|
|
Frog shell
The spurca from Tel-Aviv rather agree in size with the specimens coming from the entire Mediterranean, whereas the lurida and
pyrum are unusually small though they have been collected on the same beach as spurca: the reaction of different species to
the same environments evidently is different.
According to Bergmann's rule that animals grow larger in colder climates than in warmer regions, lurida and pyrum are large
in Southern France and in the Adriatic Sea (10 to 12 [deg.] Centigrade in February), and decrease in the Tyrrhenian Sea (13
[deg.] C), in North West Africa (14 [deg.] C), and in the Eastern Mediterranean (16 to 17 [deg.] C); in these five areas the
medians of lurida are 43, 37, 37, 34, 34 mm, of pyrum 36, 36, 33, 32, 31 mm respectively, while in spurca the median varies
from 25 to 28 mm independently from the temperature of the sea.
The well known cowry Lyncina arenosa Gray (1824) was renamed schilderorum by Iredale (1939) because the name arenosa was
preoccupied by arenosa Dillwyn (1823). Recently Wagner C. Abbott, in Van Nostrand's Standard Catalog of Shells (1964, p. 41
and 62), expressed their opinion that Dillwyn's arenosa is "invalid" because it is a "nude name," so that arenosa Gray should
be restored. However, Dillwyn (1823, Index Lister Hist. Conch., p. 33) expressly referred the name arenosa (given by Solander
in an unpublished manuscript only) to a figure published by Lister (1688, Hist. Synops. Meth. Conchyl., vol. 4, pl. 685, fig.
32) which represents a large turdus. Therefore arenosa Dillwyn (1823) is not a numen nudum, and the specific name
schilderorum must be adopted. I hope this note will help to avoid further confusion.
It is hard to pinpoint just how the author was introduced to the Philippine Strombus, but at some time or another the fact
that this fabulous shell existed became a topic of everyday conversation. A great deal of data-gathering preceded the actual
search for this stromb with SCUBA. Because of this, the very first search produced immediate results! The sources of data
were varied, the Philippine Shell News, Philippine Marine Mollusks, etc., but the most valuable information was obtained by
listening to other collectors. For example, frequent mention was made of complete shells (dead) and fragments being found at
certain North Shore beaches. Some divers were overheard discussing an area off of Waikiki. All of this information was noted
and sorted through, to realize maximum usefulness.
It was at the Waikiki location that the first Strombus hawaiensis "sign" was encountered. On a bottom of sand and coral, in
about 40 feet of water, a collection of fragments was found, which, when assembled, formed almost a complete shell. This
juvenile specimen had probably fallen victim to a predatory crab. At this location the bottom was essentially flat, hard
coral, covered with about 4 inches of sand with some coral rubble. No further opportunity was afforded to re-visit the area
and many months passed before further evidence of the Philippine stromb was encountered.
frog shell,decorative shell,conus sowerby,paua,leis puka,shell hawaiian,shellcrafts,lambis crocata,heishe pokalet,frog shell
Frog shell gift items abalone nautilus strombus ovula tortella toribellum fashion lamps murex huastillum troka puka shell spondylus tsenensis black olive novelty mop murex ramusus lambis - lambis natural shells beads wallets shell troka.
frog shell
Shell
Bracelets
|
