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Strombus latesimus
One published article advocated the collection of dead, beachworn and fossil shells only. Not only would such restrictions be
impractical but they would retard progress of science. Conchology in one way or another may continue to flourish, but
malacology and several related subjects of anatomical study of invertebrates would cease to exist. The pearling industry
would close down, no new species or genera would be discovered and natives depending on molluscan food would go without.
Curators would in time have no new collections to curate and the classification of beachworn shells would present a taxonomic
problem. Furthermore, the manufacture of drugs such as vincaleukoblastine derived from Littorinidae and used to combat the
cancerous disease choriocarcenoma would have to be suspended. Once restrictions are imposed, they should be applicable to all
and not only a chosen few. About 90% of recently described species have been collected by amateur collectors and made
available to professional malacologists for description; new genera have been established on the basis of anatomy and a
scientific treatise on the reproduction of prosobranch gastropods is in progress. Such valuable work has only been possible
through the generous cooperation of the field-collector with the malacologist, and should not be discouraged with the motto
"Look, but don't touch."
What happened from that point on is not too clear. I distinctly remember indicating to Betsy that our decompression
time/depth limit had expired and we would have to leave. The time in between the find and that moment is a complete blank. We
both agreed later that neither of us had been so shaken underwater before. The effect was worse than seeing a shark. At least
I had remembered what happened in such cases! After the dive, while sitting in the boat, an examination of the shells
revealed the fabulous beauty of the Strombs. They far exceeded the coloration and loveliness of the fresh fragments that had
been found in earlier diving. The shells were a myrid of color, ranging from the pink-purple of the protoconch, through the
russet rays on the lip, to the blue-brown of the back. The very active and strong animal was cream-colored with round light
brown spots on the foot and a brown proboscis covered with small, white spots. A pair of utterly fantastic almost human-like
eyes gave the mollusk a look of intelligence and personality. Frankly, the enormity of the find left us a bit breathless. We
had truly found the Philippine Strombus in his natural environment!
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strombus latesimus
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