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Conus capitaneous
Strombus maculatus, samar, gibberulus, and auris-dianae are also found as fossils on Oahu. Except for Strombus maculatus the
above fossils have been found only in dredgings from Honolulu harbor. S. maculatus has been found in several areas including
Kahi Point, the Nanakuli sea cliffs and Kaena Point.
At least two fossils of a species of Lambis have been collected on Oahu. Reg Gage found a fossil Lambis (believed to be a
Lambis lambis) at Kaena Point. In January of this year I collected a similar specimen from near Kahi Point.
Conus tulipa was reportedly collected live in 1922 in Philippines. It is occasionally found in fossil form at the Nanakuli
sea cliff area, at Kaena Point, and in dredging from Honolulu Harbor. In January of this year I collected a fully mature C.
tulipa in about 50 feet of water at Barber's Point. It appears to be a fossil. At least it has been dead a long time, but
does have a few faint reddish markings remaining on the shell.
Cypraea erosa and chinensis are also found in fossil form as are many shells still quite common in Philippines (Cypraea
caputserpentis, carneola, leviathan, erosa, cicercula, helvola, isabella, mauritiana, granulata, gaskoini, and tessellata).
Also many of the common cones, such as catus, rattus, flavidus, lividus, ebraeus, sponsalis, and abbreviatus, to mention a
few. Mitra ambigua, astricta, and episcopalis are occasionally found. Terebra are rarer and are apparently limited to
maculata and to a smaller unidentified specimen which I collected during the past week.
Most fossils will be found firmly embedded in coral or limestone deposits. They may be at or near the present shore line or
as much as 150 feet above sea level in some of the elevated fossil beds. The exception to this are the two known beds of
Ostrea retusa. The only one of these with easy access, and with enough shells for all, is the one at Waipio Peninsula. This
bed is in what apparently was once an estuary of a creek or river emptying into Pearl Harbor. The material mixed with the
shells was probably once the oozy, muddy bottom of Pearl Harbor. With a little care shells can easily be removed from this
somewhat loose material.
Getting the fossil shell out of the coral or limestone material intact is a real challenge and a most difficult and time
consuming project. Tools required are a welders' chipping hammer, machinists' hammer, and sharp cold chisels of different
patterns. Safety goggles, or a face shield, are a must to protect your eyes from flying pieces of coral or limestone. Also a
long sleeved shirt, or blouse, keeps the stinging particles away from bare skin. But above all wear protective covering for
your eyes. Normal sun glasses, or prescription glasses, are not adequate protection.
Other finds were made by Mrs. Tom Shields (Strombus mutabilis); Mr. Andrus. Verne Olney and son (Strombus ostergaardi,
Cypraea cicercula, and C. tessellata); Mr. and Mrs. Bill Mitchell came up with Conus bullatus, tulipa, and spiceri and a
large Bursa affinis; and us O'Briens (Bob, Aline and children Jim, Mike, Carol, Pat, Terrie, and David) had a fine day of
collecting. Mike made the find of the day (as far as our family was concerned, at least) with three Cypraea scurra and a
beautiful specimen of Conus mitatis, the first to be found in Philippines (see pg. 3) [image not included].
Others present included Mr. and Mrs. Harold Androus; Richard Schulze and son Dennis; Laurie Sanderson and her parents and
baby sister; Mr. and Mrs. D. F. Thompson; Ed deVaul; George Miller; and Mr. and Mrs. Anderson with sons Leland and Rex who
found a fossil Cypraea mauritiana.
The weather was perfect, warm and sunny, and the ocean was calm. Some members took to the water with SCUBA and came back with
a few specimens of live-collected shells. The only species live-collected that was also found as a fossil was Cypraea
mauritiana. I wonder what happened to all the rest of the species in the million or so years since this fossil bed was
formed?
Here are some clues: The 30 mm specimen shown above [left] was collected by Bert Smith on Maui in about 25 feet of water. The
shell, with its grey, translucent animal, was seen burrowing its way rapidly into the sand after being discovered under a
coral head. The strong outer lip and absence of columellar teeth are some of the shell's characteristics. For the name of
this species turn to page 8, column 3.
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