  the  numbers  of 
threatened  species  and  species  extinctions 
have  increased  at  an  alarming  rate  (Baillie  et 


al,  2004;  Lydeard  et  al.,  2004).  Humans, 
directly  or  indirectly,  are  largely  responsible 
for  these  species  losses  (Wilson  1989). 
Freshwater  mollusks  have  been  affected  by 
both  extrinsic  factors  such  as  habitat 
destruction,  land-use  practices,  water  pollution, 
reduction  or  loss  of  host  plant  and/or 
organisms  like  fish  or  substrates,  and  intrinsic 
characters  such  as  growth  and  reproduction, 
which  evolve  in  close  relation  with  habitats 
(Steams  1992;  Petts  et  al.,  1993;  Richter  et  al., 
1997;  Primack  2002).  One  interesting  intrinsic 
character  is  that  of  life  span.  Long-lived 
species  generally  grow  slowly  and  have 
delayed  maturity  and  low  fecundity.  Thus, 
long-lived  species  may  tolerate  short-term 
fluctuations  in  the  environment,  but  if 
population  numbers  are  severely  reduced. 


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recovery  may  be  slow,  increasing  the  risk  of 
extinction  (Drechsler  et  al.,  1999;  Bauer  2001; 
Raimondo  &  Donaldson  2003;  Wheeler  et  al, 
2003).  Furthermore,  the  life  cycle  of  all 
freshwater  mussels  includes  a  period  during 
which  mussels  are  dependent  on  a  fish  host 
(Nedeau  et  al,  2009).  Furthermore,  mussels 
provide  food  for  fish,  birds,  and  mammals. 

Thirteen  species  of  freshwater  bivalves 
(twelve  native,  one  introduced)  have  been 
reported  historically  in  the  mainstream 
Columbia  River  (Frest  and  Johannes  1993). 
Stark  (2001)  found  only  rare  occurrences  of 
mussels  during  a  study  of  macro-invertebrates 
on  the  Hanford  Reach  at  three  locations  near 
several  miles  from  the  river.  Twenty  land,  22 
freshwater  and  437  marine  and  brackish  water 
mollusks  species  belonging  to  210  genera,  105 
families  and  23  orders  under  4  classes  have 
been  recorded  in  Bangladesh  (Siddiqui  et  al, 
2007).  In  September  2009,  four  rivers  around 
the  city  of  Dhaka  city,  the  Buriganga,  the 
Sitalakhaya,  the  Turag  and  the  Balu,  were 
declared  as  Ecologically  Critical  Areas  (EGAs) 
by  the  Department  of  Environment, 
Bangladesh  as  part  of  the  plan  to  protect  the 
rivers  from  encroachment  as  well  as  for  the 
conservation  of  their  biodiversity.  Current 
knowledge  of  freshwater  mollusk  populations 
in  the  Buriganga  and  the  Turag  Rivers  is 
limited.  Data  describing  fresh  water  mollusk 
species  composition  and  other  attributes  are 
needed  to  aid  in  assessments  of  environmental 
quality  of  this  river  ecosystem.  The  objective 
of  this  study  was  to  establish  an  inventory  of 
mollusk  taxa  in  the  Buriganga  and  Turag 
Rivers  and  their  tributaries  to  provide  a  more 
comprehensive  characterization  of  the 
freshwater  mollusk  species  composition  in  the 
study  area. 


MATERIALS  AND  METHODS 

Study  area:  The  study  area  extends  from  the 
Bangladesh  -  China  Motri  bridge,  Buriganga 
river  (90°26'12"  E  and  23°40'25"N)  to  the 
Tangi  Bridge,  Turag  River  (90°24'29"E  and 
23°53'59"N).  Two  surveys  were  conducted 
per  month  from  December  2012  to  November 
2013. 

Buriganga  River:  The  Buriganga  River  is 
one  of  the  most  polluted  rivers  in  the  city  of 
Dhaka.  Half  of  the  slope  of  the  rivers  within 
the  study  area  is  covered  by  concrete  block 
and  the  remainder  is  dust,  mud  and  sand 
habitat.  It  is  also  one  of  the  most  polluted 
rivers  in  Bangladesh. 

Turag  River:  The  Turag  River  is  the  upper 
tributary  of  the  Buriganga  River,  a  major  river 
in  Bangladesh.  The  river  originates  from  the 
Bangshi  River.  The  latter  is  an  important 
tributary  of  the  Dhaleshwari  River  which 
flows  through  Gazipur  and  joins  the 
Buriganga  at  Mirpur.  The  Tongi  khal  links 
the  Turag  with  the  Balu  River.  The  River  bank 
covered  by  dust,  mud,  sand  and  vegetation 
habitat. 

Survey  Technique:  Walking  along  the  river 
banks  and  boat  based  surveys  were  conducted 
to  locate  and  identify  the  freshwater  mollusca. 
Specimens  were  collected  by  hand  from  the 
dry  areas  and  scoop  net  were  used  in  shallow 
waters.  All  samples  were  collected  and 
transported  to  the  fisheries  laboratory. 
Department  of  Zoology,  Jagannath  University, 
Dhaka.  Specimens  were  preserved  in  95% 
ethanol  for  identification. 

Identification:  Species  were  identified  based 
upon  morphological  characteristics  of  the  shell 
and  the  taxa  recognized  by  Frest  and  Johannes 
1993,  1999;  Amit  and  Roy  2008;  Wayne  2003; 
Norman  1998  and  Siddiqui  et  al,  2007. 


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Riverbed  Characterization:  The  river  bed 
was  classified  into  three  categories:  i.  Muddy, 
ii.  Sandy,  and  iii.  Stony.  Stony  and  sandy 
habitat  can  be  found  from  Bangladesh  to 
China  Motri  Bridge  to  Babu  Bazar  Bridge. 
Stony,  sandy  and  muddy  habitat  can  be  found 
from  Babu  Bazar  Bridge  to  Basilla  Bridge. 
Muddy  and  vegetation  habitat  was  found  from 
Basilla  Bridge  to  Amin  Bazar  Bridge.  Sandy, 
muddy  habitat  was  found  from  Amin  Bazar 
Bridge  to  Tamanna  Shishu  Park  and  most  of 
the  muddy  habitat  was  found  from  Tamanna 
Shishu  Park  to  Tangi  Bridge. 

RESULTS  AND  DISCUSSION 

Freshwater  rnollusks  were  assessed  in  the 
study  area  because  of  a  lack  of  detailed 
surveys  and  basic  biological  information  about 
these  taxa  in  Bangladesh.  A  total  of  17  species 
were  recorded  in  the  study  area  during  the 
study  period.  The  mollusk  community  was 
represented  primarily  by  two  classes’ 
Gastropoda  and  Bivalvia.  Among  the  17 
species,  a  total  of  14  belonged  to  12  genera,  7 
families,  and  5  orders.  Two  classes  have  been 
identified  in  the  Buriganga  River  and  12 
freshwater  mollusk  species  belonging  to  8 
genera,  6  families,  and  4  orders  were  found  in 
the  Turag  River  (Table  1)  (Figure  A).  The 
gastropod  fauna  is  represented  by  10  species 
in  the  Buriganga  and  7  species  in  the  Turag 
River.  The  order  Mesogastropoda  is  the 
largest  in  species  number  and  is  represented 
by  8  species  of  the  families  Viviparidae, 
Pilidae,  Thiaridae  and  Lymnaeidae  in  the 
Buriganga  River  and  by  6  species  of  the 
families  Viviparidae,  Pilidae,  and  the 
Thiaridae  in  the  Turag  River.  The  Viviparidae 
include  three  species  in  one  genus.  Bellamya 
include  B.  crass  a  in  the  Buriganga  River  and 
B.  dissimilis  in  Turag  River  only,  but  B. 
begalensis  was  recorded  from  both  rivers.  The 
family  Pilidae  is  represented  by  two  species, 
Pila  globosa  and  P.  virens ,  which  were 


collected  in  both  rivers.  The  family  Thiaridae 
included  four  genera.  Melanoides  tuberculata 
and  Sulcospira  variabilis  were  collected  from 
the  Buriganga  River  and  Paludomus  conica 
was  collected  from  the  Turag  River,  and 
Brotia  costula  occurred  in  both  rivers.  The 
Basommatophora  order  is  represented  by  two 
species  in  two  genera  of  the  family 
Lamnaiedae.  Lymnea  luteola  was  documented 
in  the  Buriganga  River  only  and 
Indoplanorhis  exustus  was  observed  in  both 
rivers.  The  order  Stylommatophora  included 
one  species  Macrochlamys  sequax  in  the 
family  Ariophantida.  The  gastropod  species 
Bellamya  begalensis,  Brotia  costula, 
Melanoides  tuberculata  occurred  in  muddy, 
stony  and  sandy  habitat  in  the  Buriganga 
River.  The  bivalve  fauna  comprises  6  species 
in  4  genera,  3  families  and  2  orders  (Table  1). 

Lamellidens  marginalis,  L.  jenkinsianus, 
Parreysia  corrugata  were  found  in  muddy  and 
sandy  habitat  in  the  both  rivers.  Corbicula 
fluminea  (O.  F.  Muller,  1774)  was  recorded 
from  the  Buriganga  River  and  Novaculina 
gangetica  documented  from  the  Turag  River. 
Lamellidens  jenkinsianus  and  Parreysia 
corrugata  are  endemic  to  the  Ganga  and  lower 
Brahmaputra  River  Systems.  In  the  Barak 
River  in  India  16  species  of  rnollusks  (13 
gastropods  and  3  bivalve  species)  have  been 
reported  (Seba  and  Abhik  2010).  Altogether 
19  species  (13  gastropod  and  6  bivalve  species) 
were  recorded  during  the  period  from  2009  to 
2010  in  the  Narmada  Ruver,  India.  (Ankit  and 
Vipin,  2012)  (Table  2.)  The  diversity  of 
rnollusks  in  the  Buriganga  and  Turag 
Rivervaries  significantly.  It  should  be  noted 
that  majority  of  the  species  on  the  list  here  are 
accepted  by  Prabakhar  and  Roy  (2008). 
However,  we  have  taken  a  morphological 
approach  in  reporting  taxa;  should  future 
anatomical  and  molecular  studies  provide 
definitive  taxonomic  resolution  in  these 
groups,  there  will  be  a  need  to  re-evaluate  the 


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Class  &  Order  Family 

Scientific  Name 

English  Name 

Local  Name  Habit  Habitat  Distribution  Status 

Gastropoda 


Stylommatophora  Ariophantiae 

Macrochlamys  sequax 

Disk  Snail 

Chakti  Shamuk 

Hr 

V 

B 

R 

Mesogastropoda 

Viviparidae 

Bellamya  begalensis 

River  Snail 

Guli  Shamuk 

H 

St,  S,  D 

M,  Sa,  K,  R 

VC 

Bellamya  crassa 

Pond  Snail 

Guli  Shamuk 

H 

S,  D 

M,  Ss,  K 

VC 

Bellamya  dissimilis 

Pond  Snail 

Guli  shamuk 

H 

F 

Tp,  Pb 

R 

Pilidae 

Pi  la  globosa 

Common  Apple- 
snail 

Shamuk 

H,  A 

F,  M,  D 

W,  B,  R 

VC 

Pila  virens 

Apple-snail 

Bara  Shamuk 

H,  A, 

0 

F,  M 

W,  B,  R 

FC 

Thiaridae 

Melanoides  tuberculata 

Screw  Snail 

Pachano 

Shamuk 

S 

S 

Sh,  N,  Ba 

C 

Brotia  costula 

Brotia  snail 

Lomba 

Shamuk 

H 

S,St 

M,  Sh,  Tp, 

Pb 

c 

Paludomus  conica 

Canal  snail 

Paba  shamuk 

S 

F 

Tp 

c 

Basommatophora 

Lymnaeidae 

Lymnaea  luteola 

Lymneid  Snail 

Shamuk 

H 

St,S 

M,  K 

R 

Indoplanorbis  exustus 

Ram’s  Horn  Snail 

Gari 

Hr 

S,  M,  D 

M,  Sa,  Tp 

VC 

Bivalvia 

Unionoida 

Unionidae 

Lamellidens  corrianus 

Fresh  water  Mussel 

Jhinuk 

H,  C 

S,M 

B,  Sh,  Ba, 

Tp,  Pb 

VC 

Lamellidens  jenkinsiamis 

Fresh  water  Mussel 

Jhinuk 

H,  C 

S,  M 

B,  Sh,  Ba,  R 

VC 

Lamellidens  marginalis 

Fresh  water  Mussel 

Jhinuk 

H,  C 

S,  M 

B,  Sh,  Ba, 

Tp,  Pb 

VC 

Parreysia  corragata 

Fresh  water  Mussel 

Gol  Jhinuk 

H,  C 

S,M 

Sh,  Ba,  Tp, 

Pb 

c 

Veneroidea 

Cyrenidae 

Corbicula  fluminea 

Asian  Clam 

Jhinuk 

C 

S,  M 

K,B 

FC 

Solecurtidae 

Novaculina  gcmgetica 

Ganges  Clam 

Lomba  Jhinuk 

H,  C 

M 

Tp 

C 

Table  1:  Mollusca  in  the  Buriganga  and  Turag  Rivers,  Dhaka 

Note:  Milibarak  =  M,  Sadarghat  =  Sa,  Kamrangichar  =  K,  Basilla  =  B,  Washpur  =  W,  Sholmasi  =  Sh,  Nabinagar  =  N, 
Barabordasi  =  Ba,  Rustampur  =  R,  Tamanna  park  =  Tp,  Prothasha  bridge  =  Pb,  Hermaphroditic  =  Hr,  Herbivorous  =  H, 
Amphibious  -  A,  Oviparous  =  O,  Carnivorous  =  C,  Scavenger  =  S,  Freshwater  =  F,  Stony  =  St,  Sandy  =  S,  Muddy  =  M,  Dust 
=  D,  Vegetation  =. V.  Very  Common  =  VC,  Fairly  Common  =  FC,  Common  =  C,  and  Rare  =  R 


Specimens  collected  in  this  study  as  well  as 
museum  records  in  order  to  refine  this  list. 
There  is  currently  uncertainty  in  mollusk 
taxonomy;  taxonomy  of  some  of  the  genera  is 
in  a  highly  confused  state  (Burch  1982);  and 
there  is  extreme  phenotypic  variation  in  many 
groups  (Dillon  et  al.,  2002;  Britton  and 
McMahon  2004).  In  this  document, 
freshwater  rnollusks  were  included  as  part  of 
the  development  of  a  long-term  strategy  for 
protection  of  these  sites.  This  is  a  promising 
step  toward  the  conservation  of  aquatic 
gastropods  and  bivalve  in  Buriganga-Turag 
Rivers  and  the  listing  of  17  species  as  being 
considered  vulnerable  due  to  water  pollution 
and  habitats  loss,  and  larger  distribution 
information  for  these  taxa  is  certainly  lacking. 


Additional  efforts  dedicated  to  studying 
freshwater  rnollusks  will  be  needed  to  help 
identify  key  species  and  populations  to 
support  these  efforts.  We  hope  that  the 
information  presented  in  this  paper  will  be 
useful  to  resource  managers  and  welcome  any 
future  refinements  of  this  initial  list. 

CONCLUSION 

The  present  study  elucidated  the  Mollusca 
diversity  in  the  study  area.  Long  term 
freshwater  monitoring  is  required  to  develop 
ongoing  estimates  of  the  abundance, 
populations,  and  for  the  design  of 
conservation  and  management  programs. 


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Figure:  A.  Freshwater  mollusks  in  the  Buriganga  and  Turag  Rivers:  1  .Macrochlamys  sequax  (Benson,  1859)  (9mm),  2,  Bellamya 
begalensis  (Lamarck,  1822)  (22  mm),  3.  Bellamya  crassa  (Benson,  1836)  (18  mm),  4.  Bellamya  dissimilis  (Muller,  1774)  (21 
mm),  5.  Pila  globosa  (Swainson  1882),  6.  Pila  virens  (Lamarck,  1822)  (38  mm),  7.  Melanoides  tuberculata  (Muller,  1774)  (32 
mm),  8.  Brotia  costula  (Rafinesque,  1833)  (152  mm),  9.  Paludomus  conica  (Gray,  1834)  (20  mm),  10.  Lymnaea  luteola 
(Lamarck,  1822)  (18  mm),  11.  Indoplanorbis  exustus  (Deshayes,  1834),  12.  Lamellidens  corrianus  (Lea,  1834)  (70  mm),  13, 
Lamellidens  jenkinsianus  (Benson,  1862)  (68  mm),  14.  Lamellidens  marginalis  (Lamarck,  1819)  (76  mm),  IS.  Parreysia 
corrugate.  (Muller,  1774)  (42  mm),  16.  Novaculina  gangetica  (Benson,  1853)  (45  mm);  17.  Corbicula  fluminea  (O.  F.  Muller, 
1774)  (26  mm). 


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Volume:  48 

THE  FESTIVUS 

ISSUE  4 

Total  Gastropod 

Species 

Bivalve  Water  Body 

Reference 

23 

18 

5 

Gialova  lagoon,  Greece 

D.  Koutsoubas  et  al.  (2000) 

16 

13 

3 

River  Barak,  India 

Seba  and  Abhik  (2010) 

19 

13 

6 

River  Narmada,  India 

AnkitandVipin  (2012) 

34 

34 

~ 

Curonian  Lagoon,  Baltic 
Sea,  Russia 

Dmitry  Filippenko  (201 1) 

9 

7 

2 

River  Chenab,  India 

K.  K.  Sharma  et  al  (2010) 

17 

11 

6 

Buriganga  -Turag  river, 
Bangladesh 

Present  Study 

Table  2:  Mollusks  collected  from  different  rivers  based  upon  the  present  study  and  literature  reports. 


Burch,  J.B.  1982.  North  American  Freshwater 
Snails:  identification  keys,  generic 
synonymy,  supplemental  notes,  glossary, 
references,  index,  Walkerana  1(4):  148. 

Britton,  D.K.  and  R.  McMahon.  2004. 
Environmentally  and  genetically  induced 
shell-shape  variation  in  the  freshwater 
pond  snail  Physa  ( Physella )  virgata. 
American  Malacological  Bulletin  19(1/2): 
93-100. 

Dillon  R.T.,  R.J.M.  Wethington,  and 
T.P.  Smith.  2002.  Populations  of  the 
European  freshwater  pulmonate  Physa 
acuta  are  not  reproductively  isolated  from 

American  Physa  heterostropha  or  Physa 
integra .  Invertebrate  Biology.  121:226- 
234. 

Drechsler  M.,  B.B.  Lamont,  M.A.  Burgman, 
H.R.  Akcakaya,  E.T.F.  Witkowski  & 
Supriyadi.  1999.  Modelling  the 
persistence  of  an  apparently  immortal 
Banksia  species  after  fire  and  land  clearing. 
Biological  Conservation.  88:  249-259. 

Filippenko,  D.  2011.  Fauna  of  gastropod 
molluscs  in  the  Curonian  Lagoon  littoral 
biotopes  (Baltic  Sea,  Kaliningrad  region, 
Russia)  Malacologica  Bohemoslovaca  ,  10: 
79-83. 

Frest,  T.J.  and  E.J.  Johannes.  1993. 

Mollusk  species  of  special  concern  within 
the  range  of  the  northern  spotted  owl. 

Final  Report  to  Forest  Ecosystem 
Management  Working  Group,  USD  A 


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

The  authors  thank  Chair  and  Professor  Dr.  Md. 
Saiful  Islam,  Department  of  Zoology, 
Jagannath  University,  Dhaka- 1100  for  his 
encouragement  during  the  study.  The 
Biodiversity  Conservation  &  Fisheries 
Research  Center  also  provided  assistance  for 
the  field  surveys.  This  study  was  supported  by 
Jagannath  University  research  grants  for  2012- 
2013  and  special  allocation  research  fund  for 
2013  from  Ministry  of  Science  and 
Technology,  Bangladesh.  We  are  grateful  to 
an  anonymous  reviewer,  and  David  P. 
Berschauer  for  great  efforts  and  all  the  helpful 
suggestions  on  improving  this  article. 

REFERENCES 

Baillie,  J.E.M.,  C.  Filton-Taylor,  and 
S.N.  Stuart.  2004.  IUCN  Red  List  of 
Threatened  Species.  A  Global  Species 
Assessment.  IUCN,  Gland  and  Cambridge. 
UK. 

Bauer,  G.  2001.  Life  history  variation  on 
different  taxonomic  levels  of  naiads.  In: 
Ecology  and  Evolution  of  the  Freshwater 
Mussels  Unionoida.  Ecological  Studies  No. 
145:83-91. 

Bogan,  A.E.  1993.  Freshwater  bivalve 
extinctions  (Mollusca  :  Unionoida) :  a 
search  for  causes.  American  Zoologist. 
33:599-609. 


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Forest  Service.  Deixis  Consultants, 

Seattle,  Washington.  98  pp. 

Frest,  T.J.  and  E.J.  Johannes  1999.  Field 
Guide  to  Survey  and  Manage  Freshwater 
Mollusk  Species.  USFWS  Regional 
Ecosystem  Office  and  the  USDI  BLM 
Oregon  State  Office,  both  in  Portland, 
Oregon.  1-1 12  pp. 

Hellawell  J.M.  1986.  Biological  Indicators  of 
Freshwater  Pollution  and  Environmental 
Management.  London:  Elsevier  Applied 
Science  Publishers.  London  &  New  York: 
xiii  +  518  pp. 

Koutsoubas,  D.,  C.  Arvanitidis, 

C.  Donnas  and  L.  Drummond.  2000. 

Community  structure  and  dynamics  of  the 
Molluscan  Fauna  in  a  Mediterranean 
Lagoon  (Gialova  Lagoon,  SW  Greece). 
Belg.  J.  Zook,  130  (Supplement  1):131- 
138. 

Kumar,  A.  and  V.  Vyas.  2012. 

Diversity  of  Molluscan  communities  in 
River  Narmada,  India.  Journal  of 
Chemical,  Biological  and  Physical 
Sciences.  2(3):  1407-1412. 

Lydeard,  C.,  R.H.  Cowie,  W.F.  Ponder, 

A.E.  Bogan,  P.  Bouchet,  S.A.  Clark, 

K.S.  Cummings,  T.J.  Frest,  O. 
Gargominy,  D.G.  Herbert,  R.  Hershler, 
K.E.  Perez,  B.  Roth,  M.  Seddon,  E.E. 
Strong  &  F.G.  Thompson.  2004.  The 
global  decline  of  nonmarine  mollusks. 
Bioscience,  54:321-330. 

Nedeau,  E.  J.,  A.K.  Smith,  J.  Stone,  and  S. 
Jepsen.  2009.  Freshwater  Mussels  of  the 
Pacific  Northwest  Second  Edition.  The 
Xerces  Society  for  Invertebrate 
Conservation.  5 1  pp. 

Nordstrom,  W.  2003.  Mollusc  Records 
from  Colin-Comwall  Lakes  Wildland 
Park.  Alberta  Natural  Heritage 
Information  Centre.  Parks  and  Protected 
Areas  Division  Alberta  Community 
Development.  1-11  pp. 


Norman,  M.D.  1998.  Octopodidae  (Benthic 
octopuses).  In:  Carpenter,  K.E.  and  Niem, 
V.H.  (eds.),  FAO  species  Identification 
Guide  for  Fishery  Purposes.  The  Living 
Marine  Resources  of  the  western  Central 
Pacific.  Vol.  2.  Rome,  FAO.  pp.  800-826. 
Petts,  G.E.,  H.  Moller,  and  A.L.  Roux.  1993. 
Historical  Change  in  Large  Alluvial  Rivers. 
Western  Europe.  Chichester:  John  Wiley 
and  sons  ltd.  1989.  355  pp. 

Prabhakar,  A.K.  and  S.  P.  Roy.  2008. 
Taxonomic  Diversity  Of  Shell  Fishes  Of 
Kosi  Region  Of  North-Bihar  (India).  The 
Bioscan.  2  (2):149-156. 

Primack,  R.B.  2002.  Essentials  of 

Conservation  Biology,  Third  Edition. 
Sinauer  Associates,  Sunderland,  MA.698 

pp. 

Raimondo  D.C.  and  J.S.  Donaldson.  2003. 

Responses  of  cycads  with  different  life 
histories  to  the  impact  of  plant  collecting: 
simulation  models  to  determine  important 
life  history  stages  and  population  recovery 
times.  Biological  Conservation.  1 1 1 :345- 
358. 

Richter,  B.D.,  J.V.  Baumgartner, 

R.  Wigington,  and  D.P.  Braun.  1997. 

How  much  water  does  a  river  need? 
Freshwater  Biology.  37:231-249. 
Rosenberg,  D.M.  and  V.H.  Resh  (Eds). 

1993.  Freshwater  Biomonitoring  and 
Benthic  Macroinvertebrates.  Chapman  and 
Hall,  New  York,  NY.  488  pp. 

Sharma,  K.K.,  S.  Chowdhary  and 

A.  Sharma.  2010.  Malacofuana  diversity 
of  river  chenab  fed  stream  (gho-manhasan). 
The  Bioscan.  6(2):  267-269. 

Seba,  R.  and  A.  Gupta.  2010. 

Molluscan  Diversity  in  River  Barak  and  its 
Tributaries,  Assam,  India.  Assam 
University  Journal  of  Science  & 
Technology:  Biological  and 
Environmental  Sciences.  5(1):  109-1 13. 


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Siddiqui,  K.U.,  M.A.  Islam,  S.M.H.  Kabir, 
A.T.A.  Ahmad,  A.K.A.  Rahman,  E.U. 
Haque,  Z.U.  Ahmad,  Z.N.T.  Begum, 
M.A.  Hassan,  M.  Khondker,  M.M. 
Rahman.  (Eds.)  2007.  Encyclopedia  of 
flora  and  fauna  of  Bangladesh,  Vol.  17, 
Mollusks.  Asiatic  Society  of  Bangladesh, 
Dhaka,  415  pp. 

Stark,  E.J.  2001.  Effects  of  Water  Level 
Fluctuations  on  Benthic  Macroinvertebrates 
in  the  Hanford  Reach,  Colubmia  River. 
Master’s  Thesis,  University  of  Idaho, 
Moscow,  Idaho. 

Stearns,  S.  C.  1992.  The  evolution  of  life 
histories.  Oxford  University  Press, 

Oxford.  239  pp. 


Supian,  Z.  &  A.M.  Ikhwanuddin.  2002. 

Population  dynamics  of  freshwater 
molluscs  (Gastropod:  Melanoides 
tuberculata)  in  Crocker  Range  Park, 
Sabah.  ASEAN  Review  of  Biodiversity 
and  Environmental  Conservation 
(ARBEC). 

Wheeler,  B.A.,  E.  Prosen,  A.  Mathis,  & 

R.F.  Wilkinson.  2003.  Population 
declines  of  a  long-lived  salamander:  a 
20+-year  study  of  hellbenders, 
Cryptobranchus  alleganiensis .  Biological 
Conservation,  109:151-156. 

Wilson,  E.0. 1989.  Threats  to  biodiversity. 
Scientific  American,  26 1 : 1 08- 1 1 5. 


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Volume:  48 


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Some  cone  shells  with  nodules  that  persist  at  least  into  the  middle  whorls 
(subfamilies  Conilithinae  and  Coninae)  from  the  East  Pacific  region 


John  K.  Tucker 

Illinois  Natural  History  Survey  (Retired) 
731  Cantonment,  Rantoul,  Illinois  61866 
iohntucker@gtewc.com 


INTRODUCTION 

In  the  first  installment  of  this  series,  five  species 
of  spotted  cone  shells  were  considered.  In  this 
paper  eleven  other  species  are  detailed.  These 
include  those  species  that  have  nodules  along 
the  shoulder  angle  and  where  the  nodules  reach 
the  middle  spire  whorls.  Most  of  these  species 
actually  retain  nodules  along  the  shoulder  angle 
throughout  growth.  All  of  these  species  were 
considered  in  detail  in  the  comprehensive 
volume  on  all  of  the  East  Pacific  cone  shell 
species  (i.e.,  Tenorio  et  al.,  2012)  use  of  this 
book  will  help  establish  species  identities  for  all 
of  these  species. 

Even  though  the  taxonomy  of  East  Pacific  cone 
shells  is  relatively  stable,  some  problem  areas 
seem  to  remain.  The  figure  captions  are 
designed  to  point  out  the  difficulties  along  with 
useful  key-characters  for  species  identifications. 
Complete  species  descriptions  are  available 
along  with  comprehensive  illustrations  in 
Tenorio  et  al  (2012).  Those  interested  in  the 
East  Pacific  cone  shells  should  consult  that 
book. 

REFERENCES 

Duda  Jr.,  T.F.,  M.B.  Bolin,  C.P.  Meyer,  & 

A.J.  Kohn.  2008.  Hidden  diversity  in  a 
hyperdi verse  gastropod  genus:  discovery  of 
previously  unidentified  members  of  a  Conus 
species  complex.  Molecular  Phylogenetics 
and  Evolution  49:867-876. 


Nybakken,  J.  1970.  Radular  anatomy  and 
systematics  of  the  West  American  Conidae 
(Mollusca,  Gastropoda).  American  Museum 
Novitates  2414:1-29. 

Nybakken,  J.  1978.  Population  characteristics 
and  food  resource  utilization  in  Conus  in  the 
Galapagos  Islands.  Pacific  Science  32:271- 
28. 

Nybakken,  J.  1979.  Population  characteristics 
and  food  resource  utilization  in  Conus  in  the 
Sea  of  Cortez  and  West  Mexico.  Journal  of 
Molluscan  Studies  45:82-97. 

Tenorio,  M.J.,  J.K.  Tucker,  &  H.W.  Chaney. 
2012.  A  Conchological  Iconography: The 
Families  Conilithidae  and  Conidae.  The 
Cones  of  the  Eastern  Pacific.  ConchBooks, 
Hackenheim,  Germany,  1 12  pp. 

Tucker,  J.K.  1979.  Conus  bartschi  and  Conus 
brunneus :  two  closely  related  eastern  Pacific 
cone  shells.  Shell  Collector  Magazine  2:42- 
43. 

Tucker,  J.K.  &  J.H.  McLean.  1993.  The 
rediscovery,  morphology,  and  identity  of 
Conus  emersoni  Hanna,  1963.  The  Nautilus 
107:29-32. 

Tucker,  J.K.  &  M.J.  Tenorio.  2009. 

Systematic  Classification  of  Recent  and 
Fossil  Conoidean  Gastropods,  with  Keys  to 
the  Genera  of  Cone  Shells.  ConchBooks, 
Hackenheim,  Germany,  296  pp. 

Tucker,  J.K.  &  M.J.  Tenorio.  2013. 
Illustrated  Catalog  of  the  Living  Cone  Shells. 
MdM  Publishing,  Wellington,  Florida,  iv  + 
517  pp. 


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Descriptive  figure  captions:  Figures  1  to  3  illustrate  images  of  the  East  Pacific  cone  shells  that 
have  nodulose  shoulder  angles  with  images  from  Tucker  &  Tenorio,  2013.  Figures  1  to  5  represent 
the  species  of  Virroconus  from  the  East  Pacific  (Tucker  &  Tenorio,  2009). 


Figure  1.  Specimen  of  Virroconus 
chaldaeus  (SBMNH  99965).  35.7  mm 
shell  length,  from  Clipperton  Island. 

Figure  2.  Holotype  of  Conus  brunneus 
pemphigus  Dali,  1910,  (USNM  37449),  26 
mm  shell  length,  from  Has  Tres  Marias, 
Nayarit,  Mexico.  Tenorio  et  al.  (2012) 
pointed  out  that  Dali’s  specimen  is 
actually  a  specimen  of  V  chaldaeus  and 
that  Conus  brunneus  pemphigus  is  a 
synonym  of  V  chaldaeus.  Figure  3.  An 
Indo-Pacific  specimen  of  Virroconus 
chaldaeus  (INHS  45013),  26.2  mm  in 
shell  length,  from  Hundred  Islands, 
Lingayen  Gulf,  Luzon,  Philippines,  which 
was  illustrated  by  Tucker  &  Tenorio 
(2013);  shown  here  for  comparison  with 
the  East  Pacific  V.  chaldaeus  in  Figure  1. 
The  spires  of  East  Pacific  specimens  are 
slightly  but  statistically  significantly 
higher  than  are  the  spires  of  their  Indo- 
Pacific  counterparts.  More  interesting  and 
possibly  diagnostic  are  differences  in  the 
radular  teeth  of  the  East  Pacific  and  Indo- 
Pacific  specimens.  The  latter  has  slight 
but  distinctly  developed  serrations  on  the 
tooth  (see  Figures  28  and  28A).  The 
radulae  from  the  East  Pacific  specimens 
do  not  have  serrations  (see  Figures  29  and 
29A).  However,  few  samples  of  the  Indo- 
Pacific  V.  chaldaeus  have  been  examined 
and  previous  illustrations  of  radulae  of 
Indo-Pacific  specimens  do  not  show  the 
serrations  that  Tenorio  et  al,  2012, 
reported  for  V.  chaldaeus  from  the 
Seychelles.  This  may  be  due  to  the  small 
and  indistinct  nature  of  the  serrations  in 
the  Indo-Pacific  specimens  leading  to 
them  being  overlooked.  Figure  4.  An  East 
Pacific  specimen  (LACM  72-68.9)  of 
Virroconus  ebraeus,  37  mm  in  shell  length, 
from  Isla  del  Cano,  Costa  Rica  with  a 
portion  of  the  periostracum  preserved. 
Figure  5.  An  Indo-Pacific  specimen  of  V 
ebraeus  (INHS  44784),  38.1  mm  shell 
length,  from  Cebu  Island,  Philippines 
shown  for  comparison  with  those  from  the 
East  Pacific.  Figure  6.  A  specimen  of 
Gladioconus  gladiator  (MJT  collection),  36.7  mm  in  shell  length,  from  Playa  Maculis,  El  Salvador.  Figures.  7  and  8.  Specimens  of 
Miliariconus  tiaratus.  Figure  7  is  the  normal  form  of  the  species,  shell  length  is  45.7  mm  (SBMNH  90852)  and  came  from  Isla 
Bartolome,  Galapagos;  Figure  8  is  the  holotype  (USNM)  of  the  form  roosevelti,  shell  length  of  15.3  mm,  from  Clipperton  Island. 
Specimens  of  this  form  are  wider  bodied  than  the  nominate  form  (note  arrow)  and  have  pink  interiors,  whereas  the  nominate  form  has 
either  white  or  purple  interior  coloration. 


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Figures  9-11,  and  14. 

Four  brown  cone  species. 
Figure  9.  Stephanoconus 
brunneus  (MIT 
collection),  33.0  mm  shell 
length,  from  Isla 
Gobemadora,  Panama. 

This  species  has  at  least  5 
cords  on  the  spire  whorl 
tops.  The  other  three 
species  (Figures  10,  1 1 
and  14)  have  fewer  (2  or 
3  for  Lividoconus 
diademd)  or  have  the 
whorl  tops  that  are 
smooth  as  for  S.  bartschi 
and  Tenorioconus  archon. 
Like  S.  bartschi  (Figure 

23)  and  T.  archon  (Figure 

24) ,  S.  brunneus  (Figure 
22)  has  the  typical  short 
thick  and  spiny  radular 
morphology  associated 
with  predation  on 
amphinomid  polychaetes 
(see  Tenorio  et  al.,  2012). 
In  contrast,  L.  diadema 
has  a  thin  elongated  tooth 
that  has  no  serrations  but 
does  have  a  terminating 
cusp  (Figure  25;  Tenorio 
etal.,  2012).  Lividoconus 
diadema  feeds  on  a 
variety  of  other 
polychaetes  (Nybakken, 
1978  and  1979).  Figure 
10.  Stephanoconus 
bartschi  (MJT  collection), 
45.4  mm  shell  length, 
collected  south  of 
Acapulco,  Copala  region, 
Mexico.  This  species  has 
the  radula  and  general 
shell  morphology  similar 
to  S.  brunneus.  In  general, 
S.  bartschi  is  lighter 
colored  than  the  usually 
darker  brown  coloration 
of  S.  brunneus.  However, 
shell  color  is  not  the 
identifying  criteria  for  S. 
bartschi.  Rather  it  is  the 
lack  of  cords  on  the  whorl 
tops  of  S.  bartschi.  In 
contrast,  the  whorl  tops  of 
S.  brunneus  have  at  least 


Figures  9  to  14  illustrate  a  number  of  images  of  more  nodulose  species. 


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5  well  developed  cords  (Tucker,  1979).  Figure  11.  Lividoconus  diadema  (MJT  collection),  38.7  mm  shell  length.  Las  Perlas,  Panama. 
Specimens  of  L.  diadema  are  most  often  confused  with  ‘clean’  specimens  of  S.  brunneus.  Besides  differences  in  radular  teeth 
(compare  Figures  22  and  25),  the  structure  of  the  whorl  tops  are  completely  different.  Stephanoconus  brunneus  has  at  least  five  and 
often  more  cords  on  the  spire  whorl  tops  (Figure  9).  The  spire  whorl  tops  of  L.  diadema  have  two  to  sometimes  3  grooves  on  the  whorl 
tops.  These  grooves  often  fade  in  outer  whorls.  Besides  this  highly  reliable  difference  in  whorl  top  structure,  these  species  also  differ 
in  the  structure  of  the  operculum  and  periostracum.  In  the  Stephanoconus  species  (S.  brunneus  and  S.  bartschi)  the  operculum  is 
relatively  large  and  the  periostracum  is  smooth.  The  operculum  of  L.  diadema  is  small  and  the  periostracum  is  tufted  along  the 
shoulder  angle  and  often  on  the  body  whorl  as  well.  Figure  12.  Profundiconus  emersoni  (LACM  146906),  33.7  mm  shell  length, 
collected  in  300  m  off  Isla  Santa  Maria  (Charles),  Galapagos  Islands.  This  species  is  the  only  member  of  the  Family  Conilithidae 
included  here;  all  of  the  other  species  belong  in  the  family  Conidae,  subfamily  Puncticulinae.  It  is  included  in  this  section  because  the 
small  square  shaped  nodules  (see  arrow  in  Figure  12 A)  of  P.  emersoni  that  usually  persist  into  the  outer  spire  whorls.  The  nodules  are 
arranged  along  a  carina  and  are  probably  not  homologous  with  the  nodules  in  the  Conidae  included  here.  The  nodules  of  the  Conidae 
are  arranged  along  the  shoulder  angle  but  they  are  not  square  shaped  and  are  not  associated  with  a  carina;  they  are  hemispherical  in 
shape  instead.  The  operculum  of  P.  emersoni  is  unique  among  East  Pacific  cone  shells.  It  is  serrated  along  its  inner  margin  and 
relatively  large.  Other  Indo-Pacific  species  of  Profundiconus  (e.g.,  P.  teramachii)  also  have  large  serrated  opercula  (Tucker  & 
McLean,  1993;  Tucker  &  Tenorio,  2013).  These  observations  are  summarized  in  Tucker  &  McLean  (1993).  Figure  13.  Harmoniconus 
mix  (INHS  45028),  22.5  mm  in  shell  length,  collected  from  Clipperton  Island.  Some  associate  this  unique  cone  shell  with  H.  sponsalis 
or  H.  nanus,  both  Indo-Pacific  species  of  Harmoniconus.  Tenorio  et  al.  (2012)  outlined  differences  in  shell  parameters  between  H.  nux 
and  H.  sponsalis.  Moreover,  Duda  et  al.  (2008)  showed  that  H.  nux  represents  a  reproductively  isolated  evolutionarily  significant  unit, 
which  supports  its  recognition  as  a  separate  species  from  Indo-Pacific  species  of  Harmoniconus.  Figure  14.  Tenorioconus  archon 
(MJT  collection),  45.6  mm  in  shell  length,  from  Isla  Canal  de  Afeura,  Panama.  This  species  of  Tenorioconus  differs  from  the  two 
species  of  Stephanoconus  in  the  nature  of  the  periostracum.  It  is  smooth  in  Tenorioconus  but  tufted  or  ridged  in  Stephanoconus. 

These  genera  also  differ  in  the  persistence  of  the  nodules.  In  the  Tenorioconus  the  nodules  fade  out  well  before  middle  spire  whorls. 
These  are  well  developed  in  the  early  whorls  and  the  spire  tends  to  be  convex  in  profile.  Nodules  of  the  Stephanoconus  species  persist. 
Finally  the  operculum  of  T.  archon  is  relatively  small  compared  to  the  larger  one  present  in  the  East  Pacific  Stephanoconus  species. 


Figures  15  to  17  illustrate  the  Ductoconus  princeps  variants.  This  species  is  quite  variable  in  the 
coloration  of  the  longitudinal  lines  that  may  be  or  may  not  be  present  on  the  body.  Besides  these 
variants,  the  species  is  easily  distinguished  from  other  nodulose  species  by  the  constant  orange  to 
pink  coloration  of  the  body  and  spire.  The  narrow  elongated  radular  tooth  (Figure  28)  is  also 
diagnostic.  Among  the  other  nodulose  cone  shells,  only  L.  diadema  has  an  elongated  radular  tooth. 
However,  that  species  does  not  have  well  developed  serrations  that  extend  for  more  than  half  the 
length  of  the  tooth  (compare  Figures  25  and  28).  The  operculum  of  D.  princeps  is  fairly  large  and  the 
periostracum  is  thick  and  has  rows  of  pronounced  tufts  on  the  body. 

Figures  18  to  30  illustrate  radulae  of  the  nodulose  East  Pacific  cone  shells.  See  Tenorio  et  al.  (2012) 

for  details  on  scales  and  sources. 


Editor’s  Note:  The  Festivus  is  accepting  articles  for  future  issues.  Articles  of  a  scientific  nature 
may  be  submitted  for  the  peer  reviewed  portion  of  our  journal.  Please  refer  to  our  Guidelines  for 
Authors,  and/or  Guidelines  for  the  Description  of  New  Taxa  in  The  Festivus,  both  available  on  our 
website:  http://www.sandiegoshellclub.com/festivus/  Articles  are  subject  to  a  blind  peer  review 
process,  and  submission  of  an  article  does  not  guarantee  acceptance  or  publication.  We  also 
accept  articles  of  general  interest  to  malacologists,  conchologists  and  shell  collectors  for 
publication  in  the  general  interest  section  of  our  journal.  All  articles  must  be  accompanied  by 
either  the  author’s  original  artwork,  or  a  signed  copyright  waiver  from  the  copyright  holder. 


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Figure  15.  Ductoconus 
princeps  variety  princeps 
(MJT  collection),  shell 
length  is  66.6  mm, 
collected  from  Guaymas, 
Sonora,  Mexico.  The 
nominate  variety  is 
characterized  by  the  well¬ 
spaced  fairly  wide 
longitudinal  lines  (Figure 
15 A).  Figure  16. 
Ductoconus  princeps 
variety  apogrammatus 
(INKS  45027),  shell 
length  is  52.0  mm, 
collected  from  Isla 
Gobemadora,  Golfo  de 
Montijo,  Panama.  This 
variety  has  little  or  no 
development  of  the 
longitudinal  lines  (Figure 
16A).  Figure  17. 
Ductoconus  princeps 
variety  lineolatus  (INHS 
45026),  shell  length  58.8 
mm,  trawled  in  1 5  to  20 
m,  Panama  Bay,  Panama. 
This  variety  has  the 
longitudinal  lines  closely 
spaced  and  they  are  quite 
narrow  (Figure  17 A).  It 
often  occurs  with  variety 
apogrammatus  in  Panama 
but  any  of  the  varieties 
can  occur  together. 


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Figure  18.  Virroconus  chaldaeus, 
SBMNH  358607,  Clipperton 
Island,  Shell  length  (Sl)  =  38  mm. 
Tooth  length  (Tl)  =  0.37  mm. 
Figure  19.  Virroconus  ebraeus, 
SBMNH  358606,  Clipperton 
Island,  Sl  =  44  mm,  Tl  =  0.39 
mm.  Figure  20.  Gladioconus 
gladiator.  Las  Tunas,  El  Salvador, 
Sl  =  38.4  mm,  Tl  =  1 .36  mm. 
Figure  21.  Miliariconus  tiaratus, 
Golfo  de  Panama,  Sl  =  22.4  mm, 
Tl  =  0.73  mm,  from  Nybakken  , 
1970.  Figure  22.  Stephanoconus 
brunneus,  Golfo  de  Panama,  Sl  = 
41.3  mm,  Tl  =  1.62  mm.,  from 
Nybakken,  1970.  Figure  23. 
Stephanoconus  bartschi,  Golfo  de 
Panama,  Sl  is  unknown,  Tl  =  1 .2 
mm,  from  Nybakken,  1970. 

Figure  24.  Tenorioconus  archon, 
Golfo  de  Panama,  Sl  =  41.3  mm, 
Tl  =  0.43  mm,  from  Nybakken, 
1970.  Figure  25.  Lividoconus 
diadema,  Islas  Galapagos,  Sl  = 
44.8  mm,  Tl  =  1.57  mm.  Figure 
26.  Harmoniconus  mix,  Golfo  de 
Panama,  Sl  =  20.8  mm,  Tl  =  0.54 
mm,  from  Nybakken,  1970. 

Figure  27.  Profundiconus 
emersoni,  scanning  electron 
micrograph,  LACM  146906,  Islas 
Galapagos,  off  Isla  Santa  Maria; 

Sl  =  33.7  mm,  Tl  =  0.4  mm. 
Figure  28.  Ductoconus  princeps, 
Golfo  de  Panama,  Sl  =  37  mm, 

Tl  =  1.6  mm,  from  Nybakken, 
1970.  Figure  29.  Virroconus 
chaldaeus  from  Mahe,  Seychelles 
(Y36-5251),  light  micrograph. 
Close  up  showing  serrations  and 
Figure  29A  showing  the  entire 
tooth  length  also  from  Mahe, 
Seychelles;  Sl  =  30  mm,  Tl  = 

0.35  mm.  Figure  30.  Virroconus 
chaldaeus  from  Clipperton  Island 
(SBMNH  358607),  light 
micrograph.  Close  up  showing 
lack  of  serrations  and  Figure  30A 
showing  the  entire  tooth  length; 

Sl  =  38  mm,  Tl  =  0.37  mm. 


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A  new  subspecies  of  Amphidromus  {Goniodromus}  huh  mi,  Fruhstorfer,  1905 
(Gastropoda:  Pulmonata:  Camaeeidae)  from  Sumatra,  Indonesia 

Jeff  Parsons  1  and  John  Abbas  2 

1 47  Elizabeth  Street,  Aitkenvale,  Queensland,  Australia  4814 

ieffonese@vahoo.com.au 

2  Lihue,  Kauai,  Hawaii,  and  Jalan  Demaga  Bara,  Muara  Angke, 

Jakarta  Utara  Pos  14450,  Jakarta,  Indonesia  iohnl23abba@vahoo.com 


ABSTRACT  Since  its  discovery,  the  rare  arboreal  land  snail  Amphidromus  ( Goniodromus )  bulowi 
Fruhstorfer,  1905  has  only  been  found  on  the  forested  slopes  of  Mount  Singgalang,  West  Sumatra.  In 
2013,  a  survey  of  the  forests  in  western  Malalak  District  of  West  Sumatra  located  a  new  population 
on  Bukit  Pandan,  which  is  described  herein  as  Amphidromus  ( Goniodromus )  bulowi  malalakensis 
new  subspecies.  The  new  subspecies  has  a  dextral  whitish  shell  with  a  pale  grey  and/or  light  buff  to 
tawny  open-tent  pattern  instead  of  brown,  and  lacks  the  creamy,  purplish'-  or  pinkish-brown 
undertones  of  the  amphidromine  nominotypical  subspecies. 

KEY  WORDS  Malalak  District,  Agam  Regency,  Amphidromus ,  Goniodromus ,  bulowi , 
malalakensis,  new  subspecies. 


INTRODUCTION 

Late  2008,  John  Abbas  was  made  aware  of 
Amphidromus  ( Goniodromus )  bulowi 

Fruhstorfer,  1905  by  Jamie  Powers  of 
Edgewater,  Florida.  This  resulted  in  a  trip  to  the 
foothills  of  Mi  Singgalang,  West  Sumatra  to 
locate  this  species,  200  m  above  the  type 
locality  of  Pandai  Sikek.  Unfortunately,  Pandai 
Sikek  is  now  a  sizable  village  with  much  of  the 
low  altitude  forest  transformed  for  agriculture 
by  the  villagers,  which  has  removed  the  forest 
mentioned  by  Rolle  (1908)  at  4000  to  5000  ft. 
(1219  to  1524  m)  altitude.  Sugarcane  is  the 
main  crop  grown  and  the  fields  stretch  a  few 
hundred  metres  up  from  the  base  of  Mt. 
Singgalang.  Even  after  employing  a  few 
villagers,  only  one  specimen  was  located  on  the 
first  visit  to  the  area. 


Various  factors  contribute  to  the  difficulty  in 
locating  A.  (G.)  bulowi  on  Mt.  Singgalang. 
Birds  prey  on  snails  on  the  trees  and  any  fallen 
snails  may  be  eaten  by  pigs  and  rodents 
foraging  below.  The  main  factor  is  shrinking 
habitat  due  to  agricultural  deforestation  and 
forest  fires  set  intentionally  by  villagers  to  assist 
in  clearing  and  for  fertilizer.  Logging  for  wood, 
whether  used  for  housing,  furniture  or  paper, 
further  deforests  this  mountain.  After  a  few 
more  trips  to  Mt.  Singgalang  each  year  until 
October  2013  only  a  limited  number  of 
specimens  were  found,  so  John  chose  to  explore 
other  areas  adjacent  to  and  beyond  Mt. 
Singgalang. 

In  November  2013,  John  visited  the  outer  slopes 
in  the  south-eastern  part  of  the  Lake  Maninjau 
caldera.  A  colony  of  snails  identified  as  pale 
coloured  A.  (G.)  bulowi  was  located  on  Bukit 


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Pandan,  western  Malalak  District,  some  15 
kilometres  west  of  Pandai  Sikek.  Both 
Fruhstorfer  (1905)  and  Rolle  (1908)  never 
mentioned  anything  about  Malalak.  The  road 
dividing  west  and  east  Malalak  is  now  sealed, 
making  the  area  more  accessible.  A  more  recent 
trip  by  Steven  Lie  to  western  Malalak  to  locate 


more  specimens  of  these  snails  came  up  empty 
as  local  farmers  had  cleared  more  forest  using 
the  slash-and-bum  technique.  The  Bukit  Pandan 
snails  are  distinguishable  from  the 
nominotypical  subspecies  by  shell  coloration, 
and  described  herein  as  A.  (G.)  bulowi 
malalakensis  new  subspecies. 


->  r.._,  ,v.  t  \  :  v  r -vk. . •waNrasaiL  wash 

Figure  1.  Location  map  for  both  subspecies:  A.  ( G .)  bulowi  malalakensis  n.  ssp.  (red  circle  =  type  locality),  A.  (G.)  b.  bulowi  (blue 
circle  =  type  locality,  blue  dotted  line  =  known  range  and  yellow  dotted  line  =  predicted  range)  and  predicted  extent  of  a  previous 
contact  zone  (green  dotted  line).  Modified  from  a  1954  map  of  “Pandang,  Sumatra”  [contour  interval  100  m  with  supplementary 
contours  at  50  m  intervals]  (University  of  Texas  Libraries,  2014). 

METHODS  AND  MATERIALS 

Type  material  has  been  deposited  in  the  Natural 
History  Museum,  London,  England,  UK  and 
Museum  National  d'Histoire  Naturelle,  Paris, 

France;  and  three  paratypes  belong  to  the 
private  collections  of  the  authors,  Jeff  Parsons 
(1  shell)  and  John  Abbas  (2  shells).  The 
subspecies  description  was  determined  from 
shell  morphology  of  dry  empty  shells  obtained 
by  John  Abbas.  Comparative  material 
comprised  of  shells  from  the  private  collections 
of  the  authors,  and  images  of  type  shells  from 
the  literature.  Photography  credits  are  as 
indicated  below  each  image.  Relative  shell  sizes 


for  the  subgenus  Goniodromus  Biilow,  1905 
mentioned  are  as  follows:  small  <  35  mm, 
medium  35-55  mm  and  large  >55  mm. 

Shell  sculpture  was  examined  under  low 
magnification  (lOx)  using  a  jeweller's  loupe. 
Most  shells  examined  had  formed  a  thickened 
adult  lip,  and  only  one  had  a  thin  subadult  lip. 
All  shells  were  measured  for  shell  height  and 
shell  width  including  the  reflected  lip,  using 
digital  vernier  callipers  with  a  resolution  of  0.01 
mm.  Whorl  count  includes  the  apex  as  per 
Haniel  (1921,  p.  22,  fig.  10)  and  counted  precise 
to  0.125  (Vs  whorl).  The  ratios  of  shell  height  to 
shell  width  (H/D)  were  calculated  as  indices  of 


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shell  shape.  Shell  weight  was  measured  in 
grams  (g)  using  a  pocket-sized  electronic  scale 
(capacity  300  g  x  0.01  g).  Measurement  of  the 
perch  angle  (PA)  follows  Dharma  (2007).  The 
term  ‘paries’  (adj.  parietal)  refers  to  the  ‘inner 
apertural  wall’,  and  ‘palatum’  (adj.  palatal) 
refers  to  the  interior  surface  of  the  ‘outer 
apertural  wall’. 

Taxonomic  and  other  remarks 

Biilow  (1905)  established  Goniodromus  as  a 
new  subgenus  of  Amphidromus  Albers,  1850  on 
page  83  prior  to  Fruhstorfer’s  paper  in  the  same 
journal  issue.  Fruhstorfer  (1905)  by  default 
selected  and  named  the  type  species  after  Biilow 
as  Amphidromus  ( Goniodromus )  Biilowi. 
Laidlaw  and  Solem  (1961)  incorrectly  stated  on 
page  606  that  Fruhstorfer  established  this 
species  as  Amphidromus  biilowi ,  i.e.  without 
using  Goniodromus  as  the  subgenus,  and  they 
also  use  this  spelling  with  the  diacritic  on  pages 
587  and  589.  The  current  International 
Commission  on  Zoological  Nomenclature  code 
(ICZN,  1999)  does  not  allow  the  use  of 
diacritics  in  a  species  name  (Articles  11.2  and 
27)  and  such  names  must  be  corrected  (Article 
32.5.2),  therefore  the  accepted  spelling  is  A.  ( G .) 
bulowi. 

Please  note  that  the  spellings  of  the  locality 
names  used  by  Rolle  (1908)  are  correct  for  the 
Dutch  era,  and  since  independence,  the 
Indonesian  government  has  changed  them. 
Padang  Sikeh  is  now  Pandai  Sikek  and  Vulkans 
Singalang  is  now  Gunung  Singgalang. 

Abbreviations  used  for  museums  and  private 
collections: 

CNHM  =  Chicago  Natural  History  Museum 
NHMUK  =  Natural  History  Museum,  London, 
England,  UK 

MNHN  =  Museum  national  d’Histoire  naturelle, 
Paris,  France 


JA  =  John  Abbas  collection 
JP  =  Jeff  Parsons  collection 

Abbreviations  for  shell  morphometry: 

D  =  shell  width  (the  abbreviation  aligns  with  the 
usage  of  ‘diameter’  in  the  literature) 

H  =  shell  height 

H/D  =  shell  height/shell  width  ratio 
N  =  whorl  count 
PA  =  perch  angle 
W  =  shell  weight 

SYSTEMATICS 

Class  Gastropoda  Cuvier,  1795 
Family  Camaenidae  Pilsbry,  1895 
Genus  Amphidromus  Albers,  1850 
Subgenus  Goniodromus  Biilow,  1905 
Type  =  A.  (G.)  bulowi  bulowi  Fruhstorfer,  1905 

Amphidromus  ( Goniodromus )  bulowi 
malalakensis  new  subspecies 
Figs.  2,  3,  4  top  and  6C 

Type  Material:  5  adult  shells,  all  dextral; 
Holotype  (Figure  2):  NHMUK  20140066,  H 
52.10  mm,  D  26.10  mm,  H/D  2.00,  N  7.00  and 
PA  20.13°;  Paratypes  (4  shells):  Paratype  1 
(Figure  3 A)  MNHN  IM-20 12-27 17,  H  52.00 
mm  (protoconch  missing),  D  26.10  mm,  H/D  no 
data,  N  6.00  (calculated)  and  PA  23.10°; 
Paratype  2  JP  (Figures  3B  &  6C)  H  53.50  mm, 
D  26.1 1  mm,  H/D  2.05,  N  6.625,  W  4.01  g  and 
PA  19.10°;  Paratype  3  JA  (Figure  3C),  H  52.65 
mm,  D  26.50  mm,  H/D  1.99  and  PA  24.58°; 
Paratype  4  JA  (Figures  3D  &  4  top  snail),  H 
48.47  mm,  D  24.10  mm,  H/D  2.01  and  PA 
20.58°  . 

Other  material  examined:  4  adult  shells,  all 
dextral  (Figures  3E-H);  H  50.87-51.86  (av. 
51.43)  mm,  D  26.20-27.00  (av.  26.58)  mm, 
H/D  1.92-1.95  (av.  1.94)  and  PA  19.42-26.66° 
(av.  21.87°). 


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Type  Locality:  Bukit  Pandan  western  Malalak 
District,  Agam  Regency,  West  Sumatra, 
Indonesia  at  an  altitude  of  1389  metres.  (Figure 
1) 

Distribution:  currently  known  only  from  the 
type  locality;  possibly  found  on  other  peaks 
with  the  same  vegetation  on  the  rim  of  the 
Maninjau  Caldera. 

Habitat:  found  about  three  metres  above  the 
ground  on  the  trunks  of  trees  in  a  bushy  form  of 
submontane  forest  with  Pandanus ,  ferns  and 
herbs. 


Figure  2.  Amphidromas  (G.)  bulowi  malalakensis  n.  ssp.,  holotype  NHMUK  20150226  (Photos  by  John  Abbas). 


Animal:  mid-body  and  often  the  neck  are  flesh- 
pink;  head,  foot  and  sometimes  neck  flesh-pink 
sprinkled  with  yellowish-orange  or  reddish- 
orange  granules;  mid-dorsal  stripe  dark  grey  and 
narrow  to  wide,  sometimes  faint,  continuing 
onto  the  face;  optic  and  sensory  tentacles 
yellowish-orange;  tail  flesh-pink  with 
yellowish-orange  or  reddish-orange  margins  and 
tip;  mantle  and  sole  not  seen. 

Etymology:  named  after  the  Malalak  District 
where  this  new  subspecies  was  discovered. 


Description  (holotype) 

Shell  imperforate,  medium,  dextral,  robust  and 
subfusiform-conic  with  a  moderately  long  spire. 
Surface  shiny;  early  whorls  worn  smooth;  lower 
teleoconch  microsculpture  of  crowded  spiral 
microstriae  crossed  by  fine  growth  lines;  and  a 
macrosculpture  of  growth  threads  becoming 


coarser  and  more  numerous  on  the  last,  and 
overlaid  with  random  or  pattern  forming 
malleations.  Whorls  steadily  decrease  in 
convexity  and  almost  flat  above  the  periphery 
on  the  last  1.5  whorls.  Last  whorl  not 
descending  in  front;  its  base  tapered  and 
compressed  obliquely  into  a  strongly 
protuberant  keel,  margined  by  a  cord  above. 


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Suture  scarcely  impressed  and  periostracum 
straw-yellow,  very  faint. 

Protoconch  of  1.5  whorls,  chalk-white  and 
obtuse-conical,  demarcated  by  a  stria  and 
ridgelet;  apex  slightly  protruding.  Teleoconch 
translucent  greyish-white  grading  to  chalk-white 
on  the  last;  and  an  obsolescent  white 
inffasutural  fillet  on  the  early  whorls.  Lower 
whorls  marked  with  a  tawny  reticulate  pattern 


and  several  opaque  grey  resting  lines, 
representing  former  lips;  circumeolumellar  band 
white. 

Aperture  subvertical,  subelliptical;  base 
canaliculated  and  effuse.  Palatum  gleamy  white, 
translucent  and  weakly  shows  the  external 
pattern.  Parietal  callus  colourless,  thinly  glazed 
over  a  buff-yellowparies.  A  parieto-labral 
tuberclead  joins  the  posterior  outer  lip 


Figure  3.  Variation  of  A.  ( G .)  b.  malalakensis  n.  ssp.  with  the  4  paratypes  in  the  top  rows  A  paratype  !,  B  paratype  2.,  C  paratype  3  and 
D  paratype  4.  E,  F,  G,  and  H  other  material  examined.  (Photos  by  John  Abbas). 


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termination;  cord  of  white  callus,  elongate  and 
extends  internally  for  3  to  5  mm,  faintly 
grooved  along  its  posterior  edge.  Outer  lip  white, 
broadly  reflexed  and  face  rounded;  anteriorly 
flared  and  flattened  toward  a  shallow  notch 
below,  forming  a  spout  (rostrum);  edge  not 
recurved  and  posterior  termination  slightly 
ascending.  Columella  thickened  and  narrow, 
upper  part  vertical;  base  bent  adaperturally, 
forming  a  basal  lip.  Columellar  margin  callused, 
forming  an  adherent  shield  over  part  of  the  keel 
(columellar  callus);  outer  edge  thickened. 
Umbilicus  sealed. 

Shell  Variation 

Subspecies  is  currently  known  only  from  dextral 
shells  with  a  white  ground  and  grey  and/or 
yellowish-brown  markings  (Figure  3).  Hue 
intensity  of  the  paries  varies  from  buff-yellow 
(Figure  6B)  to  cinnamon-buff.  Of  9  shells  none 
are  patternless  and  one  has  a  light  buff  super 
medial  band  on  the  early  teleoconch  whorls 
(Figure  3C).  Pattern  varies:  primary  markings 
are  pale  grey  and/or  light  buff  to  tawny  irregular, 
zigzag  and/or  branching  lines  and  streaks, 
sometimes  interrupted  but  regularly 
anastomosing,  demarcating  “tents”  of  ground 
colour  and  occasionally  bordered  with  white 
lines.  Sometimes  random  fleshy-ochre  or  tan 
longitudinal  streaks  occur  as  secondary 
markings.  Ground  colour  does  not  vary  between 
shells,  although  lighting  and  viewing  angle  may 
suggest  a  yellowish  tint  ventrally  (Figures  3C- 
D).  Live  snails  tend  to  have  a  whitish  coating 
on  the  periostracum  that  is  lost  when  cleaned 
(Figure  4  top  snail). 

Rostrum  varies  in  extension  and  depth 
depending  on  the  angle  and  protrusion  of  the 
keel.  The  bent  base  of  the  columella  is  longer 
than  the  top  part  in  all  specimens.  Often  the 
margin  of  the  parietal  callus  is  thickened, 


connecting  it  to  the  thickened  margin  of 
columellar  callus.  The  columella’s  root  is 
weakly  grooved  or  not.  No  juveniles  were  found 
to  demonstrate  if  an  umbilicus  is  present  or  not. 
Aperture  is  narrow  to  moderately  wide  and 
oblong,  subtrapezoid  (Figure  6C)  or 
subelliptical  (Figure  2)  at  a  ratio  of  3:4:2.  Back 
of  the  outer  lip  is  white  as  per  its  face.  Shell 
shape  varies  with  angulation  of  the  basal  keel. 
The  parieto-labral  tubercle  is  long  in  all  shells 
and  in  mature  specimens  elongates  along  the 
parietal  callus  margin  to  form  an  “L”  shaped 
lump  when  viewed  from  above. 


Figure  4.  Live  A.  (G.)  h.  malalakensis  n.  ssp.  (paratype  4,  top 
snail)  compared  with  A.  (G.)  b.  bulowi  from  Mt.  Singgalang 
(bottom  snail)  (Photo  by  John  Abbas). 


Comparison  Material  Examined: 

A.  ( G .)  bulowi  bulowi 
Nominotypical  subspecies 
Figs.  4  bottom,  5,  6 A,  6B,  6D  and  7 

Type  material:  figured  images  of  2  out  of  4 
shells  from  the  type  series;  H  55-60  mm 
(Fruhstorfer,  1905);  Lectotype:  sinistral, 
NHMUK  1910.12.30.98  (Figure  5A);  H  54.50 
mm,  W  27.90  mm,  H/D  1.95,  N  6.125  and  PA 


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18.42°;  Paralectotypes:  2  sinistral  (unfigured) 
and  1  dextral  (Figure  5B). 

Type  Locality:  determined  by  Rolle  (1908)  as 
forest  at  4000  to  5000  ft.  (1219  to  1524  m) 
altitude  on  Mt.  Singgalang  near  Pandai  Sikek, 
Sepuluh  Koto  District,  Tanah  Datar  Regency, 
West  Sumatra,  Indonesia;  colony  extinct  due  to 
agricultural  deforestation. 


Locality:  broadleaf  forest  on  Mt.  Singgalang 
above  Pandai  Sikek. 

Distribution:  eastern  flank  of  Mt.  Singgalang 
above  1500  m  altitude;  probably  found  on  other 
parts  of  Mt.  Singgalang,  and  also  on  Mt. 
Tandikat  at  the  same  altitude  since  both 
volcanoes  are  connected  (twin  volcano),  but  not 
confirmed.  (Figure  1) 


Other  material  examined:  photos  of  10  live 
adults  (Figure  4  bottom  snail);  and  15  adult 
shells  (JA,  all  dextral;  Figures  5D,  6A,  6B,  6D 
&  7);  1  subadult  shell  (JP,  dextral,  protoconch 
missing;  fig.  6A)  —  H  45.73  mm,  D  24.63  mm, 
H/D  1.86,  N  5.75,  W  1.94  g  and  PA  23.10°;  1 
adult  (JP,  dextral;  Figure  6B)  —  H  5 1 .3 1  mm,  D 
25.74  mm,  H/D  1.99,  N  6.50,  W  4.90  g  and  PA 
21.65°;  and  1  shell  claimed  to  be  a  “paratype” 
by  Laidlaw  and  Solem  (1961),  CNHM  72436 
(sinistral;  Figure  5C). 


Habitat:  found  on  trunks,  limbs  and  branches 
of  tall  trees  in  various  types  of  forest. 

Animal:  mid-body  and  neck  flesh-pink 
sprinkled  with  yellowish-orange  granules  more 
concentrated  on  the  head,  foot  and  tail;  mid¬ 
dorsal  stripe  narrow  to  wide,  pale  to  dark  grey 
or  black,  continuing  onto  the  face;  optic 
tentacles  yellowish-orange  and  sensory  tentacles 
paler;  mantle  collar  flesh  pink  and  sole  not  seen. 


Figure  5.  A.  (G.)  b.  bu'lowi  [not  shown  to  the  same  scale]:  A  8  type  shells  figured  by  Fruhstorfer  (1905;  Taf.  I,  Fig.  2),  A  lectotype 
NHMUK  1910.12.30.98  and  B  paralectotype;  C  supposed  “paratype”  figured  by  Laidlaw  and  Solem  (1961;  fig.  37)  CNHM  72436; 
and  D  shell  showing  a  parietal  ridge  (JA). 


Original  Description  (translated  from 
Fruhstorfer,  1905) 

Amphidromine  shell  of  7  flat  whorls  with  a  grey 
base  colour,  yellowish  in  younger  specimens, 


whereupon  broad  black  zigzag  lines  crisscross 
unsystematically.  The  lip  edge  is  wide  and  of  a 
white  colour.  The  subgenus'  characteristic  angle 
at  the  aperture  shows  up  on  the  last  whorl  in 
front  as  a  strongly  protuberant  keel. 


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Figure  6.  Comparison  of  the  paries  and  overall  coloration  of  both  subspecies  [not  shown  to  the  same  scale]:  A-B  A.  ( G .)  b.  bulowi  (JP), 
A  subadult  shell  and  B  adult  shell;  C  A.  (G.)  b.  malalakensis  n.  ssp.  (paratype  2  JP);  and  (5)  D  patternless  A.  (G.)  b.  bulowi  (JA) 
[Photos:  A  &  D  by  John  Abbas;  and  B  &  C  by  Jeff  Parsons], 

Shell  Variation 

Original  colony  had  a  majority  of  sinistral  shells 
(Figures  5A-C).  However,  recent  finds  have 
only  been  dextral  (Figures  5D,  6A,  6B,  6D  & 

7A-C).  Paries  colour  changes  with  that  of  the 
penultimate  whorl,  salmon-buff  or  liver-brown, 
which  varies  in  intensity.  Shells  are  rarely 
patternless  (Figure  6D)  and  very  rarely  showing 
a  brown  super  medial  band  on  the  early 
teleoconch  whorls  (Figure  7A).  Pattern 
coloration  varies:  the  network-forming 
markings  are  chestnut,  chocolate,  hazel  or 
blackish  brown  and  often  partially  cover 
random,  paler  secondary  markings,  which  are 
chestnut,  tawny  or  dark  ochre  patches  or 
longitudinal  streaks.  Occasionally  shells  have 
small  white  blotches  and/or  white  lines 
bordering  the  brown  lines  (Figures  4  bottom  & 

7C).  Ground  of  the  last  whorl  is  usually  cream- 
coloured,  rarely  salmon-buff  or  liver-brown. 


Rostrum  varies  in  extension  and  depth, 
sometimes  hardly  protruding  and  very  shallow 
(Figure  5B).  The  bent  base  of  the  columella  is 
shorter  than  the  top  part  in  only  the  subadult 
(Figure  6 A)  and  longer  in  all  adult  shells  studied. 
Rarely  mature  shells  may  develop  a  ridge  at  the 
base  of  the  paries  (Figure  5D)  and  often  the 
margin  of  the  parietal  callus  is  thickened 
(Figures  5D  &  6B)  and  joined  to  the  columellar 
callus  margin.  The  subadult  (Figure  6 A)  has  no 
umbilicus  visible  and  proof  of  its  presence  in 
juveniles  is  unavailable.  Amphidromus  ( G .)  b. 
bulowi  shows  the  same  variation  as  A.  (G.)  b. 
malalakensis  n.  ssp.  for  the  columella’s  root  and 
in  the  shape  of  the  shell  and  parieto-labral 
tubercle.  Aperture  is  narrow  to  moderately  wide 
and  oblong  (Figures  5D  &  6B)  or  subtrapezoid 
(Figures  5B-C)  at  a  ratio  of  10:7.  Back  of  the 
outer  lip  varies:  1)  grey  (as  per  its  face);  2)  dark 
brown  (continuation  of  markings;  fig.  4  bottom); 
or  3)  coloured  as  per  ground  of  the  last  whorl 
(Figures  7B-C). 


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Figure  7.  Coloration  and  pattern  variation  of  A.  (G.)  b.  bulowi  (JA)  A  banded  upper  spire,  B  pale  pattern  elements  and  C  dark  pattern 
elements  with  some  white  borders  [Photos  by  John  Abbas]. 


DISCUSSION 

The  original  population  of  A.  ( G .)  bulowi  was 
amphidromine  and  polymorphic.  Volcanic 
activity  from  the  twin  volcano  of  Mt. 
Singgalang  and  Mt.  Tandikat  modified  the  soil, 
and  hence  the  vegetation,  on  the  residual  hills 
and  mounts  of  the  western  part  of  the  Malalak 
valley.  This  valley  is  comprised  of  an  andesitic 
rim  of  the  Maninjau  Caldera,  Maninjau 
ignimbrite  (c.  45000-55000  years  old)  covered 
with  more  recent  tephra  (ash  deposits)  from  the 
twin  volcano,  which  has  part  of  its  western 
flank  also  covered  with  tephra  (Pribadi  et  al, 
2007).  Amphidromus  ( G .)  b.  malalakensis  n.  ssp. 
represents  ‘disruptive  selection'  for  individuals 
of  one  phenotype  extreme  that  was  better  suited 
to  a  new  ecological  niche,  such  as  that  on  Bukit 
Pandan,  creating  a  habitat  isolation  event.  This 
‘ecotype’  formed  a  peripheral  population  on  the 
boundary  of  a  larger  polymorphic  population 
(parapatric  distribution). 

The  snails’  arboreal  habit  allowed  dispersal 
across  the  valley,  even  occasionally  across  the 
rivers  and  creeks  present,  and  interbreeding 
occurred  in  a  contact  zone.  Cycles  of  volcanic 
activity  from  the  twin  volcano,  separated  the 


peripheral  and  main  populations  through 
destruction  and  modification  of  forest  in  the 
valley  causing  cyclic  isolation  and  a  peripatric 
distribution,  thus  establishing  a  ‘peripheral 
subspecies’.  Contact  between  the  two 
populations  was  re-established  during  periods  of 
volcanic  quiescence  through  vegetation 
regrowth  on  new  soil.  Increased  human 
settlement  and  agricultural  deforestation  over 
the  last  60  years  has  broken  the  snails’  dispersal 
paths  across  the  valley,  and  mixing  between  the 
populations  from  Bukit  Pandan  and  the  twin 
volcano  has  ceased,  creating  an  allopatric 
distribution. 

Locals  may  not  have  collected  sinistral 
specimens  of  A.  ( G .)  b.  bulowi  due  to  shells 
being  badly  damaged,  out  of  reach  or  simply 
absent  where  they  have  found  live  dextral  snails. 
We  are  led  to  believe  that  they  have  only 
collected  specimens  on  the  eastern  side  of  Mt. 
Singgalang,  from  forest  above  the  locals’  crops 
to  the  summit  (Figure  1,  blue  dotted  line).  If 
true,  this  suggests  that  A.  (G.)  b.  bulowi  has  no 
real  preference  for  vegetation  type,  and  so  it 
should  be  found  anywhere  on  Mt.  Singgalang 
and  Mt.  Tandikat  above  1500  m  altitude  (Figure 
1,  yellow  dotted  line). 


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Only  slight  differences  in  animal  coloration 
occur  between  the  two  subspecies.  Optic  and 
sensory  tentacles  are  the  same  tone  in  A  ( G .)  b. 
malalakensis  n.  ssp.  versus  A.  ( G .)  b.  bulowi 
with  paler  sensory  tentacles.  The  tail  of  A,  (G.) 
k  malalakensis  n.  ssp.  and  often  its  neck  show 
more  flesh-pink  than  does  those  of  A.  (G.)  b. 
bulowi.  The  body  granulation  in  A.  ( G .)  b . 
malalakensis  n.  ssp.  is  yellowish-orange  or 
reddish-orange,  yellowish-orange  in  A.  (G.)  b. 
bulowi .  The  mid-dorsal  stripe  is  grey  in  both 
subspecies  and  also  blackish  in  A.  ( G .)  b.  bulowi. 

The  two  subspecies  are  easily  separated  based 
on  shell  coloration.  Shells  of  A.  ( G .)  b. 
malalakensis  n.  ssp.  are  'only  dextraF  and 
chalk-white  with  pale  grey  and/or  light  buff  to 
tawny  primary  pattern  of  anastomose  lines, 
occasionally  with  fleshy-ochre  or  tan 
longitudinal  secondary  markings;  white  outer 
lip,  columella  and  interior;  and  a  buff-yellow  to 
cinnamon-buff  paries.  In  contrast,  shells  of  A. 
(G.)  b.  bulowi  are  'rarely  sinistral5  and  have  a 
salmon-buff  or  liver-brown  spire  and  usually 
cream-coloured  last  whorl,  with  dark  brown  to 
blackish  brown  markings;  greyish-white  to  pale 
grey  outer  lip,  columella  and  interior;  the  paries 
is  the  same  colour  as  the  penultimate  whorl  and 
the  back  of  the  lip  is  grey,  dark  brown  or  the 
same  colour  as  the  last  whorl.  Shells  of  A.  (G.)  b. 
bulowi  with  periostracum  still  intact  have  the 
last  whorl  ground  colour  looks  darker  or  pale 
brownish  tinted,  in  contrast  that  of  A  (G.)  b. 
malalakensis  looks  off-white  (fig.  4).  The 
adapertural  deviation  in  the  anterior  part  or  base 
of  the  columella,  aperture  angle  and  the  keel 
angle  varied  for  both  subspecies,  however,  not 
significantly  between  them.  Other  shell 
morphometric  data  did  not  show  any  significant 
differences  between  them  worthy  of  further 
mention. 

The  predictions  of  melanin  pigments  present  in 
shells  of  both  subspecies  have  been  tabulated 


(Table  1),  and  carotenoid-based  red  and  yellow 
pigments  are  ignored.  That  data  suggests  the 
shell  coloration  of  A  (G)  b.  malalakensis  n.  ssp. 
is  due  to  a  basic  lack  of  eumelanin,  where  small 
amounts  form  greyish  primary  markings  and 
very  small  amounts  create  a  greyish-white 
ground  from  the  upper  spire  to  the  penultimate 
whorl.  The  white  ground  on  the  lower  whorls  is 
due  to  the  absence  of  both  eumelanin  and 
phaeomelanin.  By  definition,  these  shells 
require  a  complete  absence  of  both  types  of 
melanin  to  describe  them  as  being  albinistic 
(Hoekstra,  2006;  van  Grouw,  2012).  Shells  of  A 
(G.)  b.  malalakensis  n.  ssp.  certainly  have 
yellowish-brown  markings  and  a  brownish- 
yellow  paries,  most  likely  produced  by 
phaeomelanin,  so  they  are  not  albinistic  shells. 
These  shells  are  probably  the  result  of  a  dilution 
gene,  which  causes  an  almost  100%  reduction 
of  eumelanin  and  leaves  phaeomelanin 
unchanged,  and  best  called  “isabelline”  shells 
(van  Grouw,  2012). 

A.  (G.)  b.  bulowi  is  similar  in  shape  to  three 
Vietnamese  species.  A.  ( G .)  asper  Haas,  1934 
has  a  larger  shell  with  the  same  shell  pattern, 
but  has  more  convex  whorls.  The  last  whorl  is 
very  slightly  flattened  medially  and 
subattenuated  at  the  base,  slightly  compressed 
into  a  short  rounded  keel  (holotype  SMF  14428) 
or  not  (Figure  8A).  The  columella  is  vertical, 
straight  to  slightly  twisted  and  sometimes  bent 
briefly  at  its  base  toward  the  short  spout;  sub- 
trancate  in  juveniles.  The  aperture  is  oblong  and 
subcaniculate  at  the  base  (holotype)  or  not 
(Figure  8 A),  passing  into  a  short  wide  basal 
spout.  A.  (G.)  mirandus  (Bavay  and 
Dautzenberg,  1912)  (Figure  8B)  has  a  similar 
sized  shell  to  A.  (G.)  b.  bulowi ,  but  differs  in 
being  thinner,  pure  yellow  with  green-line 
periostracum  and  has  a  wider,  more  protruding 
spout.  A.  (G.)  thachi  Huber,  2015  (Figure  8G-D) 
is  also  amphidromine,  but  differs  in  being  a 
smaller,  patternless  white  shell  with  a  black 


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ISSUE  4 


columella  and  black  outer  lip  with  a  white 
border. 

Current  evidence  suggests  that  A.  ( G .)  b.  bulowi 
is  not  present  in  western  Malalak  and 
continuation  of  agricultural  deforestation  will 
reduce  the  chance  of  such  specimens  being 
found  there.  Deforestation  is  worse  on  the 
eastern  side  of  the  valley,  especially  on  Mt. 
Tandikat.  The  northern  end  of  the  valley  is 
relatively  untouched,  but  the  physical 


connection  between  the  rim  of  the  Lake 
Maninjau  caldera  and  Mt.  Singgalang  has  been 
severed  by  a  road  cutting.  It  is  possible  that  both 
subspecies  occur  on  the  caldera  rim  near  the 
road  cutting,  and  A.  ( G .)  b.  bulowi  may  also 
occur  on  Mt.  Marapi.  A.  (G.)  b.  malalakensis  n. 
ssp.  will  remain  extremely  rare  unless  new 
colonies  can  be  found.  A.  (G.)  b.  bulowi  will 
still  be  rarely  collected  due  to  the  raggedness  of 
its  range,  continued  deforestation  at  lower 
altitude  and  predators. 


Feature 

outer  lip, 
columella  and 
Interior 

paries 

back  of  outer  lip 

irregular,  zigzag 
and/or  branching 
lines 

random 

longitudinal 

markings 

A.  (G.)  b.  bulowi 

greyish- white** 
to  pale  grey* 

liver-brown  or 
salmon-buff 

as  per  last  whorl 
or  stained  chestnut 

chestnut,  chocolate, 
hazel  or  blackish 
brown1 

chestnut,  tawny, 
dark  ochre,  or 
absent 

predicted  melanin 
pigments  present 

a  trace**  or 
small*  amount 
of  eumeianin 

eumeianin  and 
phaeomelanin 

eumeianin  and 
phaeomelanin 

eumeianin  and 
phaeomelanin  or  only 
eumeianin1. 

eumeianin  and 
phaeomelanin 

A.  (G.)  b.  malalakensis 
n.  ssp. 

white 

buff-yellow  to 
cinnamon-buff 

white 

pale  grey*  and/or 
light  buff  to  tawny 

fleshy  ochr- .  f  .n> 
or  absent 

predicted  melanin 
pigments  present 

none 

phaeomelanin 

none 

minor  eumeianin*  or 
phaeomelanin 

phaeomelanin 

Feature 

ground  colour 

early  whorls 

antepenultimate 

whorl 

penultimate  whorl 

last  whorl 

A.  ( G .)  b.  bulowi 

chalk-white 
grading  to 
greyish-' white** 

pale  grey*  becoming 
pale  liver-brown  or 
salmon-buff 

liver-brown  or  salmon-buff 
±  cream-coloured  patches 

cream-coloured,  rarely 
salmon-buff  or  liver- 
brown 

predicted  melanin 
pigments  present 

none  to  a  trace 
amount  of 
eumeianin** 

increasing  amounts  of 
eumeianin  plus 
phaeomelanin 

eumeianin  and  phaeomelanin 
patchy  minor  phaeomelanin 

minor  phaeomelanin  or 
eumeianin  and 
phaeomelanin 

A.  (G.)  b.  malalakensis 
n.  ssp. 

as  above 

greyish- white** 

greyish- white**  and  chalk- 
white  patches 

chalk-white 

predicted  melanin 
pigments  present 

as  above 

trace  amount  of 
eumeianin** 

trace  amount  of  eumeianin** 

or  none 

none 

Table  1  Shell  coloration  comparison  for  both  subspecies  with  predictions  of  melanin  pigments  present  [Notes:  pale  grey*  and  greyish- 
white**  are  predicted  to  be  the  result  of  small/minor*  and  very  small/trace**  amounts  of  eumeianin]. 


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Figure  8.  Nearest  relatives  of  A.  ( G .)  bulowi  [shown  at  approximately  the  same  scale]:  A  A.  ( G .)  asper  Daklak  province,  Vietnam  (IP; 
H  59.54  mm);  B  A.  ( G .)  mirandus  syntype  MNHN  2046  (H  48.5  mm;  photo  by  P.  Maestrati  MNHN);  and  C-D  A.  (G.)  thachi 
paratypes  figured  by  Huber  (2015;  C  fig.  4,  H  33.3  mm  &  D  fig.  5,  H  29.6  mm). 


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

We  thank  the  following  people:  Jonathan  Ablett, 
Curator  (of  Non-Marine  Mollusca  and 
Cephalopoda,  Division  of  Invertebrates, 
Zoology  Department)  (NHMUK);  and  Virginie 
Heros,  Chargee  de  conservation  collection 
Mollusques  (MNHN)  for  assistance  in 
depositing  type  material  and  P,  Maestrati 
(MNHN)  for  the  photos  of  the  A.  (G.)  mirandus 
syntype. 

REFERENCES 

Biilow,  H..  1905.  Einige  Seltenheiten  aus 
meiner  Sammlung.  Nachrichtsblatt  der 
Deutschen  Malakozoologischen  Gesellschaft 
37(l):78-83,  Ta£  l,fig.  2. 


Dharmas  B.,  2007.  Report  on  fossil 
Amphidromus  and  description  of  new 
species  and  new  subspecies  of  recent  and 
fossil  Amphidromus  from  Indonesia 
(Gastropoda,  Pulmonata:  Camaenidae). 
Schriften  zur  Malakozoologie  23:45-78. 

Fruhstorfer,  H.,  1905.  Ein  nonet  Amphidromus. 
Nachrichtsblatt  der  Deutschen 
Malakozoologischen  Gesellschaft  37  (1):83- 
84,  Taf.  1,  fig.  2. 

Haniel,  C.B.,  1921.  Variationsstudie  an 
timoresischen  Amphidromus  arten. 

Zeitschrift  fur  Induktive  Abstammungs-  und 
Vererbungslehre  25  (Heft  1-2):  pp.  1-88, 

(Mit  5  Tafeln,  27  Textfiguren,  5  Tabellen 
und  einem  Anhang  mit  den  SchalenmaBen). 

Hoekstra,  H.E.,  2006.  Genetics,  development 
and  evolution  of  adaptive  pigmentation  in 
vertebrates.  Heredity  97:222-234. 


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Huber,  F.,  2015.  Amphidromus  thachi ,  a  new 
species  (Gastropoda:  Camaenidae)  from 
Vietnam.  Gloria  Maris  54(1):29-31. 
International  Commission  on  Zoological 
Nomenclature  (ICZN),  1999.  International 
Code  of  Zoological  Nomenclature,  4th 
edition.  The  International  Trust  for 
Zoological  Nomenclature,  London;  1-140. 
Available  at:  <http://www.bio- 
nica.  in£o/biblioteca/ICZNCode.pdf8> 
[Accessed:  24  March  2013] 

Laidlaw,  F.F.  and  A.  Sole  in,  1961.  The  land 
snail  genus  Amphidromus:  a  synoptic 
catalogue.  Edited  by  LA  Ross.  Fieldiana: 
Zoology  41(4):505-677,  26  Text  Figures; 
Amphidromus  ( Goniodromus )  bullowi  pp. 

587  and  606,  fig.  37. 

Pribadi,  A.,  Muiyadi,  E.  and  I.  Pratomo,  2007. 
Mekanisme  erapsi  ignimbrit  Kaldera 
Maninjau,  Sumatera  Barat.  Jumal  Geologi 
Indonesia  2(1):31  41, 


RoUe,  I  F,  1908.  Zur  Fauna  von  West-Sumatra. 
Nachrichtsblatt  der  Deutschen 
Malakozoologischen  Gesellschaft  40(2) : 63- 
70;  Amphidromus  (< Goniodromus )  bullowi  p. 
67  (not  illustrated). 

University  of  Texas  Libraries,  2014.  Perry- 
Castaneda  Library  Map  Collection, 

Indonesia  AMS  Topographic  Maps,  Padang, 
Sumatra ,  SA  47-3,  Edition  l-AMS,  East 
Indies  1:250,000,  U.S.  Army  Map  Service, 

1 954.  txu-oclc-2 1 75246 1  -sa47»3  jpg. 
Available  at: 

http  ://www.  lib.  utexas.  edu/maps/ ams/indone 
sia/txu-oclc-2 175246 1  -sa47-3.jpg  [Accessed: 

4  Mar  2014] 

van  Grouw,  IF,  2012.  What  colour  is  that 
Sparrow?  A  case  study:  colour  aberrations 
in  the  House  Sparrow  Passer  domes ticus. 
International  Studies  on  Sparrows  36:30-55. 


Jose  and  Marcus  Coltro 


Sio  Paulo  -  SP  Brazil  01537-970 
shelfs@fem0rale.eom 


More  than  130  thousand  pictures,  new  shells  every  week 
from  all  over  the  world,  from  rare  to  common  species. 
Subscribe  to  our  weekly  list  by  e-mail  -  all  shells  with  photos! 
Articles,  collecting  tips,  shell  people,  links  and  much  more. 


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A  new  species  of  Vasticardium  (Blvalvia:  Gardiidae)  from 
Queensland,  Australia 

Stephen  I.  Maxwell 1,  Bradley  C.  Congdon 2  and  Tasmin  L.  Rymer2 


1  College  of  Marine  and  Environmental  Sciences,  James  Cook  University,  P.O.  Box  6811,  Cairns, 

Queensland  4870,  Australia.stephen.maxwell@my.jcu.edu.au 

2  Centre  for  Tropical  Environmental  and  Sustainability  Studies,  James  Cook  University,  P.O.  Box 

6811,  Caims,  Queensland  4870,  Australia. 


ABSTRACT  A  new  species  of  Vasticardium  from  tropical  Queensland,  Australia,  is  described  based 
on  morphological  differences  with  known  taxa  from  that  region.  The  new  species  differs  in  having 
acute  ribs,  a  character  it  shares  only  with  Vasticardium  angulata  Lamarck,  1819,  which  typically  has 
coarser  ribbing  and  which  lacks  colour  within  the  shell  interior. 


INTRODUCTION 

The  family  Cardiidae  Lamarck,  1 809,  represents 
an  ancient  historical  dads  that  can  trace  its 
linage  back  into  the  late  Triassic  (Schneider, 
1995).  Within  the  cardiums  there  have  been 
significant  contributions  to  the  advancement 
and  understanding  of  the  taxonomy  and 
diversity  of  the  subclade  Trachycardiinae 
Stewart,  1930  leading  to  a  solid  resolution  of 
the  complex  as  a  whole  within  Cardiidae  (Vidal, 
1999;  Coan  and  Valentich-Scott,  2012;  Herrera 
eta!.,  2015;  Hylleberg,  2015;  Schneider,  1992). 
The  internal  resolution  of  Trachycardiinae 
remains  contentious.  The  Vasticardium  and 
Acrosterigma  have  historically  been  combined 
and  treated  as  synonyms  (Lamprell  and 
Whitehead,  1992;  Wilson  and  Stevenson,  1977). 
Vasticardium  has  also  been  treated  as  a 
subgenus  of  Acrosterigma  by  some  authors 
(Hylleberg,  1994).  Vasticardium  can  be 
differentiated  from  Acrosterigma  by  the 
posterior  and  anterior  being  more  distinctly 
sculptured  than  the  dorsum  and  posteriorly 
notched  as  well  as  other  structural 
characteristics,  which  may  not  be  mutually 
exclusive  (Vidal,  1999).  Genetic  evidence  has 
current  assigned  Vasticardium  forming  a  well 


nested  exclusive  clade  apart  from  those  assigned 
to  Acrosterigma ,  while  the  cladistic  resolution 
of  the  remaining  Trachycardiinae  is  somewhat 
problematic  (Herrera  et  ah,  2015).  We  treat  here 
Vasticardium  and  Acrosterigma  as  distinct 
genera. 

The  new  species  is  found  in  tropical  Queensland, 
and  is  described  as  a  morphological  species. 
Comparative  members  of  Trachycardiinae  used 
in  the  description  were  restricted  to 
Vasticardium .  The  list  of  comparative  species 
was  primarily  guided  by  current  distribution 
records  and  maximum  size  and  general  structure 
as  presented  in  Lamprell  and  Whitehead  (1992). 
Three  primary  characters  were  used  in  the 
determination  of  taxonomic  difference:  shape  of 
the  radial  ribs;  the  interstices;  and  the  colour  of 
the  interior.  The  radial  ribs  and  interstices  were 
described  in  terms  of  the  cross-section  of  the 
mid-dorsal  rib. 

SYSTEMATICS 

Class:  Bivalvia 
Subclass:  Heterodonta 
Order:  Cardiidae 


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Superfamily:  Cardioidea 
Family:  Cardiidae 
Subfamily:  Trachycardiinae 
Genus:  Vasticardium  Iredale,  1927 

Trachycardiinae  Stewart,  1930 

Shell  asymmetrical  with  well-developed  ribs 
over  surface;  ornamentation  on  the  anterior  and 
posterior  divergent;  cardinal  teeth  are  unequal; 
posterior  margin  notched  to  digitate  (Hylleberg, 
1994). 

Vasticardium  Iredale,  1927 

Shell  higher  than  long;  ribs  variable  with 
ornamentation  on  top  of  ribs  may  or  not  be 
present;  posterior  and  anterior  differing 
distinctly  in  sculpture  to  the  rest  of  the  dorsum; 
cardinals  in  right  valve  separated. 

Vasticardium  swanae  Maxwell,  Congdon  & 
Rymer,  2016, 

new  species  (Figures  1  and  2G) 

Description:  The  moderately  strong  equivalved 
shell  is  ovate  to  quadrate;  dorsum  with  40-50 
radial  angulate  smooth  ribs;  interstices  with  fine 
uniform  arculate  ridges  that  diminish  becoming 
absent  anteriorly,  posteriorly  increasing  in  size 
to  the  top  of  the  ridges;  anterior  ribs  with  strong 
spines  that  dorso ventral  ly  increase  in  size; 
ligament  fine;  anterior  and  posterior  teeth  fine 
and  well  developed;  cardinal  teeth  unequal; 
margin  straight,  serrated  and  interlocking, 
becoming  elongated  at  the  anterior  dorsal 
margin  and  diminishing  on  the  posterior  margin: 
lunacle  concave  and  smooth;  umbones  white; 
dorsum  with  dark  to  light  brown  blotches  and 
flecks,  the  larger  of  these  are  evidenced  through 
the  shell  as  a  purple  stain  ventrally.  (see  Figure 
1). 


Type  Material:  Holotype  measuring  45.8mm  - 
Queensland  Museum  Registration  (M085748), 
collected  by  Beverly  Swan. 

Type  Locality:  Bramble  Reef,  off  Lucinda, 
Queensland,  Australia. 

Distribution:  This  new  species  is  known  only 
from  the  type  locality,  Bramble  Reef,  off 
Lucinda,  Queensland,  Australia. 

Ecology:  This  new  Vasticardium  species  is 
found  intertidally  in  sand. 

Etymology:  This  new  species  is  named  in 
honour  of  Beverly  Swan  from  Townville, 
Queensland,  Australia,  who  discovered  the 
specimens  in  the  type  lot.  Ms.  Swan  is  an  avid 
amateur  malacologist,  an  active  shell  collector, 
and  member  of  the  Townville  Shell  Club  who 
has  supported  molluscan  research  for  many 
decades. 

Discussion:  The  new  species  has  a  distinctive 
shell  that  is  rather  colourful  for  a  member  of  the 
larger  Vasticardium  ( see  Figure  2).  The  new 
species  differs  in  rib  morphology  with 
Vasticardium  coralense  Vidal  1993,  V  elongata 
Bmgiere,  1789,  V  luteomarginata  Voskuil  & 
Gnverwagt,  1991,  V  mendanaense  Sowerby, 
1896  and  V  wilsoni  Voskuil  &  Onverwagt, 
1991  which  are  non-angulate.  V.  angulata 
Lamarck  1819,  is  very  similar  to  the  new 
species  as  it  has  similar  structural  morphology 
of  both  ribs  and  interstices.  Vasticardium 
swanae  can  be  differentiated  by  its  much 
coarser  ribbing  and  the  lack  of  colour  in  the 
aperture,  which  is  typically  found  in  V  angulata. 
Finally,  V  swanae  can  be  distinguished  from  V 
vertehrata  Jonas,  1844  by  the  lack  of  rib 
coarseness  and  the  colour  blotches  in  the 
aperture. 


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Fjgwre  1.  Holotype  of  Vasiicardium  swanae,  n  sp.,  collected  by  Beverly  Swan  on  Bramble  Reef,  off  Lucinda,  Queensland,  45.8  mm. 


As  indicated  above,  Vasticardium  and 
Acrosterigma  have  been  treated  as  synonyms  in 
the  past,  and  a  comparison  should  be  made  to  a 
similar  looking  Acrosterigma  species.  While 
having  structural  differences  peculiar  to  their 
differing  genera,  Acrosterigma  variegata 
Sowerby,  1841  shows  some  similarities  to  the 
new  species  (see  Vidal,  1999).  The  A.  variegata 
syntype  differs  from  Vasticardium  swanae  in 
having  a  curved  margin  and  shell  which  is 
distinctly  more  ovate  (Vidal,  1999;  see  Figure 
3).  Additionally,  the  new  species  lacks  the 
tinged  yellow  internal  margin  of  A.  variegata .  It 
is  highly  probable  that  many  collections  may 
contain  specimens  of  V  swanae  labeled  under 
the  name  A.  variegata  due  to  the  above  stated 
superficial  similarities  in  size  and  internal 
colouration. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

The  authors  thank  Valda  Cantamessa  for 
allowing  them  access  to  her  extensive  and 
wonderfully  curated  collection,  for  providing 
comparative  material,  and  for  donating  the 
holotype  which  has  been  deposited  in  the 
Queensland  Museum.  The  authors  thank  the 


reviewers  for  providing  invaluable  comments  to 
facilitate  the  timely  publication  of  this  paper. 
We  also  thank  Trevor  and  Marguerite  Young 
for  photographic  logistics  and  offering  helpful 
comments  on  the  manuscript  without  which  this 
paper  would  not  have  been  possible. 

REFERENCES 

Coan,  E.V.  &  P.  Valentich-Scott  2012. 

Bivalve  Seashells  of  Tropical  West  America: 
Marine  Bivalve  Mollusks  from  Baja 
California  to  Northern  Peru.  Santa  Barbara 
Museum  of  Natural  History  Monographs 
Number  6:  Studies  in  Biodiversity  Number  4, 
Santa  Barbara  Museum  of  Natural  History, 
Santa  Barbara.  764  pp. 

Herrera,  N.D.,  J. J.  ter  Poorten,  R,  Bieler, 
P.M.  Mikkelsen,  E.E.  Strong,  D.  JablonsM, 
&  S.J.  Steppan.  2015.  Molecular 
phylogenetics  and  historical  biogeography 
amid  shifting  continents  in  the  cockles  and 
giant  clams  (Bivalvia:  Cardiidae).  Molecular 
Phylogenetics  and  Evolution  93:94-106. 
Hylleberg,  J.  1994.  Indo-Pacific  cockles 
(Bivalvia:  Cardiidae)  part  1 :  Generic 
diagnoses  and  an  overview  of  species  with 


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mention  of  taxonomic  problems  encountered 
in  Thailand.  Phuket  Marine  Biological  Centre 
Special  Publication  13:  113-136. 

Hylleberg,  J.  2015.  Revision  and  morphometric 
characteristics  of  the  Vasticardium  fidele 
group  (Bivalvia:  Cardiidae)  in  the  Indo- 
Pacific  with  description  of  three  new  species. 
Novapex  16:81-94. 

Lamprell,  K.  &  Whitehead,  T.  1992.  Bivalves 
Australia:  Volume  1.  Crawford  House  Press, 
Bathurst.  1 82  pp. 

Schneider,  J.A,  1992.  Preliminary  cladistics 
analysis  of  the  bivalve  family  Cardiidae. 
American  Malacological  Bulletin  9:145-155. 


Schneider,  J.A.  1995.  Phylogeny  of  the 
Cardiidae  (Mollusca,  Bivalvia): 
Protocardiinae,  Laevicardiinae,  Lahullinae, 
Turlonogocardiinae  subfam.  n.  and 
Pleuriocardiinae  subfam.  n..  Zoologica 
Scripta  24:  321-346. 

Vidal,  J.  1999.  Taxonomic  review  of  the 
elongated  cockles:  genera  Tr achy  car dium, 
Vasticardium  and  Acrosterigma  (Mollusca, 
Cardiidae).  Zoosystema  21:  259-335. 

Wilson,  B.R.  &  S.  Stevenson.  1977.  Cardiidae 
(Mollusca,  Bivalvia)  of  Western  Australia. 
Western  Australian  Museum  Special 
Publication  no.  9.  1 14  pp. 


Chitons:  The  Polyplacophora  from  the  Mexican  Pacific,  by  Adriana 
Reyes-Gomez.  This  is  the  first  comprehensive  work  on  the  chitons 
of  Mexico  from  the  Pacific  Ocean  and  Sea  of  Cortez  covering 
102  species  of  chitons  living  throughout  6  marine  biogeographic 
provinces.  This  seminal  work  includes  106  color  images  of  chitons 
together  with  detailed  information  on  the  habitat  and  distribution  of 
these  fascinating  mollusks.  This  publication  is  a  must  have  for  any 
chiton  enthusiast.  Available  while  supplies  last.  $25.00  plus  shipping. 
©  2016  San  Diego  Shell  Club,  Inc. 


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Figure  2.  The  new  species  with  comparatives  showing  size  and  morphology:  A  =  Vasticardium  wilsoni  Voskuii  &  Onverwagt,  1991: 
Broome  89.7  mm  Cantamessa  collection;  B  =  Acrosterigma  impolita  Sowerby  1833:  Queens  Beach,  Bowen  38.8  mm  Cantamessa 
Collection  note  the  lack  of  posterior  and  anterior  shell  distinctiveness  from  the  dorsum  that  is  atypical  in  the  sister  Vasticardium-,  C  =  V. 
luteomarginata  Voskuii  &  Onverwagt,  1991:  Solomon  Islands  75.9  mm  Cantamessa  Collection;  D  =  V.  elongata  Brugiere,  1789: 
Bramble  Reef  71.4  mm  Cantamessa  Collection;  E  =  V.  angulata  Lamarck  1819:  Swains  Reefs  75.6  mm  Cantamessa  Collection;  F  =  V. 
coralense  Vidal  1993:  Swains  Reefs  51.3  mm  Cantamessa  Collection;  G  -  V.  swanae  new  species:  Bramble  Reef  45.8  mm,  Holotype: 
Queensland  Museum  Type  No.  M085748.;  H  =  V.  mendanaense  Sowerby,  1896:  Swains  Reefs  80.1  mm  Cantamessa  Collection;  I  =  V. 
vertebrata  Jonas,  1844:  Myora  Beach  51.6  mm  Cantamessa  Collection. 


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Camaena  chuongi ,  a  new  species  (Gastropda:  Camaenidae)  from  Vietnam 

Nguyen  Ngoc  Tfaach 

Former  Research  Associate,  Nha  Trang  Oceanographic  Institute 

kurodashvietnam@yahoo.com 

ABSTRACT  A  new  species  of  genus  Camaena  Albers,  1850  is  described  from  Tan  Lac,  Hoa  Binh, 
Vietnam  and  compared  to  two  other  species  and  a  form  of  this  genus:  Camaena  gabrieliae 
Dautzenberg  &  d’hammonville,  1887,  Camaena  hainenensis  (H,  Adams,  1870)  and  Camaena 
gabrieliae  f.  subhainenensis  (Pilsbry,  1890).  It  is  characterized  by  slightly  flat  base  and  very  few 
spiral  bands  (only  one  band  at  periphery  and  another  band  along  suture  of  each  whorl)  on  pure  white 
background  color. 

KEYWORDS  Gastropoda,  Helicoidea,  Camaenidae,  Camaena ,  Tan  Lac,  Hoa  Bimh,  Vietnam,  new 
taxon. 


INTRODUCTION:  The  genus  Camaena 
Albers,  1850  belongs  to  the  family  Camaenidae 
and  has  many  species  collected  in  Vietnam.  In 
February  2016,  a  hitherto  unknown  camaenid 
was  found.  It  was  not  listed  in  the  works  by 
Parkinson,  Hemmen  &  Groh  (1987),  Abbott 
(1989),  Dharma  (2005),  Stanisic,  Shea,  Potter  & 
Griffiths  (2010),  Schileyko  (2011)  or  Thach 
(2005,  2007,  2012,  2016).  It  is  here  described 
as  new  to  science. 

Abbreviations: 

ANSP  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Drexel 
University,  Philadelphia,  USA 
MNHN  Museum  National  d’Histoire  Naturelle, 

Paris,  France 

NNT  Collection  Dr.  Thach 
AW  Aperture  Width 
SH  Shell  Height 

SW  Shell  Width 

SYSTEMATIC*: 

Class  Gastropda  Cuvier,  1797 
Superfamily  Helicoidea  Kafmesque,  1815 
Family  Camaenidae  Pilsbry,  1895 
Genus  Camaena  Albers,  1850 
Type  species:  Helix  cicatricosa  Muller,  1774, 
subsequent  designation  by  Martens  in  Albers,  1860 


Camaena  chuongi  n.  sp. 

Figures  1-8 

Description: 

Shell  medium-sized  for  the  genus  (34.8-40.4 
mm  in  average  adult  width)  conic-helicifonn, 
wider  than  high  with  shell  height  79.6%  of  shell 
width  ( see  Table  1  with  measurements  on  seven 
specimens).  Spire  tall,  sutures  adpressed.  Body 
whorl  moderately  inflated,  periphery  with  a 
narrow  spiral  band.  Sculpture  consisting  of 
numerous  fine  closely-spaced  axial  riblets 
becoming  stronger  when  approaching  body 
whorl.  Aperture  semicircular  with  width  54.1% 
of  shell  width  (see  Table  1),  outer  lip  thin, 
slightly  reflected.  Base  slightly  flat  and  weakly 
sculptured,  umbilicus  deep  and  open  but  partly 
covered  by  reflected  columella.  Color  pure 
white  with  dark  brown  spiral  band  at  periphery 
and  along  suture  of  each  whorl 


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Table  1.  Mean  SH/SW  and  AW/SW  of  Camaena  chuongi  n.sp. 


Specimen: 

SW 

(mm) 

SH 

(mm) 

SH/SW 

Mean 

SH/SW 

AW 

(mm) 

AW/SW 

Mean 

AW/SW 

1 

36.6 

28.2 

0.77 

19.0 

0.52 

2 

37.8 

31.0 

0.82 

19.0 

0.50 

3 

34.8 

29.7 

0.85 

18.3 

0.53 

4 

40.1 

33.4 

0.83 

0.796 

22,5 

0.56 

0.541 

5 

35.7 

28.5 

0.79 

21.0 

0.59 

6 

34.0 

25.6 

0.75 

18.0 

0.53 

7 

40.4 

30.8 

0.76 

22.7 

0.56 

Type  material:  Holotype  36.6  mm  wide  in 
ANSP  (Figures  1,  2b).  Paratypes:  all  from  type 
locality,  Paratype  1:  37.8  mm  wide  in  MNHM 
(Figure  3);  Paratype  2:  34.8  mm  wide  in  NNT 
(Figure  2a,  4b);  Paratype  3:  40.1  mm  wide  in 
NNT  (Figure  4a,  7)  and  Paratype  6:  40.4  mm 
(Figure  6)  in  NNT;  and  Paratypes  4  at  35.7  mm 
and  5  at  34.0  mm  (not  illustrated). 

Type  locality:  Tan  Lac  District,  Hoa  Binh 
Province,  Vietnam. 

Habitat:  The  type  specimens  were  collected 
around  trees. 

Etymology:  The  new  species  is  named  in  honor 
of  Mr.  Nguyen  Ngpc  Cfauong,  the  author's 
brother  for  his  help  in  this  scientific  study. 

DISCUSSION: 

•  Camaena  chuongi  n.sp.  Is  close  to  Camaena 
gabriella  f.  subhainenensis  (Pilsbry,  1890)  (Fig. 
11b,  12)  but  differing  in  less  inflated  whorls, 


flatter  base,  less  numerous  spiral  bands,  white 
umbilical  area  and  white  background  color. 

•  Camaena  gabriella  Dautzenberg  & 
d'hammonville,  1887  (Figures  9,10)  differs 
mainly  from  Camaena  chuongi  in  having  a 
more  inflated  base  and  the  absence  of  a  pure 
white  background  color. 

•  Camaena  hainenensis  (H. Adams,  1870) 
(Figure  11a)  differs  mainly  from  Camaena 
chuongi  in  very  swollen  body  whorl,  much 
wider  aperture,  numerous  spiral  bands  and  the 
absence  of  a  white  background  color. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: 

Thanks  to  the  Paris  Museum  of  Natural  History 
for  the  photo  of  Camaena  gabriella ,  and  Guido 
Poppe  and  Philippe  Poppe  for  photos  of 
comparative  specimens  of  Camaena  gabriella  f. 
subhainenensis .  Thanks  are  also  extended  to  the 
reviewers  for  useful  comments. 


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Figures  1-8:  Camaena  chuongi  n.sp.,  Hoa  Binh,  Vietnam- 1,  2b:  Holotype  36.6  mm,  ANSP-  2a:  Paratype  2:  34.8  mm  wide, 
NNT-  3:  Paratype  1,  37.8  mm  wide,  MNHH-  4a:  Paratype  3, 40.1  mm  wide,  NNT-  4b:  Paratype  2,  NNT-  5:  Live  animal- 
6:  Paratype  6, 40.4  mm-  7 :  Paratype  3-  8:  Live  animal-  9,10:  Camaena  gahriellae  Dautzenberg  &  d’faammonville,  1887, 
photo  of  Paris  Museum  of  Natural  History  for  comparison-  11a:  Camaena  hainenemis  (H.Adams,  1870)  40  mm,  photo  of 
T.  Abbott,  1989  for  comparison-  lib:  Camaena  gabriella  f.  subhainemensis  (Pilsbry,  1890)  34.2  mm  for  comparison- 
12:  Camaena  gabriella  f.  subhainemensis  36.9  mm,  photo  of  P.  &  G.  Poppe,  2014  for  comparison. 


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REFERENCES: 

Abbott,  R.T.  1989.  Compendium  of  landshells. 
American  Malacologists  Inc.,  Florida,  USA, 
240pp. 

Dharma,  B.  2005.  Recent  &  Fossil  Shells  of 
Indonesia.  ConchBooks,  Hackenheim, 
Germany,  432pp. 

Parkinson,  B.,  J.  Hemmen  &  K.  Groh.  1987. 

Tropical  land  shells  of  the  world.  Verlag 
Christa  Hemmen,  Wiesbaden,  Germany,  279 
PP- 

Schileyko,  A. A.  2011.  Check-list  of  land 
pulmonate  molluscs  of  Vietnam  (Gastropoda: 
Stylommatophora).  Ruthenica,  Russia, 

Vol.21,  No  1,68  pp. 

Stanisic,  J.,  M.  Shea,  D.  Potter,  &  O. 

Griffiths.  2010.  Australian  Land  Snails, 
Volume  1.  Bioculture  Press,  Mauritius,  591pp. 


Thach,  N.N.  2005.  Shells  of  Vietnam. 
ConchBooks,  Hackenheim,  Germany,  430pp 
(including  92  color  plates). 

Thach,  N.N.  2007.  Recently  Collected  Shells  of 
Vietnam.  LTnformatore  Piceno  &  NNT, 
Ancona,  Italy,  380pp  (inlcuding  118  color 
plates). 

Thach,  N.N.  2012.  New  Records  of  Molluscs 
from  Vietnam.  48HrBooks  Co.,  USA,  427pp 
(including  151  color  plates). 

Thach,  N.N.  2016.  Vietnamese  New  Mollusks. 
48HrBooks  Co.,  USA,  205pp  (including  99 
color  plates). 

Website  of  Museum  of  Natural  History,  Paris, 
France. 

Website  of  Philippe  &  Guido  Poppe 

(Conchology,  Inc.) 


Club  Conchylia, 

German  Shell  Collector's  Club 
Our  journals: 

@  Conchylia 

(§)  Mitteilungen 

(|>  Acta  Conchyliorum 

Yearly  subscription  rate:  50.-  € 
Further  informations: 

www.club-conchylia.de 

Dr.  Manfred  Herrmann 
Ulmenstrasse  14 
D-37124  Rosdorf 
e-mail:  club-conchylia@gmx.de 


g/5 

Be  a  member  of  AFC,  the  French  Conchological  Association 
and  receive  free  our  quarterly  magazine  XcNOPHORA  and  its 
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Six  New  Species  of  Gastropods  (Fasciolariidae,  Conidae,  and 
Coniiithidae)  from  Brazil 

Edward  J.  Petuch  1  and  David  P„  Berschauer 2 
1  Department  of  Geosciences,  Florida  Atlantic  University,  Boca  Raton,  Florida  3343 1 
epetuch@fau.edu 

2  25461  Barents  Street,  Laguna  Hills,  California  92653 
shellcollection@hotmail  .com 


ABSTRACT  Six  new  gastropods,  belonging  to  the  families  Fasciolariidae,  Conidae,  and 
Coniiithidae,  recently  have  been  discovered  within  the  biogeographical  boundaries  of  the  Brazilian 
Molluscan  Province.  These  include:  Poremskiconus  fonsecai  n.  sp.  and  Poremskiconus  smoesi  n.  sp. 
(both  Conidae)  from  the  Cearaian  Subprovince  of  northern  Brazil;  Jaspidiconus  josei  n.  sp. 
(Coniiithidae)  from  the  Bahian  Subprovince  of  central  Brazil;  and  Fusinus  damasoi  n.  sp.,  Fusinus 
mariaodeteae  n.  sp.  (both  Fasciolariidae),  and  Lamniconus  petestimpsoni  n.  sp.  (Conidae)  from  the 
Paulinian  Subprovince  of  southern  Brazil. 

KEY  WORDS  Fasciolariidae,  Conidae,  Coniiithidae,  Brazil,  Fusinus,  Poremskiconus,  Lamniconus, 
Jaspidiconus,  Brazilian  Molluscan  Province,  Cearaian  Subprovince,  Bahian  Subprovince,  Paulinian 
Subprovince. 


INTRODUCTION 

Over  the  past  ten  years,  extensive  exploration 
and  collecting  along  the  coasts  of  Brazil  have 
yielded  many  new  and  interesting  malacological 
discoveries  (some  outlined  in  Petuch,  2013; 
Petuch  and  Myers,  2014;  and  Petuch  and 
Sargent,  2011).  Of  the  Brazilian  coastal  regions, 
three  areas  and  ecosystems  remain  the  least- 
studied:  the  coralline  algal  rhodolith  bioherms 
systems  off  Maranhao,  Piaui,  and  Ceara  States 
(within  the  Cearaian  Subprovince  of  northern 
Brazil);  the  coral  reef  systems  on  the  Abrolhos 
Platform  off  southern  Bahia  State  (within  the 
Bahian  Subprovince  of  central  Brazil);  and  the 
wide  continental  shelf  off  Sao  Paulo,  Parana, 
Santa  Catarina,  and  Rio  Grande  do  Sul  States 
(within  the  Paulinian  Subprovince  of  southern 
Brazil).  Preliminary  ecological  research 
conducted  in  these  three  areas  has  revealed  that 
the  biodiversity  was  much  higher  than 
previously  thought  (Petuch,  2013)  and  that  high 


levels  of  endemism,  particularly  in  the 
gastropod  mollusks,  occurred  on  several  of  the 
dominant  biotopes. 

Working  with  the  local  fishermen,  the  intrepid 
Brazilian/Portuguese  collector,  Damaso 
Monteiro,  and  the  Brazilian  collectors  and  well 
known  shell  dealers,  Marcus  and  Jose  Coltro, 
have  been  able  to  accumulate  a  large  number  of 
new  gastropod  taxa  from  these  previously- 
unexplored  areas.  All  of  these  new  species  live 
in  deeper  water  areas  offshore  and  can  only  be 
collected  by  dredging  and  trawling  or  by 
examining  the  contents  of  deep  water  crab  and 
lobster  traps.  Through  the  generous  donation  of 
suites  of  new  species  by  Sr.  Monteiro  and  the 
Coltro  brothers,  we  have  been  able  to  describe 
six  of  these  new  Brazilian  taxa,  including  three 
new  species  of  Conidae,  one  new  species  of 
Coniiithidae,  and  two  new  species  of 
Fasciolariidae.  These  additions  to  the 
biodiversity  of  the  marine  faunas  of  Brazil  are 


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described  in  the  following  sections.  The 

holotypes  of  the  new  species  are  deposited  in 
the  molluscan  collections  of  the  Zoological 
Museum  of  the  University  of  Sao  Paulo,  Sao 
Paulo,  Brazil  and  bear  MZSP  numbers. 

SYSTEMATICS 

Class  Gastropoda 
Subclass  Sorbeoconcha 
Order  Prosobranchia 
Inffaorder  Neogastropoda 
Superfamily  Conoidea 
Family  Conidae 
Subfamily  Puncticulinae 
Genus  Lamniconus  da  Motta,  1991 

Lamniconus  petestimpsoni  Petuch  and 
Berschauer,  new  species 
(Figures  IE,  F,  G  &  H) 

Description:  Shell  of  average  size  for  genus, 
narrow,  elongated,  with  straight  or  slightly 
concave  sides;  spire  proportionally  low,  with 
early  whorls  subpyramidal;  juvenile  specimens 
(like  individual  shown  on  Figure  1G  and  1H) 
have  higher,  more  elevated  spires  than  do  adult 
specimens,  and  spire  gradually  flattens  out  as 
individual  matures;  shoulder  sharply-angled, 
edged  with  low,  broad,  rounded  carina, 
producing  slightly  concave  spire  whorls;  body 
whorl  smooth  and  glossy,  with  matte  finish  and 
silky  texture;  anterior  end  encircled  with  12-14 
evenly-spaced,  low,  rounded  spiral  cords;  shell 
color  typically  bright  reddish-orange,  overlaid 
with  one  or  two  wide  white  or  pinkish-white 
bands,  one  around  mid-body  and  one  anterior  of 
shoulder  area;  red  and  white  bands  overlaid 
with  18-20  narrow  rows  of  evenly-spaced 
alternating  dark  brown  and  white  rectangular 
spots;  spire  whorls  white  or  pale  orange-white, 
overlaid  with  large,  evenly-spaced  orange- 
brown  crescent-shaped  flammules  that  connect 
to  large  dark  brown  spots  and  patches  along 


shoulder  carina;  some  specimens  (rarely  seen) 
have  the  same  general  color  pattern  as  holotype, 
but  have  deep  yellow  bands  instead  of  typical 
bright  red-orange  bands;  aperture  white  or  pale 
violet-white,  proportionally  narrow,  widening 
toward  anterior  end;  protoconch  proportionally 
large,  orange  in  color,  rounded,  domelike, 
composed  of  2  whorls. 

Type  Material:  HOLOTYPE-  length  46.5  mm, 
width  23.5  mm,  from  off  Cabo  Frio,  Rio  de 
Janeiro  State,  MZSP  131405  (Figure  IE,  F); 
PARATYPE-  length  25.1  mm,  width  11.0  mm, 
from  same  locality  as  the  holotype,  LACM  3377 
(Department  of  Malacology,  Los  Angeles 
County  Museum  of  Natural  History,  Los 
Angeles,  California;  Figure  1G,  H);  Other 
Study  Material-  length  51.0  mm,  same  locality 
as  the  holotype,  in  the  research  collection  of  the 
senior  author;  length  49.9  mm  (yellow  color 
form),  same  locality  as  the  holotype,  in  the 
research  collection  of  the  junior  author. 

Type  Locality:  Trawled  by  commercial  shrimp 
boats  from  100  m  depth,  east  of  Santana  Island, 
Rio  de  Janeiro  State,  Brazil. 

Distribution:  At  present,  known  only  from  the 
area  extending  from  Cabo  Frio  to  Rio  de  Janeiro 
and  the  offshore  islands  of  Rio  de  Janeiro  State, 
Brazil. 

Ecology:  The  new  species  lives  on  an  organic- 
rich  muddy  sand  substrate  in  depths  of  80-120 
m.  Here  it  lives  in  association  with  extensive 
scallop  beds  of  Lindapecten  tehuelchus  and 
abundant  peneid  shrimp. 

Etymology:  The  new  Brazilian  species  is 
named  for  Peter  G.  Stimpson,  M.D.,  of 
Tennessee;  an  avid  amateur  naturalist  and 
malacologist.  His  friend,  Marcus  Coltro,  kindly 
donated  the  type  lot  so  that  the  new  taxon  could 
be  named  in  his  honor. 


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Discussion:  Of  the  eight  known  species  of  the 
southern  Brazilian  endemic  genus  Lamniconus , 
L.  petestimpsoni  is  most  similar  to  L 
lemniscatus  (Reeve,  1849)  (Figure  1A,  B).  The 
new  species  differs  from  L.  lemniscatus  in  being 
a  more  cylindrically-shaped  shell  with  a  less 
tapering  outline,  in  consistently  having  a 
proportionally  higher  spire,  and  in  being  a  much 
more  colorful  shell,  with  a  much  brighter  color 
pattern  composed  of  intense  red-orange  bands 
and  very  numerous  rows  of  dark  brown 
rectangular  spots.  The  rows  of  dots  on  the 
drabber  brown  and  white  L.  lemniscatus  are 
fewer  in  number  and  more  widely  separated  and 
are  proportionally  smaller.  Lamniconus 
petestimpsoni  is  also  similar  to  L.  xanthocinctus 
(Petuch,  1980)  (Figure  1C,  D),  also  from  the 
Cabo  Frio  region,  but  differs  in  being  a  more 
cylindrical  shell,  in  having  a  proportionally 
lower  spire,  and  in  having  a  different  color 
pattern,  composed  of  wide  red  bands  and 
numerous  dark  brown  dots  and  lacking  the  deep 
yellow-orange  or  golden  yellow  color  and 
poorly-developed  spots  of  its  congener  (see 
Petuch  and  Myers,  2014  for  an  overview  of  the 
genus  Lamniconus). 

Genus  Poremskiconus  Petuch,  2013 

Poremskiconus  fonsecai  Petuch  and  Berschauer, 
new  species 
(Figures  2E,  F,  G  &  H) 

Description:  Shell  small  for  genus,  turbinate, 
wide  across  shoulder,  tapering  abruptly  to 
anterior  end;  shoulder  sharply  angled,  edged 
with  blade-like  carina;  edge  of  carina  slightly 
overhangs  body  whorl;  spire  elevated,  broadly 
pyramidal,  with  slightly  stepped  whorls;  body 
whorl  smooth  and  shiny,  sculptured  with  10-12 
large  rounded  cords  that  encircle  anterior  one- 
half;  body  whorl  colored  solid  pale  orange  (as  in 
holotype),  pink,  or  greenish-yellow,  marked 
with  wide  band  of  amorphous  white  flammules 


around  mid-body;  spire  white,  marked  with 
widely-scattered  radiating  flammules,  varying 
in  color  from  pale  orange  (as  in  holotype), 
pinkish-tan,  or  olive  green;  protoconch  pinkish- 
orange,  proportionally  small  and  acuminate, 
composed  of  2  whorls;  aperture  narrow,  straight, 
white  within  interior. 

Type  Material:  HOLOTYPE-  length  16.6  mm, 
width  8.6  mm,  from  off  Rio  do  Fogo,  Rio 
Grande  do  Norte  State,  Brazil,  MZSP  131313 
(Figure  2E  &  F);  Other  Study  Material-  length 
14  mm,  width  7  mm,  same  locality  as  the 
holotype,  in  the  research  collection  of  the  senior 
author;  length  12.8  mm,  width  6.6  mm,  same 
locality  as  the  holotype,  in  the  research 
collection  of  the  junior  author  (Figure  2G  &  H); 
length  15.0  mm,  width  8.0  mm,  same  locality  as 
the  holotype,  in  the  Thierry  Vulliet  Collection, 
Arundel,  Queensland,  Australia. 

Type  Locality:  Collected  under  slabs  of 
coralline  algae,  in  10  m  depth  off  Rio  do  Fogo, 
Rio  Grande  do  Norte  State,  Brazil 

Distribution:  Poremskiconus  fonsecai  ranges 
from  Camocim,  Ceara  State  to  Rio  do  Fogo,  Rio 
Grande  do  Norte  State,  but  may  extend 
westward  to  Maranhao  State. 

Ecology:  The  new  species  prefers  shallow  water 
carbonate  sediment  environments,  preferably 
10-20  m  depths,  where  it  lives  in  association 
with  coralline  algal  rhodolith  concretions. 

Etymology:  Named  for  Dr.  Francisco  Fonseca 
da  Silva,  of  Lisbon,  Portugal,  a  specialist  in  the 
Conidae,  who,  together  with  Damaso  Monteiro, 
has  conducted  extensive  research  along 
northeastern  Brazil. 

Discussion:  Of  the  three  known  Poremskiconus 
species  from  northern  Brazil,  P.  fonsecai  most 
closely  resembles  P.  mauricioi  (J.  Goitre,  2004), 


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but  differs  in  being  a  much  smaller  and  less 

inflated  shell,  in  having  a  simple  color  pattern 
that  lacks  any  brown  flammules  or  patches,  and 
in  having  a  much  more  sculptured  shell,  being 
encircled  with  large,  prominent  spiral  cords. 
This  sculptural  pattern  of  strong  spiral  cords  on 
the  anterior  one-half  of  the  body  whorl  is  seen 
only  on  the  new  species  and  on  its  southern 
congener,  P.  abrolhosensis  (Petuch,  1987)  from 
the  Abrolhos  Archipelago  of  Bahia  State,  Brazil. 

Poremskiconus  smoesi  Petuch  and  Berschauer, 
new  species 
(Figures  21,  J,  K  &  L) 

Description:  Shell  of  average  size  for  genus, 
stocky,  truncated,  with  inflated  body  whorl; 
shoulder  sharply  angled,  subcarinate;  spire 
elevated,  subpyramidal,  with  scalariform 
stepped  whorls;  body  whorl  smooth  and  shiny, 
sculptured  with  8-10  thin,  low  spiral  threads 
around  anterior  end;  body  whorl  color  white  or 
pale  pinkish-white,  overlaid  with  numerous 
large,  amorphous  angular  brown  or  reddish- 
brown  flammules,  arranged  in  zebra  or  zig-zag 
pattern;  zebra  flammules  interrupted  by  white 
mid-body  band,  which  bisects  them  into  two 
sections;  zebra  flammules  are  not  solidly- 
colored,  but  are  composed  of  darker  tan  or 
orange-colored,  extremely  fine,  closely-packed 
longitudinal  lines  superimposed  upon  paler  tan 
or  orange  base  color;  spire  whorls  white, 
marked  with  widely-spaced  dark  orange-brown 
crescent-shaped  flammules;  edge  of  spire 
flammules  intersect  with  zig-zag  flammules  of 
body  whorl;  early  whorls  orange;  protoconch 
proportionally  large,  domed,  orange  in  color, 
composed  of  2  whorls;  aperture  narrow,  white 
within  interior. 

Type  Material:  HOLOTYPE-  length  19.9  mm, 
width  11.1  mm,  from  off  Camocim,  Ceara  State, 
Brazil,  MZSP  131314  (Figure  21  &  J);  Other 
Study  Material-  length  20.0  mm,  width  6.0  mm, 


same  locality  as  the  holotype,  in  the  research 
collection  of  the  senior  author;  length  19.1  mm, 
width  10.7  mm,  same  locality  as  the  holotype, 
in  the  research  collection  of  the  junior  author 
(Figure  2K  &  L). 

Type  Locality:  Taken  in  crab  traps,  from  20  m 
depth  on  coralline  algal  nodule  (rhodolith)  sea 
floor,  off  Camocim,  Ceara  State,  Brazil. 

Distribution:  The  new  species  is  known  only 

from  the  areas  offshore  of  Camocim,  Ceara 
State,  Brazil,  but  may  also  occur  on  the  offshore 
Canopus  Banks. 

Ecology:  The  new  species  prefers  coralline 

algal  nodule  substrates  in  20-30  m  depths. 

Etymology:  Named  for  Dr.  Frederic  Smoes  of 
Brussels,  Belgium,  a  great  admirer  of  the 
Conidae  and  a  specialist  In  conid  biodiversity. 

Discussion:  In  size  and  general  shape, 
Poremskiconus  smoesi  most  closely  resembles 
the  northern  Brazilian  P.  mauricioi,  but  differs 
in  having  straighter,  less  convex  sides,  in  having 
a  proportionally  higher  spire  with  distinctly 
stepped  whorls,  and  in  having  a  completely 
different  type  of  color  pattern.  In  P,  mauricioi, 
the  body  whorl  is  a  solid  red,  orange,  yellow, 
tan,  or  khaki  green  color,  overlaid  with  scattered 
amorphous  patches  of  white  and  rows  of  pale 
brown  dashes  and  dots.  In  P.  smoesi,  the  body 
whorl  is  white  or  pink,  overlaid  with  large  tan  or 
orange  zig-zag  flammules  and  completely  lacks 
the  spiral  rows  of  dashes  and  dots.  Instead,  the 
interiors  of  the  flammules  on  the  new  species 
are  composed  of  closely-packed  brown  hairlines 
arranged  in  a  zebra-like  pattern.  No  other 
species  of  Poremskiconus  is  known  to  have  this 
type  of  longitudinal  striping  within  individual 
flammules. 


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Family  Conilithidae 
Subfamily  Conilithinae 
Genus  Jaspidiconus  Petuch,  2003 

Jaspidiconus  josei  Petuch  and  Berschauer,  new 
species 

(Figures  2A,  B,  C  &  D) 

Description:  Shell  of  average  size  for  genus, 
stocky,  barrel-shaped,  inflated,  with  slightly 
convex  sides;  shoulder  sharply-angled,  bordered 
by  low,  rounded  carina;  spire  elevated,  broad 
and  subpyramidal,  with  slightly  stepped  whorls; 
body  whorl  shiny  and  polished,  encircled  with 
12-15  deeply-incised  spiral  sulci  around  anterior 
one-half  to  two-thirds;  base  body  whorl  color 
variable,  ranging  from  pale  lavender  (most 
common  color),  pale  blue,  pink,  or  pale  tan; 
base  color  overlaid  with  widely-separated  pale 
brown  longitudinal  flammules  and  20-25  spiral 
rows  of  closely-packed  tiny  white  dots;  spire 
white  with  widely  scattered  radiating  brown 
flammules,  which  often  connect  with  large 
brown  longitudinal  flammules  on  body  whorl; 
both  suture  and  edge  of  carina  marked  with 
prominent  small  dark  brown  spots;  aperture 
proportionally  wide  and  flaring,  becoming 
wider  toward  anterior  end;  interior  of  aperture 
purple-brown;  protoconch  pale  brown, 
proportionally  large  and  mammilate,  composed 
of  2  whorls. 

Type  Material:  HOLOTYPE-  length  20. 1  mm, 
width  10.7  mm,  from  off  Itapoan,  Bahia  State, 
Brazil,  MZSP  131315  (Figure  2A  &  B);  Other 
Study  Material-  length  22.0  mm,  width  11.0 
mm,  from  same  locality  as  the  holotype,  in  the 
research  collection  of  the  senior  author;  length 
20.7  mm,  width  11.0  mm,  same  locality  as  the 
holotype,  in  the  research  collection  of  the  junior 
author  (Figure  2C  &  D). 

Type  Locality:  In  carbonate  sand  and  brown 
algae,  3  m  depth  off  Itapoan,  Bahia  State,  Brazil. 


Distribution:  The  new  species  is  confined  to 
central  Bahia  State,  Brazil,  primarily  from  the 
shallow  beach  areas  near  Itapoan  and  north  of 

Salvador. 

Ecology:  Jaspidiconus  josei  prefers  open 
carbonate  sand  areas,  often  with  abundant 
Dictyota  brown  algae,  in  depths  of  2-5m. 

Etymology:  Named  for  Jose  Coltro,  of  Sao 
Paulo,  Brazil  and  Miami,  Florida,  noted 
authority  on  the  Conidae  and  Conilithidae  of 
Brazil. 

Discussion:  Of  the  known  Bahian  Jaspidiconus 
species,  J.  josei  is  most  similar  to  J.  marinae 
Petuch  and  Myers,  2014  in  general  shell  color 
and  color  pattern  and  in  having  an  elevated  spire. 
The  new  species  differs  from  the  Itaparica 
Island  endemic  J.  marinae  in  being  a  larger  and 
much  more  inflated  shell  with  distinctly 
rounded  sides,  in  having  a  row  of  tiny  dots 
around  the  spire  suture,  and  in  having  smaller 
and  more  numerous  dots  along  the  edge  of  the 
shoulder  carina.  Jaspidiconus  josei  is  also 
similar,  in  both  shell  color  and  size,  to  J. 
simonei  Petuch  and  Myers,  2014  from  farther 
south,  in  Espirito  Santo  and  Rio  de  Janeiro 
States,  but  differs  in  being  a  much  more  inflated 
and  barrel-shaped  shell  with  rounded  sides  and 
in  having  a  row  of  tiny  brown  dots  around  the 
suture.  The  new  species  has  often  been 
misidentified  as,  or  confused  with,  64 Conus 
mindanus  Hwass,  1792)”  by  several  workers 
and  shell  dealers,  but  that  species  is  a  much 
larger  and  more  brightly-colored  shell  that  is 
confined  to  the  Carolinian  and  Caribbean 
Molluscan  Provinces  and  does  not  occur  in  the 
Brazilian  Molluscan  Province  ( see  Berschauer, 
2015;  Petuch,  2013;  Petuch  and  Myers,  2014; 
and  Poremski,  2014  for  details  on  the 
Jaspidiconus  mindanus  species  complex). 


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Superfamily  Buccinoidea 
Family  Fasciolariidae 
Subfamily  Fusininae 
Genus  Fusinus  Rafinesque,  1815 

Fusinus  damasoi  Petuch  and  Berschauer,  new 

species 

(Figures  3 A,  B,  C  &  D) 

Description:  Shell  of  average  size  for  genus, 
heavy  and  thickened,  fusiform,  with  elevated, 
scalariform  spire;  body  whorl  inflated,  with 
sharply-angled  shoulder;  subsutural  areas 
sloping;  shoulder  ornamented  with  10-12  large, 
prominent,  rounded  knobs;  shoulder  knobs 
sometimes  well-developed  and  sharply-pointed; 
body  whorl  coarsely-sculptured  with  18-20 
large  raised  spiral  cords;  siphonal  canal 
proportionally  short,  truncated,  broad, 
ornamented  with  12-14  large,  coarse  spiral 
cords;  body  whorl-siphonal  canal  juncture 
indented,  abrupt;  shell  color  cream  white  or  pale 
whitish-tan,  overlaid  with  extremely  numerous, 
closely-packed,  amorphous  dark  brown 
longitudinal  flammules,  arranged  in  zebra 
pattern;  some  shoulder  knobs  colored  dark 
brown;  aperture  white,  oval  in  shape,  flaring, 
sculptured  with  14-16  large  spiral  cords; 
protoconch  proportionally  large,  bulbous, 
colored  orange-tan,  and  composed  of  2  whorls. 

Type  Material:  HOLOTYPE-  length  69.5  mm, 
width  28.9  mm,  from  45  m  off  Arraial  do  Cabo, 
Rio  de  Janeiro  State,  Brazil,  MZSP  131311 
(Figure  3A  &  B);  Other  Material  Studied- 
length  68.0  mm,  width  29.0  mm,  from  the  same 
locality  as  the  holotype,  in  the  research 
collection  of  the  senior  author;  length  59.4  mm, 
width  24.7  mm,  same  locality  as  the  holotype, 
in  the  research  collection  of  the  junior  author 
(Figure  3C  &  D). 


Type  Locality:  Dredged  from  45  m  depth,  by 
commercial  shrimpers,  off  Arraial  do  Cabo, 
Cabo  Frio  region,  Rio  de  Janeiro  State,  Brazil. 

Distribution:  At  present,  known  only  from 
offshore  areas  (40-60  m  depths)  of  the  Cabo 
Frio  region  of  northern  Rio  de  Janeiro  State. 
The  new  species  may  occur  in  deep  water  areas 
off  southern  Rio  de  Janeiro  State  and  Sao  Paulo 
State. 

Ecology:  Fusinus  damasoi  prefers  organic-rich 
muddy  sand  sea  floors  in  the  deeper  waters  off 
the  upwelling  systems  that  occur  along  Cabo 
Frio.  Here,  it  occurs  along  with  immense 
scallop  beds  of  Lindapecten  tehuelchus. 

Etymology:  Named  for  Damaso  Monteiro  of 
Ceara  State,  Brazil  and  Portugal,  renowned 
diver  and  malacological  explorer,  who  collected 
the  type  lot  while  working  with  the  local 
fishermen  at  Cabo  Frio. 

Discussion:  Up  to  now,  only  five  species  of  the 
genus  Fusinus  have  been  described  from  the 
Brazilian  coastline.  These  include:  F. 
brasiliensis  (Grabau,  1904),  which  ranges  from 
Ceara  State  to  Espirito  Santo  State;  F. 
marmoratus  (Philippi,  1851),  which  ranges 
from  Sergipe  State  to  Espirito  Santo  State;  F. 
strigatus  (Philippi,  1851),  which  ranges  from 
Sergipe  State  to  southern  Bahia  State;  F. 
frenguelli  (Carcelles,  1953),  which  ranges  from 
Rio  de  Janeiro  State  to  northern  Argentina;  and 
F.  agatha  (Simone  and  Abbate,  2005),  which 
ranges  from  Rio  Grande  do  Norte  State  to 
Sergipe  State.  Of  these,  F.  damasoi  is  most 
similar  to  F.  brasiliensis ,  but  differs  in  being  a 
smaller  shell  with  a  more  inflated  body  whorl 
and  more  rounded  shoulder,  in  having  a 
proportionally  lower  and  less-exerted  spire,  in 
having  finer  and  more  numerous  spiral  cords 
around  the  body  whorl,  and  in  having  a 
proportionally  much  shorter  and  broader 


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siphonal  canal  Although  similar  in  color  and 
color  pattern,  the  broader,  stumpier  shell  form 
and  distinctly  shorter  siphonal  canal 
immediately  differentiates  the  Cabo  Frio  F. 
damasoi  from  the  more  northern,  wide-ranging 
F.  brasiliensis. 

Fusinus  mariaodeteae  Petuch  and  Berschauer, 
new  species 
(Figures  3E,  F,  G  &  H) 

Description:  Shell  small  for  genus,  thin, 
delicate,  elongated,  distinctly  fusiform;  shoulder 
completely  rounded,  with  no  angulation;  body 
whorl  inflated,  with  rounded  sides,  ornamented 
with  12  large,  rounded,  evenly-spaced  spiral 
cords;  faint,  thin  spiral  thread  present  between 
each  pair  of  spiral  cords;  body  and  spire  whorl 
spiral  cords,  in  turn,  overlaid  with  13-16  narrow, 
low,  evenly-spaced  longitudinal  ribs; 
intersection  of  spiral  cord  and  longitudinal  rib 
producing  low,  elongated  bead;  spire  and 
siphonal  canal  of  approximately  same  length; 
siphonal  canal  straight,  sculptured  with  18-20 
fine,  smooth  spiral  ribs;  siphonal  canal-body 
whorl  juncture  abrupt,  highly  indented, 
constricted;  body  whorl  and  siphonal  canal 
uniformly  pale  cream  or  pale  straw  color,  with 
interstices  between  ribs  sometimes  being 
slightly  darker  colored;  spire  and  early  whorls 
darker  yellow-cream  to  pale  orange;  aperture 
almost  round,  pale  cream-white  within  interior, 
sculptured  with  12-14  large  ribs;  prototconch 
pale  yellow-orange,  proportionally  very  large, 
bulbous  and  mammilate,  composed  of  2  whorls. 

Type  Material:  HOLOTYPE-  length  43.2  mm, 
width  16.3  mm,  from  100  m  depth  off  Santos, 
Sao  Paulo  State,  Brazil,  MZSP  131312  (Figure 
3E  &  F);  Other  Material  Studied-  length  37.0 
mm,  width  14.0  mm,  same  locality  as  holotype, 
in  the  research  collection  of  the  senior  author; 
length  40.9  mm.,  width  14.9  mm,  same  locality 


as  the  holotype,  in  the  research  collection  of  the 
junior  author  (Figure  3G  &  H). 

Type  Locality:  Trawled  by  fishermen  from  100 
m  depth  off  Santos,  Sao  Paulo  State,  Brazil. 

Distribution:  At  present,  only  known  from  the 
deeper  water  areas  off  the  Sao  Paulo  State  coast, 
Brazil,  but  may  extend  southward  to  off  Rio 
Grande  do  Sul  State. 

Ecology:  Fusinus  mariaodeteae  prefers  clean 
sand  sea  floors,  in  depths  of  around  100  m, 
where  it  occurs  with  beds  of  the  scallop 
Lindapecten  tehuelchus  and  large  numbers  of 
echinoids  and  peneid  shrimp. 

Etymology:  Named  for  Mariaodete  Monteiro  of 
Portugal,  mother  of  Damaso  Monteiro. 

Discussion:  Of  the  known  Brazilian  Fusinus 
species,  F.  mariaodeteae  is  similar  only  to  F. 
frenguelli.  Both  species  have  very  rounded 
shoulders  and  a  sculpture  pattern  of  intersecting 
strong  spiral  cords  and  narrow  longitudinal  ribs 
and  both  are  colored  a  pale  cream-white  of  pale 
yellow.  The  new  Sao  Paulo  species  differs, 
however,  in  being  a  much  smaller,  stockier,  and 
less  elongated  species  with  a  proportionately 
lower  spire  and  much  shorter  siphonal  canal 
The  spiral  cords  on  F.  frenguelli  are  also  much 
larger  and  more  pronounced,  and  have  more 
numerous  smaller  cords  and  threads  between 
each  set  of  main  ribs.  The  larger  F.  frenguelli 
also  prefers  shallow  water,  normally  being 
collected  in  20-50  m  depths,  while  F, 
mariaodeteae  is  a  more  offshore  animal, 
preferring  depths  of  100-150  m. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

The  authors  thank  their  Brazilian  friends,  Srs. 
Damaso  Monteiro,  Marcus  Coltro,  and  Jose 


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ISSUE  4 


Petuch,  E.J.  and  R.F.  Myers.  2014.  New 

Species  of  Conidae  and  Conilithidae 
(Gastropoda:  Conoidea)  from  the  Bahamas, 
Eastern  Caribbean,  and  Brazil.  Xenophora 
Taxonomy  3:26-46. 

Petuch,  E.J.  and  D.M.  Sargent.  2011.  New 
Species  of  Conidae  and  Conilithidae 
(Gastropoda)  from  the  Tropical  Americas  and 
Philippines,  with  Notes  on  some  poorly-known 
Floridian  Species.  Visaya  3(3):37-58. 
Poremski,  A.  2014.  Disentangling  the  Hidden 
Biodiversity  of  the  Genus  Jaspidiconus.  The 
Festivus  45(4):  126-128. 


Coltro,  for  the  generous  donation  of  specimens 
of  the  new  species. 


REFERENCES 


Berschauer,  D.P.  2015.  A  comparison  of 
adaptive  radiation  in  Conidae  and  Conilithidae 
(Gastropoda:  Conoidea)  in  the  Eastern  and 
Western  Atlantic,  together  with  an  iconography 
of  the  conilithid  genus  Jaspidiconus.  The 
Festivus  47(2):99-113. 

Petuch,  E.J.  2013.  Biogeography  and 
Biodiversity  of  Western  Atlantic  Mollusks. 
CRC  Press.  New  York,  London,  Boca  Raton. 
234  pp. 


Figure  1.  A  new  Lamniconus  species  from  Brazil.  Images:  A,  B  =  Lamniconus  lemniscatus  (Reeve,  1849)  44.9  mm  in  length. 
C,  D  =  L.  xanthocinctus  (Petuch,  1980)  41 .5  mm  in  length.  E,  F  =  L.  petestimpsom  new  species.  Holotype,  MZSP  131405,  length 
46.5  mm.  G,  H  =  L.  petestimpsom  new  species.  Paratype,  LACM  3377,  length  25. 1  mm. 


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Figure  2.  New  Poremskiconus  and  Jaspidiconus  species  from  Brazil.  Images:  A,  B  =  Jaspidiconus  josei  new  species.  Holotype, 
MZSP  331315,  length  20. 1  mm.  C,  D  =  J.  josei  new  species,  length  20.7  mm  in  the  Berschauer  Collection.  E,  F  =  Poremskiconus 
fonsecai  new  species.  Holotype,  MZSP  131313,  length  16.6  mm.  G,  H  =  P.fonsecai  new  species,  length  12.8  mm  in  the  Berschauer 
Collection.  I,  J  =  P.  smoesi  new  species.  Holotype,  MZSP  131314,  length  19.9  mm.  K,  L  -  P.  smoesi  new  species,  length  19.1  mm  in 
the  Berschauer  Collection. 


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Figure  3.  New  Fusinus  species  from  Brazil,  Images:  A,  B  =  Fusinus  damasoi  new  species.  Holotype,  MZSP  131311,  length  69.5 
mm.  C,  D  =  F.  damasoi  new  species,  length  59.4  mm  in  the  Berschauer  Collection.  E,  F  =  F.  mariaodeteae  new  species.  Holotype, 
MZSP  131312,  length  43.2  mm.  G,  H  F.  mariaodeteae  new  species,  length  40.9  mm  in  the  Berschauer  Collection. 


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An  iconography  of  the  Western  Indian  endemic  abalone  Haliotis  unilateralis 
Lamarck,  1822  (Vetigastropoda:  Haliotidae)  with  notes  on  its  taxonomic  history, 
distribution,  ecology,  and  evolution 

Buzz  Owen  1  and  Aaron  D.  Pan  2 
1  P.O.  Box  601,  Gualala,  CA  95445  buzabman@mcn.org 
2  Don  Harrington  Discovery  Center,  1200  Streit  Drive, 

Amarillo,  TX  79106  apan@dhdc.org 

ABSTRACT  The  rare  West  Indian  Ocean  endemic  abalone  Haliotis  unilateralis  is  not  well  known 
and  is  often  misidentified  with  the  congeneric  species  Haliotis  rugosa  pustulata  Reeve,  1846.  Here 


we  provide  a  photographic  survey  of  the  species 
range  to  assist  with  identification. 

KEY  WORDS  Abalone,  Haliotis,  Red  Sea,  reef, 

INTRODUCTION 

Haliotis  unilateralis  is  a  small-sized  abalone 
species  that  is  endemic  to  the  Western  Indian 
Ocean.  Although  the  species  is  relatively  rare, 
its  distribution  is  widespread  in  the  region, 
being  found  in  the  Red  Sea,  the  northwestern 
Arabian  Sea  (Oman),  the  Gulf  of  Oman  (United 
Arab  Emirates),  along  portions  of  East  Africa 
coastline  (including  Tanzania,  Mozambique, 
and  northernmost  South  Africa),  southern 
Madagascar,  the  Seychelles,  and  the 
Mascarenes  (Geiger  &  Owen,  2012;  Owen, 
2007;  Owen  et  al,  2016;  Figure  1).  This  review 
is  to  provide  addition  information  of  the  species 
including  a  comprehensive  iconography  of  the 
taxon  along  with  information  about  its  ecology, 
fossil  record,  evolution,  and  taxonomic  history. 
Additionally,  plates  are  provided  to  highlight 
congeneric  Haliotis  taxa  from  the  Western 
Indian  Ocean  and  to  provide  visual  assistance 
identifying  and  making  determinations  between 
Haliotis  unilateralis  and  some  specimens  of 
Haliotis  rugosa  pustulata,  which  have  been 
confused  with  the  former  species. 


from  several  populations  throughout  its  distribution 


Abbreviation  of  collections:  BOC:  Buzz 
Owen  Collection,  Gualala,  CA,  USA;  FFC: 
Franck  Frydman  Collection,  Paris,  France; 
RRC:  Robert  Kershaw  Collection,  Narooma, 
NSW,  Australia;  ARC:  Aijay  Raffety 
Collection,  Marina  del  Rey,  CA,  USA;  MHNG: 
Museum  d’Historie  Naturalle,  Geneva, 
Switzerland;  NGC:  Norbert  Gobi  Collection, 
Gerasdorf,  Austria;  MCZ:  Museum  of 
Comparative  Zoology,  Harvard  University, 
Cambridge,  MA,  USA;  WRC:  Wilco  Regter 
Collection,  Gateshead,  UK;  BGC:  Bavius  Gras 
Collection,  Leeuwarden,  The  Netherlands;  KSC: 
Katherine  Stewart  Collection,  (in  Cal  Adacemy 
of  Sciences  “CASK”,  San  Francisco,  CA, 
USA);  TGC:  Tom  Grace  Collection,  USA.  All 
shells  in  BOC  unless  otherwise  indicated. 

Materials  and  Methods:  Shell  specimens  were 
cleaned  and  photographed  with  a  Canon 
A650ES  digital  camera.  Images  were  processed 
in  Adobe  Photoshop  6  and  placed  on  black 
plates. 

Shells  examined:  Haliois  unilateralis.  Red  Sea 
area  (Egypt  and  Israel),  >50;  northern 
Mozambique  (Nacala),  28;  southern 


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Mozambique  (Ponta  Techobanine;  Inhaca  Island) 
to  S.  Africa,  6;  Mauritius,  24;  Brandon  Atoll,  22; 
Mirbut,  Oman,  1;  Fujairah,  United  Arab 
Emirates,  1 ;  Bassas  de  India,  1 ,  Haliotis  mgosa 
pustulata ,  Northern  Mozambique,  19.  Haliotis 
barhouri  (synonym  of  H.  unilateralis). 
Holotype  (unique). 

Ecology:  A  subtidal  to  sublittoral  (to  at  least  60 
m  depth)  species,  occurring  in  coral  reef 
communities,  particularly  under  coral  rubble, 
coral  heads,  and  reef  ledges  (Geiger,  1996; 
Zuschin  et  al,  2009;  Geiger  &  Owen,  2012). 

Fossil  Record,  Evolution,  and  Biogeography: 

Pleistocene  fossils  purportedly  representing 
Haliotis  unilateralis  are  reported  from  coral  reef 
deposits  from  Sudan  and  Zanzibar  Island 
(Tanzania;  Newton,  1900;  Hall  &  Standen,  1907; 
Geiger  &  Groves,  1999;  Geiger  &  Owen,  2012). 
While  the  paleoenvironment  and  geographic 
location  of  these  fossils  is  congruent  with  the 
species,  it  is  possible  that  this  fossil  material 
may  actually  represent  Haliotis  rugosa 
pustulata  according  to  Geiger  &  Groves  (1999). 

Phylogenetic  relationships  between  Haliotis 
unilateralis  and  other  species  in  the  family  are 
not  known  (Geiger  &  Owen,  2012).  No 
molecular  phylogenetic  studies  have  included 
samples  of  Haliotis  unilateralis  (Geiger  & 
Owen,  2012).  However,  based  on  its  location  in 
the  Western  Indian  Ocean,  this  species  likely 
belongs  to  one  of  two  clades  within  the  family, 
the  Haliotis  tuberculata  species  group  (i.e. 
Haliotis  rugosa ,  H.  tuberculata ,  H.  marmorata ) 
or  the  Tndo- Pacific  Haliotis  species  group  (i.e. 
Haliotis  clathrata ,  H.  ovina,  H.  varia).  In  either 
case,  future  studies  on  the  phylogenetic 
relationships  within  the  Haliotidae  should 
include  the  uncommon  H.  unilateralis. 

Many  specimens  of  Haliotis  unilateralis  from 
the  Red  Sea  appear  to  represent  a  distinctive 


morphotype.  Mature  shells  of  Red  Sea 
specimens  are  typically  larger,  possess  a  more 
rounded  shelf-like  ridge  between  the  columella 
and  respiratory  holes,  and  often  have  smoother 
texture  compared  to  specimens  found  outside  of 
this  geographic  area.  In  addition,  specimens 
from  localities  outside  of  the  Red  Sea  often 
have  shell  coloration  patterns  that  include  strong 
flammules,  proscocline  rays,  and  are  brighter 
than  Red  Sea  specimens,  which  are  often  more 
subdued  in  coloration.  One  possible  explanation 
of  this  different  phenotype  may  be  Pleistocene 
isolation  between  populations  in  the  Red  Sea 
and  those  found  in  the  Indian  Ocean.  During 
this  period,  water  exchange  between  these  two 
marine  bodies  was  limited  at  the  Strait  of  Bab  al 
Mandab  (DiBattista  et  al,  2016).  Fluctuations 
in  sea  level  in  the  Red  Sea,  particularly  near  the 
Strait  of  Bab  al  Mandab  may  have  hindered 
mixing  between  populations  of  gastropods  in 
northern  Red  Sea  and  the  rest  of  the  Western 
Indian  Ocean  populations  (DiBattista  et  al., 
2016). 

Taxonomic  History:  Little  was  known  about 
this  species  until  two  papers,  Geiger  1991  and 
Geiger  1996  were  published.  Geiger  (1991; 
1996)  noted  that  the  original  holotype  specimen 
of  Haliotis  unilateralis ,  located  in  the  Museum 
d’Historie  Naturalie  de  Geneva  (MHNG),  did 
not  match  the  original  description  by  Lamarck, 
and  actually  represented  a  specimen  of  Haliotis 
varia  Linnaeus,  1758.  Geiger  (1996)  corrected 
this  error  by  assigning  a  neotype  of  H. 
unilateralis.  Images  of  the  former  holotype  and 
neotype  are  illustrated  in  Figure  1 . 

In  addition,  Haliotis  unilateralis  is  likely  the 
correct  identity  of  the  taxon  Haliotis  barbouri 
Foster,  1946  (Figure  7).  A  single  specimen  of 
what  was  considered  to  be  an  unknown  species 
of  Haliotis  was  found  by  J.  Modesto  dos  Santos 
at  Praia  de  Copacabana,  Brazil  in  the  early 
1940s  and  was  named  in  Foster  (1946)  as 


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Haliotis  barbouri.  However,  no  additional 
specimens  of  this  taxon  have  been  found  in  the 
Western  Atlantic  or  Brazil.  In  2005,  the  first 
author  examined  the  holotype  and  was  able  to 
determine  that  the  specimen  was  comparable  to 
specimens  of  Haliotis  unilateralis  from 
Mozambique  (Nacala).  However,  it  is  still  not 
known  how  a  Haliotis  unilateralis  shell  from 
Mozambique  arrived  on  a  beach  in  Brazil, 
although  a  connection  of  both  countries  being 
former  Portugese  colonies  and  increased 
recreational  and  business  travel  during  the  early 
to  mid-20th  century  at  least  provides  some 
plausible  explanations. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

We  thank  Franck  Frydman,  Bavius  Gras,  Wilco 
Regter,  Norbert  Gobi,  and  the  late  Bob  Kershaw 
for  providing  images  of  shell  specimens  from 
their  collections.  We  also  thank  Adam 
Baldinger  of  MCZ  for  making  the  specimen  of 
H.  barbouri  available  for  photography  in  2005. 

REFERENCES 

DiBattista,  D.J.,  J.H.  Choat,  M.R.  Gaither, 
J.P.A.  Hobbs,  D.F.  Lozano-Cortes,  R.F. 
Myers,  G.  Paulay,  L.A.  Rocha,  R.J. 

Toonen,  M.W.  Westneat,  &  M.L. 

Berumen.  2016.  On  the  origin  of  endemic 
species  in  the  Red  Sea.  Journal  of 
Biogeography  43: 13-30. 

Foster,  R.W.  1946.  The  family  Haliotidae  in 
the  western  Atlantic.  Johnsonia  2:36-40. 
Geiger,  D.L.  1991.  A  third  species  of  Haliotis 
in  the  Red  Sea.  Probably  a  curious  form 
of  Haliotis  ovina  Gmelin,  1791.  Gloria  Maris: 
29  (6):95-103. 

Geiger,  D.L.  1996.  Haliotids  in  the  Red  Sea, 
with  neotype  designation  for  Haliotis 
unilateralis  Lamarck,  1 822  (Gastropoda: 
Prosobranchia).  Revue  Suisse  de  Zoologie 
103:339-354. 


Geiger,  D.L.  1998.  Recent  genera  and  species 
of  the  family  Haliotidae  Rafinesque, 

1815  Gastropoda:  Vetigastropoda).  The 
Nautilus  111:85-116. 

Geiger,  D.L.  2000.  Distribution  and 
biogeography  of  the  Recent  Haliotidae 
(Gastropoda:  Vetigastropoda)  world-wide. 
Bollettino  Malacologico  35:57-120. 

Geiger,  D.L.  &  L.T.  Groves.  1999.  Review  of 
fossil  abalone  (Gastropoda:  Vetigastropoda: 
Haliotidae)  with  comparison  to  recent  species. 
Journal  of  Paleontology  73:872-885. 

Geiger,  D.L.  &  B.  Owen.  2012.  Abalone 
Worldwide  Haliotidae.  Conchbooks, 
Hackenheim,  361  pp.,  92  pis. 

Hall,  W.J.  &  R.  Standen.  1907.  On  the 
Mollusca  of  a  raised  coral  reef  on  the  Red 
Sea  coast.  Journal  of  Conchology  12:65-68. 

Lamarck,  J.B.  1822.  Historic  Naturelle  des 
Animaux  sans  Vertebres.  Vol.  6  (2):  1-232. 

Newton,  R.B.  1900.  Pleistocene  shells  from  the 
raised  beach  deposits  of  the  Red  Sea. 
Geological  Magazine,  London  7:500-514, 
544-560. 

Owen,  B.  2007.  A  photo  study  and  brief 
description  of  the  little  known  abalone: 
Haliotis  unilateralis  Lamarck,  1 822,  and 
designation  of  H.  barbouri  Foster,  1946,  as  a 
junior  synonym.  Of  Sea  and  Shore  27:229- 
235,  237. 

Owen  B.,  W.  Regter,  &  K.  Van  Laethem. 

2016.  A  review  of  the  Haliotis  of  Yemen  and 
Oman  with  description  of  a  new  species, 
Haliotis  arabiensis,  from  Oman  and  United 
Arab  Emirates.  The  Festivus  48:84-92. 

Zuschin,  M.,  Janssen,  R.  &  C.  Baal.  2009. 
Gastropods  and  their  habitats  from  the 
northern  Red  Sea  (Egypt:  Safaga),  Part  1 : 
Patellogastropoda,  Vetigastropoda  and 
Cycloneritimorpha.  Ann.  Naturhist.  Mus. 

Wien  1 1 1A:73-158. 


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FIGURE  1.  1.  Haliotis  unilateralis  Lamarck,  1822.  Neotype  selected  by  Daniel  Geiger  (1996).  33.8  mn 
2.  Holotype  in  Lamarck  collection  (specimen  of  H.  varia  -  see  text).  35.5  mm.  3-5.  Southern  Mozambiqi 
to  South  African  Border.  6-8.  Haliotis  rugosa  pustutata  Reeve,  1846.  Nacala,  Mozambique. 


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FIGURE  2.  Haliotis  unilateralis  Lamarck,  1822.  Gulf  of  Aqaba,  Sinai,  Egypt,  to  Eilat,  Israel,  Red  Sea. 


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FIGURE  4.  A  -  Haliotis  barbouri  Foster,  1946  (junior  synonym  for  H.  unilatcralis  Lamarck,  1822.  Found 
on  Copacabana  Beach,  Rio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil).  All  others,  H.  unilatcralis.  Mauritius.  Only  data. 


cw 


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FIGURE  5.  Haliotis  unilateralis  Lamarck,  1822.  Mauritius,  (a**  Flacq  district,  Plage  de  Palmar;  b=  Flacq  district, 
He  Marianne;  c=  Riviere  Rempart  district,  Pereybere;  d=  Savanne  district,  St-Felix).  Red  Sea.  (e=  Eilat,  Israel;  f= 
Egypt,  Gulf  of  Aqaba,  Dahab  Bay).  All  collected  by  WRC  &  BGC  as  noted. 


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FIGURE  6.  Top  Four  Rows:  Haliotis  rugosa  pustulata.  Fernao  Veloso  area,  North  Mozambique. 
Bottom  Row:  H.  unilateralis.  Inhaca  Is.,  South  Mozambique.  All  specimens  live-taken  in  10-15  m. 


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•  This  study 

•  Geiger  &  Owen,  2012 


t  A 


Saint  Brandon  Atoli 


Mauritius 

Reunion 


Figure  8.  Map  illustrating  distribution  of  II.  unilateralis  this  study  and  additional 
sites  listed  in  Geiger  &  Owen.  2012 


Collection  Management  System  is  a  museum  style 
database  program,  which  enables  a  collector  to  keep, 
organize,  and  maintain  the  individual  records  and  data 
from  their  shell  collection  in  a  readily  accessible  form. 
The  program  is  easy  to  use,  and  is  menu  driven  by  self- 
explanatory  pull  tabs.  Reports  and  labels  are  easy  to 
print.  This  latest  version  is  readily  adaptable  to  work 
with  any  systematic  collection,  including  malacologists 
and  entomologists,  and  runs  in  a  Windows  operating 
environment.  See  www.shellcollections.com  or  our 
Facebook  page  for  more  information. 


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Have  a  shell  collection  you  would  like  to 
donate  or  devise? 

The  San  Diego  Shell  Club  is  interested  in  high 
quality  estate  shell  collections.  As  a  501c(3) 
organization,  all  donations  to  our  Club  may  provide 
a  tax  write-off.  When  we  receive  a  donation  we 
carefully  record  each  item  and  provide  a  letter 
describing  the  items  that  may  be  used  when  filing 
your  taxes.  While  we  cannot  provide  a  value, 
donations  of  up  to  $5,000  do  not  require  a  written 
appraisal.  Since  tax  laws  change  regularly  we 
recommend  that  you  check  with  your  tax  accountant 
before  relying  on  any  information  provided  in  this 
paragraph.  We  are  interested  in  all  types  of  shells, 
marine  or  land  and  all  genera  and  species,  books  on 
shells  as  well  as  items  related  to  shells  such  as 
artwork,  storage  cases  and  tools.  Your  items  will  be 
used  to  generate  income  to  support  the  Club’s 
efforts  in  continuing  Public  education  about  shells 
and  conservation  of  marine  life  throughout  the  world. 
If  you  would  like  to  donate,  please  contact  Dave 
Waller,  SDSC  Acquisition  Chairperson,  at 
dwaller@dbwipmg.com  to  schedule  a  time  to 
discuss  charitable  gifting. 

CLUB  NEWS 

August  18,  2016,  Regular  Meeting,  Balboa  Park  Room  104 

•  Meeting  called  to  order  at  7:40  p.m. 

•  Treasurer’s  report  was  given 

•  Editors  report  was  given 

•  Shells  and  books  were  displayed  and  shells  were  offered  for  sale  via  silent  auction 

•  Speaker  Dave  Waller  gave  a  presentation  on  organizing,  storing  and  caring  for  a  collection. 

•  David  Berschauer  gave  the  "5  minute"  presentation  on  how  to  clean  a  shell. 

•  Meeting  adjourned  at  9:10  p.m. 

September  24,  2016  -  End  of  Summer  Party:  In  lieu  of  regular  meeting,  at  Larry 
and  Debbie  Catarius’  house,  4173  Galt  Street,  San  Diego,  California  92117. 

October  15,  2016,  Regular  Meeting,  751  Raintree  Drive,  Carlsbad,  CA 

•  Meeting  called  to  order  at  12:15  p.m. 

•  Pizza  and  soda  were  provided 

•  Shells  and  books  were  displayed  and  shells  were  offered  for  sale  via  silent  auction 

•  Speaker  Julian  Lee  gave  a  presentation  on  various  forms  of  Neobernaya  spadicea 

•  Lisa  Dawn  Lindahl  gave  the  "5  minute"  presentation  on  Cymbium  glans  (Elephant’s  Snout). 

•  Meeting  adjourned  at  2:00  p.m. 


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You  Can’t  Take  Them  with  You 

David  B.  Waller 

505  N.  Willowspring  Dr.,  Encinitas,  California  92024 
dwaller@dbwipmg.com 

In  my  previous  articles  over  the  past  year,  I  have  given  some  insight  into  my  investigations  in  the 
best  way  to  divest  myself  of  my  collections.  There  are  many  options.  My  first  article  “Uncle  Dave 
left  me  what?”  discussed  the  option  of  gifting  my  collection  to  a  museum  or  dispersing  them  to 
family  and  friends,  my  second  article  “The  Collector’s  Catch-22”  focused  on  donating  portions  of  my 
collection  while  I’m  living  to  obtain  the  tax  benefits  and  in  my  third  article  “Dad,  There  Just  Shells”  I 
discussed  my  idea  of  teaching  my  family  about  my  collection  so  that  they  can  sell  the  shells  when 
I’m  gone.  In  this,  my  last  article,  I  discuss  what  may  be  the  perfect  solution;  gifting  my  collection  to 
a  shell  club. 

If  you  are  like  me  and  none  of  your  family  is  interested  in  collecting  shells  or  keeping  your  shell 
collection,  what  do  you  do?  You  can’t  take  them  with  you!  Well,  after  all  of  my  research,  I 
recommend  two  options:  (1)  leaving  the  entire  collection  to  a  shell  club  specifically  designated  as  a 
non-profit  organization  in  your  Will  or  Trust  and  taking  a  tax  write-off  against  your  estate,  or  (2) 
leaving  the  collection  to  your  family  with  the  intent  to  have  them  donate  the  shells  to  a  shell  club 
allowing  them  to  take  a  write  off  on  the  value  of  these  donations. 

When  considering  option  1,  it  is  important  to  know  that  the  rules  regarding  charitable  contributions 
are  different  for  individuals  than  for  estates  and  Trusts  (http://www.pgdc.com/pgdc/know- 
differences-whv-all-charitable-contributions-are-not-equal)  For  example, 

•  An  estate  or  Trust  income  tax  charitable  deduction  is  potentially  unlimited,  while  the  deduction 
for  individuals  is  capped  at  50  percent  of  an  individual's  adjusted  gross  income; 

•  Estates  are  afforded  a  deduction  for  amounts  permanently  set  aside  for  charitable  purposes. 
Individuals  (and  generally  Trusts)  receive  a  deduction  only  for  amounts  actually  paid  to  charities; 
and 

•  Estates  can  take  deductions  for  donations  to  U.S.  charities  as  well  as  to  foreign  charitable 
organizations.  Individuals  are  permitted  a  charitable  deduction  only  for  donations  to  U.S. 
charities. 

Knowing  these  differences,  there  will  be  little  benefit  if  the  executor  of  your  estate  donates  property 
to  a  charitable  organization  because  you  cannot  itemize  the  donation  on  your  final  personal  tax  return, 
nor  is  it  a  deduction  from  the  value  of  your  assets  for  determining  whether  your  estate  owes  estate 
taxes.  However,  if  you  state  in  your  Will  or  Trust  that  you  would  like  your  collection  donated  to  a 
named  charity,  then  this  will  count  as  a  deduction  for  purposes  of  calculating  any  estate  taxes  that 
may  be  due  (http://peopleof.ourevervdavlife.com/basis-donating-inherited-propertv-3474.html). 

Option  2,  allows  your  family  to  claim  a  tax  deduction  on  the  value  of  the  shells  if  they  donate  your 
collection  to  a  charitable  organization.  The  value  for  tax  deduction  purposes  will  be  the  value  of  the 


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shells  as  determined  on  the  date  of  your  death  or  the  value  given  the  collection  by  the  executor  when 
the  estate  assets  are  submitted  for  probate. 

Charitable  or  non-profit  organizations  will  often  provide  a  letter  recognizing  the  donation,  which 
allows  the  donor  to  reduce  their  tax  burden  in  the  year  that  the  items  are  donated.  However,  most  will 
not  provide  a  value  for  your  donation,  so  it  will  be  up  to  you  and  your  heirs  to  make  these 
determinations.  The  designated  value  of  a  given  donation  will  determine  whether  an  appraisal  will  be 
required  under  the  U.S.  Tax  Code,  see  my  article  “The  Collector’s  Catch-22”.  Consequently,  if  the 
collection  has  a  substantial  value,  then  it  may  be  best  to  make  multiple  donations  over  several  years 
to  maximize  the  tax  benefits.  At  a  minimum,  a  comprehensive  listing  of  the  items  being  donated  at 
any  given  time  should  be  prepared  and  maintained  with  the  letter  received  from  the  charitable 
organization  in  the  event  the  IRS  requires  additional  information.  In  addition,  I  recommend  keeping 
an  up-dated  listing  of  the  shells  in  your  collection  with  either  the  current  market  value  or  the  price 
you  paid  for  each  shell.  Keep  this  listing  on  your  computer  and/or  in  hard  copy  form  in  an  easily 
accessed  location.  I  keep  my  hard  copy  next  to  my  desk  in  a  three  ring  binder  labeled  “Collections”. 
The  other  important  determination  is  which  charitable  organization  would  be  best  to  receive  your 
shell  collection.  Personally,  I  want  an  organization  that  supports  marine  research,  one  that  promotes 
shell  collecting  in  a  conservation  conscientious  manner  and  provides  programs  for  increasing  the 
Public’s  awareness  and  knowledge  of  marine  life.  I  would  also  like  my  collection  to  be  enjoyed  by  as 
many  collectors  as  possible;  meaning  I  would  like  them  to  be  distributed  to  other  collectors. 
Consequently,  selecting  a  club  that  meets  these  goals  would  be  perfect.  The  San  Diego  Shell  Club  is 
one  of  these  worthy  non-profit  organizations. 

My  decision  to  retain  my  collection  during  my  lifetime  is  part  of  my  nature  as  a  collector.  Feeling 
that  my  shells  will  be  distributed  to  other  collectors  that  will  enjoy  them  provides  comfort  in 
knowing  they  will  be  taken  care  of  and  cherished  when  I  am  gone.  Either  of  the  options  above  will 
allow  me  to  satisfy  this  desire  and  obtain  a  financial  benefit  for  my  family  either  personally  or 
through  my  estate. 

I  hope  that  you  have  enjoyed  this  series  of  articles  and  that  the  information  provided  is  helpful  in 
making  future  decisions  regarding  your  shell  collection. 


Dear  Club  members, 

Remember:  The  San  Diego  Shell  Club  is  your  shell  club.  As  officers  of  your 
shell  club  we  want  to  better  serve  your  needs.  Contact  any  Board  member 
and  let  us  know  what  types  of  programs  you  would  like  to  participate  in, 
what  topics  you  want  to  hear  about  in  presentations,  what  shells  you  want  to 
see  in  upcoming  auctions,  and  where  you  would  like  to  have  meetings  and  events  held. 
We  hope  to  make  2017  even  more  fun! 

David  P.  Berschauer,  President 


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2016  COA  Convention  in  Chicago 

By  David  Waller 

505  N.  Willowspring  Dr.,  Encinitas,  California  92024 
dwaller@dbwipmg.com 


What  a  fantastic  event.  Congratulations  to  the  Chicago  Shell  Club 
and  all  its  members.  Special  thanks  to  the  Committee  Chairpeople 
who  made  this  convention  possible:  Amanda  Lawless  (Convention 
Chairperson);  Jan  Kremer  (Auctions  Chairperson);  Ken  Mattes 
(Bourse  Chairperson);  Stephanie  Clark  (Program  Chairperson); 
Jochen  Gerber  (Field  Trips  Chairperson);  Michael  Cavallini 
(Registration  Chairperson);  Zhigang  Ren  (Publicity  Chairperson); 
Linda  Young  (Banquet  Chairperson);  Theresa  Jaffe  and  Jochen 
Gerber  (Welcome  Party  Chairpeople);  Dave  Malusik  (Door  Prizes 
Chairperson);  Katrina  Frost  (Volunteer  Chairperson);  Chuck  and 
Mary  Owen  (Program  Booklet);  Margaret  and  Les  Eastwood 
(Chicago  Shell  Club  Sales  Table)  and  Lynn  Funkhauser  and  Carole 
Marshall  (Photographers).  I  apologize  if  I  missed  anyone.  The 
Chicago  Shell  Club  made  each  and  every  attendee,  including  myself 
feel  comfortable  and  welcomed. 


The  convention  started  with  a  series  of  presentations  that  were 
fantastic;  I  especially  enjoyed  the  presentation  by  Vickie  Wall  on  Shelling  the  Pearl  Islands  of 
Panama.  These  lasted  for  three  days  and  were  interspersed  with  silent  auctions  filled  with  beautiful 
shells  from  all  over  the  world.  I  was  very  lucky  to  win  a  beautiful  Conus  textile.  I  know!  I’m  a 
cowrie  collector  but  when  you  see  a  magnificent  shell  it  doesn’t  make  a  difference  what  family  the 
shell  is  from.  Special  events  included  the  Welcome  Party  that  was  hosted  by  the  Chicago  Field 
Museum  with  the  world  famous  “Sue”,  the  T.  Rex  from  the  documentary  “Curse  of  the  T.  Rex”;  the 
oral  auction  with  a  number  or  rarities  up  for  grabs  (i.e.,  Ophioplossolambis  violacea ,  Harpa  costata, 
Charonia  tritonis  (389mm),  Austrasiatica  langfordi,  Conus  scottjordani,  Solaropsis  gibbon  cousin , 
Altivasum  flinders i,  Timbellus  phyllopterus,  Allonautilus  scrobiculatus  and  the  big  sale  for  the  night 
Zoila  jeaniana  aurata.  Other  items  included  the  original  framed  artwork  for  the  show  (see  Figure  1 
above),  an  ultrasonic  shell  cleaner  and  a  four  hour  submarine  trip);  and  the  reception  dinner  at  the 
end  of  the  convention,  which  was  an  elegant  affair. 

The  Convention  ended  with  a  two  day  bourse  with  shells  galore.  This  years  bourse  was  well  attended 
with  over  25  dealers  showing  shells  that  were  out  of  this  world.  Some  highlights  include  Spondylus 
from  Jeff  Wyman,  rarities  from  Donald  Dan,  Australian  shells  from  Hugh  Morrison,  Hawaiian  shells 
from  Dave  Watts  and  shells  from  two  or  our  own  members  Rick  Negus  and  Don  Pisor.  I  would  like 
to  list  all  of  the  dealers,  but  there  is  just  not  enough  space  to  really  give  them  the  credit  they  deserve. 
All  in  all,  it  was  a  fabulous  convention  and  the  credit  for  making  this  possible  must  go  to  the 
volunteers  and  chairpersons  of  the  Chicago  Shell  Club  with  special  thanks  to  Amanda  Lawless. 


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ISSUE  4 


PHILLIP  CLOVER 

Dealer  In  Worldwide 

Specimen  f  b  Sea  Shells 
Since  1960  Specializing 

In  Ancilla,  Cancillaria,  Conus,  Cypraea, 
Marginella,  Mitra,  Latiaxis,  Morum,  Typhis, 
Voluta  and  Out-of-Print  Shell  Books 
PH/FAX#  707-996-6960  Free  lists 
Emaihclovershells@juno.com 
P.O.  Box  339  -  Glen  Ellen,  CA  95442 


Calendar  membership  (Jan  -  Dec)  -  $25  (USA) 
Postal  surcharges:  +  $5  for  USA  first  class, 
Canada  &  Mexico  +  $5,  other  nations  +  $15 

New  members  apply  to  Doris  Underwood,  Membership  Director 
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Quarterly  Journal  of  the  Conchologists  of  America,  Inc. 


Back  Cover:  Collage  of  species  and  subspecies  named  in  The 
Festivus  in  2016,  including:0/z'va  hirasei  ameliae  Strano,  2016, 
Haliotis  arabiensis  Owen,  Regter  &  Van  Laethem,  2016, 
Lautoconus  saharicus  Petuch  &  Berschauer,  2016,  Harpa 
queenslandica  Berschauer  &  Petuch,  2016,  Camaena  abbasi  Thach, 
2016,  Amphidromus  stevenliei  Parsons,  2016,  Marginella  spadix 
Veldsman,  2016,  Viduoliva  tricolor  abbasai  Thach  &  Berschauer, 
2016,  Jaspidiconus  boriqua  Petuch  &  Berschauer,  2016,  J. 
culebranus  Petuch  &  Berschauer,  2016,  J.  janapatriceae  Petuch  & 
Berschauer,  2016,  J.  marcusi  Petuch  &  Berschauer,  2016,  J. 
masinoi  Petuch  &  Berschauer,  2016,  Miliar i conus  sinaiensis  Petuch 
&  Berschauer,  2016,  Amphidromus  bulowi  malalakensis  Parsons  & 
Abbas,  2016,  Vasticardium  swanae  Maxwell,  Congdon  &  Rymer, 
2016,  Camaena  chuongi  Thach,  2016,  Lamniconus  petestimpsoni 
Petuch  and  Berschauer,  2016,  Poremskiconus  fonsecai  Petuch  and 
Berschauer,  2016,  P.  smoesi  Petuch  and  Berschauer,  2016, 
Jaspidiconus  josei  Petuch  and  Berschauer,  2016,  Fusinus  damasoi 
Petuch  and  Berschauer,  2016,  F.  mariaodeteae  Petuch  and 
Berschauer,  2016.  (Cover  artistic  credit:  Rex  Stilwill) 


NEW  BOOK 

by  Dr.  THACH 

ISBN:  978-0615-703084 

1,314  New  Records  of 
Vietnam  shells  in  166 
color  plates,  261  pages. 

12  Hybrids,  12new  species. 
Size  8.5”xll”  Hard  cover. 
99USD.Please  contact 
kurodash@dng.vnn.vn 
Fax:  0084  583  824  120 

No  267  Thong  Nhat,  Nhatrang,  Vietnam 


3  9088  01907  8284 


@8/@7/r?V^Bl575g