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Capis
The cowrie fauna of the Austral, or Tubuai, Islands needs further research. As the average temperature of the sea in the
coldest month is at least three centigrade below that of the more equatorial areas, it is to be expected that, in the Austral
Islands, many Polynesian species are absent.
In fact, in my catalogue of cowries indicating the exact distribution of living species (Schilder 1965, Veliger 7:171-183) I
have stated (p. 175) that there is one only species (Luria isabella) known from the Austral Islands hitherto. Later on,
however, Mr. William E. Old, Jr. (New York) has informed me by letter that a contact of his, living in Tubuai Islands, sent
him, prior to 1960, six more cowrie species, and that three more species are in the collection of Mr. Stanley Levine (Long
Island City). The provisional list of cowries living in the Austral Islands therefore rises to ten species and is as follows
(1=indicates Hertlein 1937, 2=American Museum (New York), 3=coll. Levine).
There is a boat launching ramp in Maunalua Bay approximately as shown on the map. In reasonable weather boats can proceed
around Koko Head to the Haunama Bay, Blow Hole area.
Skip and Rita Cowell, diving from their Boston Whaler that they launched at the ramp, recently collected several fine shells
a few dozen yards on the Makapuu Point side of the Blow Hole. Included in their days finds were the following:
Cypraea scurra - under coral
Cypraea chinensis - under small coral slabs
Cypraea fimbriata - in coral heads
Cypraea teres - in coral heads
Cypraea helvola - in coral heads
Cypraea tigris - in the open on coral shelf
Cypraea leviathan - under coral
Conus pertusus - under coral in sand
Bursa siphonata - on coral
They also collected a black coral tree nearly 2 feet across by over a foot high in 35 feet of water near the cliffs. Bob
Ridgeway, collecting with them, found an excellent specimen of Charonia tritonis. Other shells reported from specific areas
are as follows:
BLACK POINT AREA
Conus rattus - in coral
Cypraea helvola - on coral
Hydatina physis - tide pool
Balcis cumingi - sand pocket
BLOW HOLE AREA
Acanthochiton viridis - on rocks
Cellana melanostoma - on rocks
Cerithium baeticum - tide pools
Cerithium thaanumi - tide pools
Columbella varians - tide pools
Conus catus - tide pools
Conus chaldaeus - tide pools
Conus ebraeus - tide pools
Conus sponsalis - tide pools
Conus imperialis - 50 feet in sand
OFF DIAMOND HEAD
Cellana melanostoma - in sand
Charonia tritonis - under coral ledge
Conus pennaceus - in sand
Conus textile - in sand under coral
Cypraea tigris - in 18 feet on coral
Siphonaria normalis - on rocks
HANAUMA BAY AREA
Bulla adamsi - 1 to 3 ft. on rocks
Bulla peaseana - 1 to 3 ft. on rocks
Cerithium sinense - 1 to 3 ft. in sand
Cerithium thaanumi - 1 to 3 ft. in sand
Charonia tritonis - no data
Columbella varians - 1 to 3 ft.
Conus catus - 1 to 3 ft.
Conus chaldaeus - 1 to 3 ft.
Conus flavidus - 1 to 3 ft.
Conus lividus - 1 to 3 ft.
Conus miliaris - 1 to 3 ft.
Conus nussatella - no data
Conus rattus - 1 to 3 ft.
Cypraea caputserpentis - 1 to 3 ft. on coral
Cypraea fimbriata - 1 to 3 feet under coral
Engina billeheusti - 1 to 3 ft.
Epitonium pyramis - 1 to 3 ft.
Mitra astricta - 1 to 3 ft.
Mitra baldwini - 1 to 3 ft.
Mitra cucumerina - 1 to 3 ft.
Mitra litterata - 1 to 3 ft.
Nassa francolinus - 1 to 3 ft. (also in deep water)
Nassarius reeveanus - 1 to 3 ft.
Natica sagittata - 1 to 3 ft.
Nerita neglecta - on rocks
Nerita picea - on rocks
Purpura affinis - 1 to 3 ft.
Purpura harpa - 1 to 3 ft.
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