Author: richkent88

SHELL OF THE MONTH – FEBRUARY 2012

The cowries have always been a collectors favorite. No other family of shells comes close in popularity. It is no wonder since they are shiny, colorful, elegantly shaped, and come in a myriad variety of colors and patterns. The French call them by the beautiful name, porcellaines. The cowries are true works of art.

The cypraea are dwellers of the tropical seas (with some exception) with the largest concentration and variety of species in the Philippine islands. Most are nocturnal and are reef dwellers. Their mantle envelops the shell thus preserving the glossy surface. The color pattern varies and may be mottled, blotched, spotted, freckled, banded, striped, ringed, or various combinations or even solid. In size they range from several millimeters to our own giant Cypraea cervus that can grow up to six inches.

Twenty-four different specie of the smaller sized cypraea are included as our February Shell of the Month. Although this selection is intended as an introduction of the collecting of cowries, the is plenty here to interest even the more advanced collector such as the giant Cypraea spurca from Turkey and the unusual blue Cypraea robertsi from Ecuador. How many of our members posses a shell collected in Turkey? Anyone? The rarest shell in this collection is the very difficult to obtain Cypraea vrendenburgi that comes only from Indonesia.

All the shells come with complete data. They are donated by shell club member Richard Kent

Cypraea acicularis, Gmelin 1791, Brasil

Cypraea asellus, Linne 1758, Philippines

Cypraea arabicula, Lamarck 1810, Panama

Cypraea bovinii, Kiener 1843, Indonesia

Cypraea chinesis, Gmelin 1791, Philippines

Cypraea diluculum, Reeve 1845, Zanzibar

Cypraea erosa, Linne 1758, Micronesia

Cypraea gracilus, Gaskoin 1849, Okinawa

Cypraea helovla argella, Melvill 1889, Tanzania

Cypraea isabella, Linne 1758, New Caledonia

Cypraea kieneri depriesteri, Schilder 1933 Solomon Islands

Cypraea labrolineata, Gaskoin 1849, Indonesia

Cypraea listeri, Gray 1824, Australia

Cypraea lutea, Gmelin 1791, Philippines

Cypraea nebrites, Melville 1888, UAE

Cypraea ocellata, Linne 1758, India

Cypraea poraria, Linne 1758, Viet-Nam

Cypraea quadrimaculata, Gray 1824, Philippines

Cypraea robertsi, Hidalgo 1906, Ecuador

Cypraea saulae, Gaskoin 1843, Philippines

Cypraea spurca, Linne 1758, Turkey

Cypraea teres, Gmelin 1791, Hawaii

Cypraea vrenderburgi, Schilder 1927, Indonesia

Cypraea zonaria, Gmelin 1791, Senegal

PAUL CALLOMON TO BE SPEAKER AT FEBRUARY MEETING

At this month’s meeting, Wednesday, February 8, the Broward Shell club will be having a program given by Paul Callomon.  Paul Callomon is Collections Manager in the Department of Malacology at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. He is the author of two books and several papers focusing on the mollusks of Japan, where he lived for many years. His talk recalls collecting trips in various areas of the country, and especially the Amami Islands. This island group is not well known to travelers from outside Japan. Despite a long history of human settlement it still boasts some of the best surviving coral habitats in the northwestern Pacific region and a very rich molluscan fauna.

SHELL CLASS AT THE MUSEUM

“Shell Class” at the Museum of Discovery and Science, Ft. Lauderdale 1/14/12
by Richard Sedlak

The Broward Shell Club made one of its first forays into a cooperative association with the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale. A “Shell Class” took place on Saturday, January 14th from Noon to 4 PM and was presided over by club members Richard Sedlak and Jonathan Galka. The first class was held at 12:30 and the majority of participants were youngsters with a few parents. Working in tandem, Richard and Jonathan first did a general overview discussing shells. They brought a large array of seashells to display and the children were really fascinated with them. They described the various shell families, giving more detailed information, and the children asked quite a few questions afterward. The second class was considerably smaller, and primarily adults, but there was just as much enthusiasm from the adult audience as from the youngsters.
The Museum of Discovery and Science facility is perfect for giving programs! They have computerized projection systems, are well supplied, the staff was very helpful and pleasant and they have invited us back for additional programs. As a matter of fact, there is another event coming up in June (Ocean’s Day) and they have offered us the use of one of theaters on the first floor!! It is exciting that we can partner with the Museum of Discovery and Science and Richard believes we will have many years of cooperation with them. Richard thanks Jesse Zito of the Museum for the kind assistance he gave us and Michael Galka (Jonathan’s dad) for the wonderful lunch he treated them to.

SONNY OGDEN’S KILLER CLAM

During her husband’s military career, Sonny Ogden’s family was stationed in Micronesia’s Marshall Islands on Kwajalein Atoll for three years. Measured by lagoon size Kwajalein is the world’s largest coral atoll, its 97 islands surrounding an immense 2175 sq km body of water.  It is located in the middle of the South Pacific, 2136 miles from Hawaii, 2300 miles from New Guinea and 2300 miles from Tokyo. Living in Kwajalein was paradise, with fishing, snorkeling, sailing and diving in abundance.

Sonny had been told about a giant clam [Tridacna gigas], an endangered species, living on one of the coral heads in a nearby lagoon. On April 6, 1967, she planned to photograph the shell while on a dive trip but when her dive party arrived at the coral head, they discovered the shell lying on its side, dead. Greatly disappointed, they took pictures and that is when Sonny decided she wanted to collect the shell, a huge undertaking! The Giant Clam was located in 20 feet of water, so wearing scuba gear and utilizing air bags, they lifted the shell to the surface of the water. It took four people to lift the shell into their boat. Sonny was the proud owner of a very large Killer Clam, Sonny’s nickname for her new giant shell!

In 1969, when her family moved back to the USA, Sonny’s enormous clam, weighing 328 pounds, over 3 feet wide and 2 feet high, was packed in a crate and shipped back with their belongings to the United States , where they settled in Pompano Beach, Florida. Sonny exhibited her Killer Clam at the 2011 Broward Shell Show, winning first prize in the Scientific Self-Collected category.

Sonny’s Killer Clam is now the Broward Shell Show Mascot and will be displayed at our upcoming Broward Shell Show on January 21-22, 2012. Please join us at the show and take your picture with the Killer Clam!!

Pompano Beach Civic Center, 1801 Northeast 6th Street, Pompano Beach FL 33060

The Broward Shell Show is open to the public. Admission and parking are free. Hours: Saturday, 1/21 10am-6pm, Sunday, 1/22 10am-4pm.

For more information, call Nancy Galdo, 305-467-4412.

FOSSIL TRIP A BIG SUCCESS

Fifteen people attended the Immokalee fossil trip Saturday January 7, 2012. Organized by Doug Fisher, Field Trip Chairman and led by Gary Schmelz PHD, past president of the Bailey Matthews Sanibel Shell Museum it was an educational adventure. We met briefly at a local shopping center for a Safety Meeting and to collect hand outs that we used to identify shells then followed Gary in a caravan to the excavating site. This is a working quarry that Gary arranges access to on off hours, otherwise the public is not allowed. A gate is opened to let us in, and then locked behind us.

Gary took us to the first collection site and explained to us that there are over 600 species of shells that are over 500,000 years old in this quarry! At one time there were more than 100 working excavating sites in Florida and now there are only 37 working quarries left. These fossilized shells are in good condition as they have been preserved by the soil.

During the 2+ hours we were at the quarry Gary took us to 3 different collection sites. Some members concentrated on big shells and filed their buckets several times over, while others concentrated on small shells. The 3rd and last site Gary took us to with the quarry was a huge shell mound that we sifted through to find our treasures. The most common finds were Oliva sayana (Olives), Conus spurious (cones) and Stronbus pugilis (fighting conchs).

11 people continued on to lunch at the Long Horn Steakhouse in Naples, where Gary gave away prize specimens to club members, including a fossilized whale bone.  Gary provided appetizers for the group and the meal and camaraderie were excellent. For some members this was a repeat trip and everyone agreed it was well worth the effort.

Pictured below include our group in front of a giant shell mound with Gary kneeling in front and an example of the shells we collected.

JANUARY MEETING PROGRAM BY DR. MARVIN GLICKSTEIN

Dr. Marvin Glickstein spent his working career as an engineer at Pratt Whitney where he patented several new cooling concepts for aircraft engines. As a hobby, he started SCUBA diving, when it was in its early stages. He also owned a boat he named the Lucky Stone which is his name Glickstein translated.

From SCUBA, he wanted to try his hand at dredging and with his close friend John Root, fitted his boat and dredged through the waters of the SE coast from Stuart to Key West and some near Ft. Myers, Florida.

Marvin was a prominent member of the Palm Beach County Shell Club, running field trips and holding several positions including President. He was also a founding member of the Palm Beach Aquarium Club.

Marvin has had several of the shells he dredged up named for himself and his wife Pat and also had several of his dredged shells later named as type specimens.
Marvin will talk about his experiences dredging and will describe some of the trials and experiences he had.

UPCOMING SHELL SHOWS

SARASOTA SHELL SHOW
The Sarasota Shell Show will be held Feb. 17-19 at the Manatee County Convention Center in Palmetto. This was a new venue for us last year and proved to be a great place for a show. Setup is Friday Feb 17 in the morning, and we are open to the public in the afternoon until 5:00, when judging will commence.

If you need a place to stay we may be able to find you one with one of our members, or there are several hotels near I75 and on the road to the Convention Center you may choose from.

Rules and entry forms are available on the clubs web.

Home

Peggy Williams, Scientific chairman

SANIBEL SHELL SHOW

Just wanted to let you all know that the 2012 Rules, Entry Forms, and all information about the 75th Sanibel Shell Show are now ready and available on our web site which is: Sanibelcaptivashellclub.com

Our show is celebrating this major milestone, and we would love for you all to come see what makes our show so great. Plan your vacation for March 1 ,2, and 3, 2012 and come join in our festivities.

Look forward to seeing you all there. Anne Joffe, Show Chair.

<http://sanibelcaptivashellclub.com/SanCap_shellshow.html>.

MARCO ISLAND SHELL SHOW

2012 Marco Island Shell Show – March 8, 9, 10, 2012 – Times: 10:00 – 4:00 p.m.
United Church of Marco
320 N. Barfield Dr.
Marco Island, FL 34145

Show Entry Forms on Website – www.marcoshellclub.com

PHILADELPHIA SHELL CLUB SHOW

Only two weeks have passed and already forlorn souls are casting sidelong glances at their 2012 calendars. “When”, they say, “when oh when will the next Philadelphia Shell Show be? Our lives are a meaningless travesty without it”. Well, now it can be told – the 2012 show will be on October 20 and 21, 2012. Prime red-leaf season here in America’s finest city, and nicely timed for all your seasonal shopping. More news to come, but for now mark your calendars and get busy on baroque new exhibits that will stagger humanity.

Paul Callomon Chairman, 2012 Philadelphia Shell Show

ASTRONAUT TRAIL SHELL CLUB SHOW

Now that the North Carolina and Philadelphia Shell Shows are pleasant memories, we look forward to the first U.S. show of the 2012 year.  The Astronaut Trail Shell Club invites you to participate in our 32nd annual shell Festival themed “Shelling Memories” Saturday and Sunday, January 14-15, 2012.  Set up and judging on lucky Friday, January 13th.

The location is the Melbourne Auditorium, 625 E.  Hibiscus Ave, Melbourne, FL, which is a large and well lit facility.  We have one of the largest number of shell dealer and shell related products of any U.S. club shell show.

We offer the Conchologists of America (COA), DuPont, and Masters Trophies. Also an award in memory for our long time resident and member Dr. R. Tucker will be presented. We also have club trophies including  the Abbott for self collected; Fossil Trophy; Junior Trophy; Shell of Show; Self Collected Shell of Show; Florida Self-Collected Shell of Show; and many specialized artistic awards including a Premium Arts and Craft Trophy for exhibits that have already won a major award.

An awards banquet and program will be on Friday evening, January 13 (details to be provided later). There are several recommended hotels close by and many, many restaurants including a “Shells”. So for those up north, plan to spend part of January away from the snow and enjoy the Space Coast of Florida.

Please contact me for any questions at lychee@cfl.rr.com or (321) 536-2896.

Entry forms, rules are also available on our website:

http://home.netcom.com/~ejpower/ruleindex.html.  Information will be sent to the Florida shell clubs for which I had addresses.

Alan Gettleman, Show Chairman

SHELL OF THE MONTH – JANUARY 2012

The harps are among the most elegant and beautiful of all sea shells. They have a natural gloss, are finely sculptured, have detailed patterns and colored in a palette of color coordinated shades. The harps are also among the most difficult of shells to distinguish, they all look very much the same. Even the scientists who described them had trouble in recognizing them resulting in multiple names. To this day collectors and dealers remained confused as what the proper nomenclature is.

At first glance the only difference one will see is small, medium and large size, but look closer and study the details to see all that three are distinct.  The large shell is Harps major, Roding, 1798. The middle shell is Harpa harpa, Linne 1758 and the small one is a Harpa amouretta, Roding 1798.

The harps are tropical sand dwellers usually found in fairly shallow water. Most species are Indo-Pacific though one inhabits the west cost of Central America and a second the east coast of Africa.  Our three specimens come from Viet-Nam, the Philippines and Micronesia respectively. The first two are average size while the amouretta is from a dwarf population. The Harpa harpa is 60mm.

HOLIDAY PARTY – ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

Yes, it actually that time of year again. And the date will be our regular December meeting date which is December 14th.  The Fishers had a sign-up sheet at the November meeting so you can let the committee know which of your delicious recipes you will honor us with.  We do ask two things of you:  when you bring your dish PLEASE bring a serving utensil for it, and if you are bringing an appetizer be there by 6:00 PM.  If you were unable to attend the November meeting and have not been called by the Committee, please call the Fishers at 561-306-4998 or email them at tonifisher2004@yahoo.com. The club will supply the meat as usual.  Also we will have the fun part – the gift exchange / Chinese auction.  Please keep the value of your gift from between $15 – $20 and DO NOT WRAP THEM.  Place them in a gift bag which you can cover over with tissue of a single piece of tape.  This will greatly speed up the “process”. Shells and shell related items are what the items should be, although bottled beverages are acceptable.  Basic rule:  bring something that YOU would like if you won it.  This is and always has been one of the best ways to get to know your fellow members so everyone is encouraged to attend…..you would be foolish not to!