|
|
Murex alabaster
On the 22nd we reached Nengonengo, and here again landed on the reef, not without some difficulty. The motu on which we
landed had no palm trees, only low Pisomia trees, and many fairy terns. I spent most of the time with my face mask on the
reef flat behind the outer edge, collecting in 1 to 4 feet of water. Here, where again there was a thin sandy substrate in
many places, the commonest species were Drupa grossularia, Morula uva, Conus sponsalis, and Vasum armatum Brod. Less
frequently the following species were encountered in this habitat: Drupa ricinus, Drupa morum Röding, Morula granulata, Conus
miliaris, Conus chaldeus, and Strigatella litterata. Rear the edge of the reef, where there was more surge and wave action,
Turbo setosus and one specimen of Turbo argyrostomus was collected, while in this same area, in more sheltered spots, I found
Cypraea caputserpentis.
High up on the coral beach, dead and worn specimens of the following, additional species indicate their occurrence here:
Conus tulipa L., Cypraea depressa Gray, C. histrio Gmelin, C. scurra L., C. carneola L., Tonna perdix L., Haliotis
pulcherrina Gmelin, Peristernia nassatula, Asaphis deflorata, and Trapezium oblongum L. Other species were found less
frequently. In shallow water in the lagoon Dick found large specimens of Ostrea sinensis Gmelin common.
REDISCOVERY OF A UNIQUE COWRY Photos - Trostel --- Not To Scale
Figs. 1-3:
Notadusta rabaulensis Schilder, 1964.
Beach shell from Rabaul. Length: 20.4 mm.
When I established Notadusta rabaulensis in 1964 (Arch. Mollusk. 93:141), only the holotype was known. Reproducing its
photograph in H.S.N. (n.s. 59:7, November 1964) I expressed the hope that more specimens would turn up in the future. This
hope was realized sooner than expected.
Many such supposed similarities are expressed by substantive nouns: algasea-grass, annulusring, aurantiumthe orange,
cicerculasmall chick pea (cicer), diluculummorning twilight ("day breaking cowry" of Reeve, why?), fabulasmall bean
("feverolle"), globulussmall sphere, mappa(with markings like in a geographical) map, margaritapearl, nucleuskernel,
onyx*onyx, ovumegg, pyrumpear, ventriculusventricle, vitellusyolk (not little calf, as Reeve suggested, which is spelled
vitulus).
Other specific names refer to supposed resemblance with animals chiefly in color: so the adjectives felinacat-like,
limacinalike a slug (limax), pantherinapanther-like, pulicaria(with) flea-like (spots), and testudinariatortoise-shell
like; and the nouns asellussmall ass (carrying three dark bags), camelopardalisgiraffe, caputdraconishead of dragon,
caputserpentishead of snake, cervusstag, chrysalis*pupa (chrysalid), hirundoswallow, lynxlynx, musmouse,
nebriteshind-calf, scarabaeusscarab beetle, talpamole, tigristiger, turdusthrush, ursellussmall bear, zebrazebra.
Comparisons with human beings are less frequent, as castachaste (immaculate), histrioharlequin, scurrajester,
virginalisvirgin; or with mythological beings: argus*Greek Argos with hundred eyes, leviathan**a Hebrew mythical giant
dragon, thersites*a hump-backed Greek hero, titana mighty Greek deity of mythology.
Some names indicate similarity to other cowry species: arabiculasmall arabica, cervinettasmall cervus, cribellumsmall
cribraria (incorrect diminutive), subteresallied to teres (not "rather cylindrical"); other names express general terms of
affinity or facts concerning history of naming: cernicaseparated (from spurca, badly formed adjective from cernare),
clandestinahidden (among Linnaeus' shells), decipiensdeceiving (to be confounded with thersites), episema*conspicuous,
errones (misprint for erronea?)erroneous (confounded with stolida), hesitata (incorrectly spelled instead of
haesitata)hesitated (in re-christening), maturatamatured (why?).
murex alabaster,troca male,blacklip,natural body jewelry,hammer shells,cut sigay,chamber nautilus,shells components,wholesale,murex alabaster
Murex alabaster shell fashion shell tiles raw material gifts shell lampshades shellcraft spondylus barbatus craft murex treremis black leaf native decoration pecten vexillum orange nautilus item gift raw material seashells components.
murex alabaster
Shell
Bracelets
|
