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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in an unpublished manuscript only) to a figure published by Lister (1688, Hist.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.
The area around Mokolea Rock provides excellent shelling for the scuba diver who has a boat available for transportation to
and from the diving area. The ocean bottom in the vicinity of the island is basically sand and coral rubble with scattered
coral chunks and rock slabs. Shells collected from this area, mostly by scuba divers, include the following:
Bursa affinis - under coral
B. crenulata - under coral
Trochus intextus - on coral heads
Murex pele - under coral chunks
Cypraea granulata - 50' under coral
C. maculifera - shallow on rocks
C. tessellata - 50' under coral
C. carneola - 40' under coral
C. chinensis - 50' under rocks
C. schilderorum - 60' under rocks
C. poraria - 60' under coral
C. helvola - shallow, on coral and rocks,
C. fimbriata - 50' under coral,
Cymatium pileare - under coral,
Distorsio anus - in coral heads,
Colubraria muricata - under coral,
several Drupa species - on rocks and coral,
Latirus nodus - on hard bottom,
Oliva sandwichensis - in sand at 50',
Pyramidella sulcata - in sand in 50',
Conus litoglyphus - on coral,
Conus textile - under coral
C. bandandus - under coral
C. vexillum - under coral
C. striatus - under coral
C. pulicarius - under sand
C. abbreviatus - under coral
C. obscurus - under coral
C. moreletti - under coral
Mokomanu Island is known more for its spearfishing than for shell collecting. However, many excellent shells have come from
this rocky, interesting, island. Collecting around Mokumanu is strictly for scuba divers with considerable ability. Also all
diving must be done from a boat, and the boat operator must be experienced. Huge waves wash up onto the shelving sides of the
island and fall back into the sea with considerable violence causing rough water and back wash. The channel between Mokumanu
and Mokapu Point is sometimes hazardous and most boat operators avoid passing through this narrow passage. Strong currents
are sometimes met with but the greatest hazard is from the heavy cross-chop that develops when the swells bouncing off the
vertical cliffs of Mokapu Peninsula meet the incoming seas. Particularly this area must be avoided when strong trades are
blowing.
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