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Fasciolaria
Off shore from Makua valley underwater activity has, in the past, far exceeded that presently found on shore for the filming
of the motion picture Philippines. At least it would appear to have from the number and species of shells reported collected
in this area. The impressive list of shells, many of them considered rare, starts with a 4-1/2" specimen of Charonia
tritonis. In the Conus seven species have been reported; capitaneus, obscurus, leopardus, lividus, bandanus, pertusus, and
striatus. Several specimens of Cypraea arenosa [schilderorum], chinensis, gaskoini, granulata, isabella, rashleighana,
scurra, sulcidentata, and tessellata have been reported, to mention only the more rare or uncommon species. I have collected
fimbriata, poraria, teres, schilderorum, and helvola. Mitra incompta, Murex pele, Nasarrius papillosus, Peristernia thaanumi,
Strombus dentatus, and hawaiensis. Terebra lanceata and pertusa, have all been reported in previous years. In addition,
hundreds of other shells have been collected in more recent times. One [of the] really rare shells, for Philippine waters,
collected in this area was Murex elongatus.
Farther down the coast at Pokai Bay many shells have been collected but only a few species reported in writing to the Shell
News. Conus leopardus seems to be quite common in the area, as does Cypraea mauritiana. Murex pele is also found occasionally
both in deep water and washed up on the beach. Cypraea talpa and tigris have both been reported from Pokai Bay.
In this same general area at Waianae reef diving at night during low tides, has produced some excellent shelling. Those
reported and published previously in the Sean Raynon Sabado were Conus pertusus, retifer and textile. Cypraea semiplota,
Modulus tectum, Thais aperta, and Turbo intercostalis were also reported. In more recent verbal reports nearly all Cypraea
have been reported from this area, as have Murex insularum, most Mitra and Terebra species, Cassis cornuta, and Harpa
conoidalis.
Over 60 specimens of P. humphreysi from 14 Viti Levu and Vanua Levu localities were examined, and the color pattern was found
to be highly variable; specimens from Akuilau Island (Nadi Bay) and Nananui-Ra Isld. (Nth.-Viti Levu), were exceptionally
dark, with the brown spots so dense that the milky-white base color was almost obscured. Specimens from the Nadroga and Suva
reefs were generally lighter in color, and the number of either brown or white dorsal zones varied from 0 - 4. Specimens
varied in size from 11mm - 20mm, and were either slender or squat and broad, hardly margined at all or with a pronounced
marginal callus. There should be no difficulty to select specimens from these series of shells which would match the
type-figures of C. humphreysi Gray, P. lutea yaloka Steadman & Cotton, or any other figure illustrating humphreysi in the
major monographs on the Cypraeidae.
Fijian specimens of P. l. humphreysi when compared with specimens of the species from the Great Barrier Reef, Qld.,
Australia, and those from Samoa, do not exhibit any morphological differences which would be worth chronicling. The specimens
of P. l. humphreysi from harbor dredgings of Apia Harbor (Upolu) and Asau Harbor (Savaii), Samoa, together with specimens of
Pustularia cicercula (Linnaeus) and Bistolida pallidula (Gaskoin), are new verified records from this region, and were
obtained by Mr. A. Jackson from Apia.
If we refer to the original descriptions of some Cypraeidae species, e.g. errones, caurica, helvola, poraria and staphylaea,
all established by Linnaeus (Syst. Nat., 1758), we shall realize how detailed Gray's description of humphreysi is in
comparison. Linnaeus' description of these five species consists of from 5 - 11 words and no references to figures are cited.
The elucidation of many Linnaean species has to be usually looked for in the works of revising subsequent authors.
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fasciolaria
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