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Cyprea moneta
The rarest fossil shell is the bivalve Ostrea kamehameha Pilsbry, 1936. It is believed to be universally extinct. The two
known specimens were collected near Waianae in a fossil bed 60 to 80 feet above sea level. This species has a large shell,
the type specimen being 210 mm long. The two valves weighed 5 lbs. 9 oz. For further information and photograph of this shell
see Sean Raynon Sabado for April, 1964, New Series No. 52.
The most common fossil shell, at least the easiest to collect, is the bivalve Ostrea retusa "Pease" Sowerby. This shell is
also believed to be universally extinct and is found in the fossil state only at the Waipio Peninsula area and on an island
in Pearl Harbor.
Ostrea retusa is a medium-large shell soiled-white in color. The lower valve has a few radiating ridges that extend to the
outer edge of the shell. When the two valves are placed together the hinge of the shell gaps open.
The third of Oahu's fossil shells believed to be universally extinct is Strombus ostergaardi Pilsbry. This shell has been
found in the fossil state at Kahi Point along the Nanakuli sea cliffs, in Honolulu Harbor, and on Mokapu Peninsula.
Strombus ostergaardi is somewhat similar to Strombus maculatus but is narrower and more delicate, being about half the width
of maculatus.
In addition to these universally extinct fossil shells there are a number of fossils that are now extinct in the Philippine
chain but are found in other Indo Pacific areas. Strombus mutabilis Swainson, 1821 is such a shell. It has been found as a
fossil at Kahi Point, the Nanakuli sea cliffs, and, by Cliff Weaver, at Kaena Point. This shell is listed in Kira, and is in
a few local fossil collections under its synonym S. floridus Lamarck. The easiest way to differentiate this shell from S.
maculatus is that mutabilis has the inner row of teeth in the aperture extending the full length of the columella. Also it
has a more humped shoulder than other similar Strombus species.
Vital statistics on the Conus bullatus are as follows: Maximum length 65 mm and width, 28 mm. It is perfect in color,
pattern, and doesn't have a chip or mark on it.
In addition to the Conus bullatus we collected one Cypraea leviathan each, one Conus textile, and two Conus imperialis, plus
a few of the more common shells that I needed to fill out my collection.
Mal Loring and Reg Grim are also members of the Philippine Malacological Society.
probably I. perna L., as well as occasional specimens of Morula granulata. Specimens of the opisthobranch Pupa sulcata Gmelin
and Longchaeus sulcatus A. Ads. were burrowing in the sandy mud. On the low hanging branches of trees near the shoreline
Littornina scabra L. was collected, and on the rocks above the tide line Nerita plicata was again common.
Along the shore near Rikitea Nerita polita L. was fairly common burrowing in sand near boulders above the water line. In the
shallow water on rocks covered with algal growth and corallines I gathered specimens of Modiolus auriculatus Krauss,
Isognomon ?perna L., Morula (Semiricinula) fiscella Gmelin and Strombus mutabilis Swainson, the latter very common. In the
sand an occasional Gafrarium transversarium Desh. was uncovered.
High above the tide line, under debris of all kind, two species of Ellobiids were common: Melampus flavus Gmelin and Melampus
castaneus Muhlfeldt.
On Sunday the 18th of October we left Rikitea, sent on our way with heart warming farewells. We set our course for Tahiti
hoping to visit several atolls enroute. on the first day out we caught a yellow-fin tuna, and three days later a fine
mahimahi, both welcome additions to the rather uninspiring menus we had been reduced to.
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