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Coco shell
One published article advocated the collection of dead, beachworn and fossil shells only. Not only would such restrictions be
impractical but they would retard progress of science. Conchology in one way or another may continue to flourish, but
malacology and several related subjects of anatomical study of invertebrates would cease to exist. The pearling industry
would close down, no new species or genera would be discovered and natives depending on molluscan food would go without.
Curators would in time have no new collections to curate and the classification of beachworn shells would present a taxonomic
problem. Furthermore, the manufacture of drugs such as vincaleukoblastine derived from Littorinidae and used to combat the
cancerous disease choriocarcenoma would have to be suspended. Once restrictions are imposed, they should be applicable to all
and not only a chosen few. About 90% of recently described species have been collected by amateur collectors and made
available to professional malacologists for description; new genera have been established on the basis of anatomy and a
scientific treatise on the reproduction of prosobranch gastropods is in progress. Such valuable work has only been possible
through the generous cooperation of the field-collector with the malacologist, and should not be discouraged with the motto
"Look, but don't touch."
The Malaita Cypraea guttata Gmelin is now at the Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia, U.S.A. and the Curator of
Mollusks, Dr. R. Tucker Abbott verified the identification. The dimensions are: length 64.7, breadth 37.8 & height 39.3mm.
I noticed with interest in the May 1962 issue of Sean Raynon Sabado the list of cowrie shells found by Mrs. M. Saul in
British North Borneo. Perhaps it will be of interest also to Sean Raynon Sabado readers to know what Cowries are found in the
Solomons. As my shell collecting area is restricted to the north eastern part of Malaita, it is quite possible that some
other cowries are found elsewhere in the Solomons which are not listed here. Also, using my own classification, it is very
likely that a few types may be more common elsewhere than they are here; viz. so far I have only found 2 Cox Cowries here
(not very broad either) and I know for sure, that they are not really uncommon in what we call the Western Solomons.
Very common:
C. annulus L., arabica L., caputserpentis Gm., erosa L., errones ehrysostomus Schilder, errones nimisserans L., lynx L.,
mauritiana L., moneta, tigris L., vitellus L.
Moderately common:
C. argus L., asellus L., carneola L., caurica L., hirundo L., helvola L., isabella L., mappa L., rhinoceros Sow., talpa L.,
testudinaria L.
Uncommon:
C. coxeni Cox, cribraria L., depressa Gray, eburnea Barnes, felina Gm., labrolineata Gaskoin, nucleus L., minoridens Melvill,
staphylaea L., tabescens Solander [=teres L.], teres L.
Rare:
C. aurantium Gmel., childreni Gray, chinensis Gmel., cicercula L., clandestina L., cylindrica Born, poraria L., punctata L.,
scurra Gmel., stolida, ventricula Lam., ziczac L.
Very Rare:
C. guttata
In some localities, as in Honolulu Harbor and in Moen Is. (Truck Is. [now Chuuk] ), recent species of cowries were once
dredged from calcareous deposits. These shells are faded in color, but brilliant so that they often become more beautiful
than the living, saturate specimens. Such shells were called "subpellucid" or "subfossil" though the latter term seems to be
questionable. Some shells of this transparent golden hue have even received varietal names, as [Cypraea] Lyncina sulcidentata
var. xanthochrysa Melvill.
Similar specimens can be obtained by artificial treatment. If you put a normal shell in a thermostat furnishing dry heat of
100°C (212°F) for one or two days, it becomes pale without losing its natural splendour, and this discoloration is permanent.
In such a manner does the brown dorsal striae of [Cypraea] Mauritia eglantina Duclos become rich golden yellow (the spire
blotch only remaining chestnut) on whitish ground, the blackish lateral spots and the chestnut teeth becoming very pale. The
interior is whitish. As the surface shows hardly any cracks, such shells can hardly be distinguished from natural subpellucid
specimens. Therefore I warn collectors to be careful in buying such beautiful semi-transparent shells, as they may be
artifacts.
Mr. W. O. Cernohorsky told me by letter that he had lost a plastic bag containing common cowries with the living animals
while collecting Fijian cowries for my studies. After several months he refound the bag on the beach. The shells had become
subpellucid!
Extending the exposure time does not alter the results, but heat of 200°C (332°F) destroys the shells. They become uniformly
pale yellow with the dark markings hardly visible, and the enamel becomes crossed by deep cracks so that it falls off in
pieces.
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coco shell
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Bracelets
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