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SHELL OF THE MONTH – APRIL 2014

DSC_1731Conus violaceus Gmelin, 1791
Conus nussatella Linnaeus, 1758
Cypraea marginalis Dillwyn, 1817
Cypraea turdus Lamarck, 1810
Oliva bulbosa Röding, 1798

The Horn of Africa juts out from the continent where the Indian Ocean meets the Gulf of Aden. It is a strategic location as shipping from the Suez Canal passes through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden on its way to the open seas of the Indian Ocean. Four countries, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia share the peninsula. Somalia is the former Italian Somaliland and British Somaliland. Since gaining independence in 1960 the country has been in near constant turmoil going from extremes as a socialist Soviet satellite and an Islamist nation. Several years back Somalia gained infamy as a heaven for pirates attacking shipping.

The coastal waters are rich in sea life. It is a great location for shells. A few Italian dealers monopolized the trade up until around 2010 when the pipeline dried up. I was fortunate to purchase a large amount shells from a dealer in Rome, both in retail and dealer lots. The shells presented here are from that source. These specimens have decent location data but not habitat as they were “netted by native fishing boats.” All were collected off the southern coast near the port of Merca (also spelled Marka).

Several of the shells warrant further mention. Conus violaceus is an Indian Ocean shell. It is scarce in all locations. Most specimens on the market come from Mozambique. All specimens have some spire erosion so this one is about as nice as they get.

The center of population for Cypraea marginalis is along the Indian Ocean coast of Somalia. It has been widely collected due to its attractiveness and variable pattern. Fresh specimens have an intense purple base which unfortunately fades rapidly. Even storage in darkness will not prevent fading. This is a choice specimen of good size.

Oliva bulbosa is widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific region and comes in more color forms than one could count. Most color varieties have their own individual names. These from Somalia, which came from a wholesale lot, all had a similar color, size and pattern which appears to be unique to the location.

As it is highly unlikely that in 2014 one would find fresh specimens offered from Somalia, winning this raffle makes for an exceptional addition to one’s collection.

– Richard Kent

SHELL OF THE MONTH – APRIL FOOL

 

April Shell of the Month: Venerupis philippinarum (A. Adams & Reeve, 1850)
DSC_ManillaTo a cochologist, mollusks are collected for the beauty and variety of their shells. Certain mollusks are collected for their edibility and taste. Venerupis philippinarium, commonly known as the Manilla Clam, is a favorite of moon snails (Euspira lewisii), the Atlantic oyster drill (Urosalpinx cinerea), Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister), red rock crab (Cancer productus), bat rays (Mylobatus californicus), flounder, sturgeon, willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus), ring billed gulls (Larus delawarensis), raccoons (Procyon lotor) among others and last but most important human beings.
Although going by the moniker “Manila”, Venerupis philppinarum is not indigenous to the the Philippines. It is originally from China and was introduced to Manilia Bay where  it flourished. It has also been brought to the California Coast as a food source. It lives intertidal in bays and estuaries, prefers muddy or sand and mud bottoms where it borrows about one inch deep.
This bivalve is oval-elongate and sculptured with fine ribs, generally decorated with tent like patterns. It grows to about 2-3″. Shells collected in muddy areas are drab.
The Manila clam is typically steamed in its own liquor or white wine, garlic and butter, topped with fresh parsley and lemon wedge and often severed over pasta.
Our specimens were hand selected out of hundreds for their detailed pattern from the steam table at the Pharoah’s Buffet in the Luxor Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada in 2013. They were savored before being saved. April fool! The actually shell of the month will be announced in a few days – you will like the set we have for you in April.

 

2014 AUCTION LISTING

BROWARD SHELL CLUB AUCTION

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

At the Pompano Beach Emma Lou Olson Civic Center

 Auction Preview 6:15 p.m.  Bidding Begins 6:45 p.m.

NOTE:  Items marked with an asterisk (*) can be viewed on the club’s website

1.   3 Bahamian Tellins, Tellina listeri, Tellina magna and Tellina w/data

2.   5 Fossilized Brachiopods, no data

*3.   Chlamys sentoria nobilis w/data, bright orange, Japan

4.   Poirieria nuttingi w/data, Florida

5.   2 Conus regius w/data, Bahamas

6.   4 Janthina pallida w/data, Dania Beach, FL

7.   2 Drupa morum w/data, Huge!  One cleaned and one not! New Caledonia

8.   Conus virgo w/data, Philippines

9.   Siratus alabaster w/data, Taiwan

10. Conus vexillum w/data, Philippines

11. Conus magus w/data, NE Queensland, Australia

12. 2 Turbo intercostalis w/data, Hawaii

13. Turbo cornutus w/data Neat Specimen! Japan

14. 4 Turbo castanea w/data, all different forms and locales, FL, Bahamas & Venezuela

15. Chlamys sentoria nobilis w/data purple, Japan

16. 3 Caribachlamys sentis w/data, Bahamas

17. Aequipecten glyptus w/data, Gulf of Mexico

18. 3 Oliva reticularis w/data, 3 different locales, Bonaire, Bimini & Grand Bahama

19. 1 Chicoreus elliscrossi & 1 Chicoreus superbus, both w/data, Philippines

*20. Amaea magnifica w/ basic data 100mm Nice specimen!

21. Busycon perversum sinistrum 2/data, Florida, Our Club’s shell!

22. Cypraea talpa w/ great old data, Papua-New Guinea

23. Onustus caribaeus w/data Gulf of Mexico

24. Old Style Broward Shell Club T-Shirt, Vintage Collector’s Item!!  Size Medium

25. Old Style Broward Shell Club T-Shirt, Vintage Collector’s Item!!  Size Large

26.  Ladies Aqua & Pink Florida Shells T-shirt, Size Large

27. 1 issue of Acta Conchyliorum from March, 1992 on Cones

28. Books: Florida Marine Shells, by Vilas & Vilas, lovely old collector’s item, 1952

and Shell Collector’s Handbook by A.H. Verrill , 1950, loose binding

29. Book: Pacific Coast Nudibranchs by D.W. Behrens

30. 1 issue of Gulfshore Life, and A Preliminary list of South African Marine Shells

31. Stationery set w/ocean design

32. Books: Simon & Schuster’s Guide to Shells and Audubon Society Guide to North     

American Seashells

33. Books: Seashells by R.T. Abbott and Seashells of the World Golden Guide

34. Books: Field Guide to Shells, Atlantic & Gulf Coast by P.A. Morris and Seashells                                                                                            

by R.T. Abbott

35. Books: Shelling & Beachcombing in Southern & Caribbean Waters by Gary

Magnotte and Seashells of North America Golden Guide

36. Books: A Catalogue of Recent Mollusca by Walter F. Webb and A Field Guide to

the Shells by Percy Morris

37. An assortment of new plastic boxes and cases

38. Goody bags from Captiva C.O.A. 1997 and Suncoast C.O.A. 2009

39. Haliotis kamtschatkana w/data Washington state, USA.

40. 10 Chlamys rubidus w/full data from research project, San Juan Island, Washington

41. Antigona multicostata w/data Baja California, Mexico

42. 4 Chlamys hastata w/data Puget Sound, Washington

43. 3 Acmaea mitra and 4 Acmaea persona both w/data, Washington State, USA

44. 3 species of threatened fresh water mussels: Lampsilis cardium, Lampsilis radiata

siliquoidea & c.f. Elliptio complanata w/basic data, U.S. river systems

45. 2 Conus murabilis w/data India

46. 2 Conus tessulatus w/data India

47. Conus nielsenae reductaspiralis w/data Western Australia

48. Conus amadis castaneofasciatus w/data Thailand

49. Euspira lewisii w/data, Puget Sound, Washington

50. Conus janus w/data East Africa

51. Hemifusus tuba w/data Japan

52. Charonia variegata 4 specimen growth series, all w/data, Bahamas & Bonaire

53. Scaphella dohrni w/data, off Marco Island, Florida

54. 2 Scaphella junonia 1 baby and 1 adult, both w/data, Florida

55. 2 Canarium urceus incisus w/data, Phillipines

56. Strombus decoris decorus w/data, Thailand

57. Polystira tellea w/data, Key West, Florida

58. Polymita picta roseolimbata w/data, Cuba

59. 2 Conus purpurascens w/data, Costa Rica

60. 2 Architectonica nobilis w/basic data, Florida

61. Framed print of a Sand Dollar on Fabric

62. 3-Dimensional Framed Fabric Print of Scallop Shell

63. Framed Fabric Print of Nautilus shell

64. Signed & numbered print of Lighthouses of Georgia, N. Carolina and S. Carolina,

still in protective wrap w/ original price of $30.00

*65. Orange spondylus on Black Hammer Oyster, no data, oyster has chip on backside,

stunning decorator item

66. Bamboo Coral no data, opening bid $5.00

67. Lavender Stylaster Coral no data, opening bid $10.00

68. Brown Hydrocoral w/data, opening bid $5.00

69. Lavender Stylaster Coral no data, opening bid $10.00

70. 2 Murex pinnatus w/data, Taiwan

71. 6 Cypraea cinerea w/data, Florida

72. 3 Morum watanabei growth series w/data, Philippines opening bid $10.00

73.  Manupecten pesfelis w/data, Canary Islands

74. 2 Conus granarius w/data, Columbia

*75. Ficus gracilis w/data, Philippines, gorgeous!

76.  Syrinx aruanus no data

77.  Dolomena variabilis variabilis w/data Philippines

78. Voluta lapponica w/data, Sri Lanka

79. Conus mus w/data Bimini, Bahamas

80. 9 different specimen quality shells from Indonesia, donated by dealer Stephen MT,

unfortunately no I.D.’s or data

81. Cryptochiton stelleri w/data Washington, state, U.S.A.

*82. Cypraea teuleri w/data, ex: Don Bosch collection, Gulf of Oman

83. 3 Cypraea hungerfordi w/data, China

84. Cancellaria mercadoi w/data, Philippines

85. Ceratostoma foliatum w/data, Washington state, U.S.A.

86. Cypraea camelopardalis w/data, Red Sea

87. Haliotis kamtschatkana w/data, Washington state, U.S.A.

88. 2 Cancellaria cancellata w/data, Spain

89. 5 Diodora aspera w/data, Washingon state, U.S.A.

90.  Cypraea pulchella w/data, Burma, 37 mm.

91. 8 Tivela mactroides w/data, growth series, Brazil

92. Conus marmoreus w/data Philippines

93.  9 Nucella lamellosa w/data, varied colors, Washington state, U.S.A.

94. 3 Calliostoma annulatum w/data Washington state, U.S.A.

95. 2 Canarium mutabilis w/data Madagascar

96. Bag of fossilized shark’s teeth

97. Onustus caribaeus w/data,  Florida Keys

98. 3 Tellinella listeri w/data, Bahamas

99. Conus biliosus w/data, India

100. 3 Agaronia murrha, w/data, Costa Rica

101. Book: The Living Cowries by C.M. Burgess, beautifully inscribed to the South

Florida Shell Club in memory of Eunice G. Williams in 1970

102. Book: Living Shells by Charles Rawlings, brand new copy!

103. Book: Handbook for Shells Collectors by Walter F. Webb

104. Book: Shells and Shell Collecting by S. Peter Dance

105. Book: Australian Shells by Wilson & Gillet

106. Book: All Color Book of Seashells by J.M. Clayton

107. Book: The Living Cowries by C.M. Burgess

108. Book: Panamic Marine Shells by Maxwell Smith, 1944

109. Book: Marine Mollusca of the Eastern Coast of North America: Their Names &

Meanings by Henry Poirier

110. Book: An Illustrated Catalog of the Recent Species of the Rock Shells by Maxwell

Smith

111. Book: Florida Marine Shells by Vilas and Vilas

112. Book: East Coast Marine Shells by Maxwell Smith, 1945

113. Book: Sea Shells of the World with Values by Gordon Melvin

114. Book: Shells by Roderick Cameron

115. T-Shirt, size large from C.O.A., Jacksonville, FL, 1992

116. Astralium stellare w/data Australia

117. Callista maculata w/data, Panama City, Florida

118. Bolma girgylla w/basic data, Philippines

119. Brown Paper Nautilus, no data

120. 2 Murex beaui w/data, Cape San Blas

121. “Angaria Trio” Angaria delphinus melanacantha  Philippines,

Angaria nodosa Japan & Angaria aculeata Philippines, all w/basic data

122. Fusitriton oregonensis w/data San Juan Islands, Washington

123. Strombus iredalei w/data Western Australia

124. Phenacovolva pseudogracilis w/data, Japan

*125. Conus gloriamaris w/data, Philippines, 100mm,  Opening bid $20.00

126. Mitra cardinalis w/data Philippines

127. Aquipecten superbus w/data Philippines

128. Chicoreus cichoreum w/Spondylus attached, no data

129. Japelion pericochlion w/basic data, Japan

130. Lopha cristagalli cluster w/basic data, Indo-Pacific

131. Homolocantha tortua w/data, Ecuador

132. 2 Conus purperascens w/data Costa Rica

133. Conus leopardus w/data, a big boy fromVanuatu!

134. Chicoreus erythrostomus w/data Costa Rica

135.  Sand Dollar Necklace

136. 2 Doxander vittatus vittatus w/basic data, South China Sea

137. Fusinus dowianus w/data, Gulf of Mexico

138. 3 Tridacna squamosa, growth series w/data, Philippines

139. 2 Fenimorea halidorema w/data Bahamas

140. Euprotomus aratrum w/basic data, juvenile, South China Sea

141. Conus striatus w/data, Zanzibar, East Africa

*142. Murex tribulus w/basic data, Philippines

143. Phalium flammiferum w/data, Japan

144. Doxander campbelli w/data, Western Australia

145. File Shell Duo!  Ctenoides mitis w/data, Miami & Ctenoides scabra w/data, Miami

*146. Calliotectum smithi w/basic data, Philippines

147. Pleuroploca trapezium w/data, Philippines

148. Busycon coarctatum w/data Campeche, Mexico

149. Penion waitei w/data, Tasmania

150. 4 Cardita affinis w/data, Costa Rica

151. Conus mustelinus w/data, Singapore

152. Hexaplex chicoreum w/basic data, Philippines

153. Hexaplex radix w/data, Costa Rica

154. Hexaplex rosarium w/data Cape Verde Islands

155. 3 species of Florida Whelks!  Busycon perversum sinistrum, Busycon carica,

Busycon spratum pyruloides, all w/data, all from Florida

156. Cassis tuberosa w/data, Bimini, Bahamas

157. Strombus costatus 3 ways!  1 normal, 1 dwarf and 1 albino, all w/data, all from the

Bahamas

158. Vasum muricatum w/data, with coral encrusted spire, Florida Keys

159. Fasciolarium tulipa w/data, Goodland, Florida

160. 4 Mitra lens w/data, Costa Rica

161. 2 Strombus vittatus w/data, Australia

162. Canarium mutabilis w/data, Philippines

163. Strombus decorus decorus w/data, Thailand

164. Margostrombus marginatus robusta w/data, South China Sea

165. Conus miles w/data, Tanzania, Africa

166. Opeatostoma pseudodon w/data, Costa Rica

167.  3 Olivancillaria gibbosa w/data, Sri Lanka

168. Murexiella macgintyi w/data, Miami

169. 4 Cittarium pica w/data growth series, Bimini, Bahamas

170. Conus mustellinus w/data, Solomon Islands

171. 3 Caribochlamys sentis w/data. 2 orange and 1 purple, Miami

172. 3 Chicoreus florifer dilectus w/data, Marco Island, FL

173. Strombus campbelli w/data Australia

174. Dolomena variabilis variabilis w/data, Philippines

175. Amiantis callosa w/data California

176. Bursa bufo w/data, Philippines

177. Telescopium telescopium w/data, Philippines

178. Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club t-shirt, size large

179. 3 Cassis tuberosa w/data, growth series, Dania Beach, FL

180. 2 Species of Babylonia!  Babylonia japonicus and Babylonia borneensis, basic

data only, Taiwan

181. Carved Bonnet Shell

182. Melo amphora, w/basic data only, Indonesia

183. Homolocantha zamboi w/basic data

184. Really cool Sea Urchin!

185. Florida & Bahamian Cones…a comparison of seven different species!  All w/data

186. 9 Spathochlamys benedicti w/data Tampa, FL

187. An assortment of 9 lovely Indonesian shells donated by a dealer. Unfortunately no

data

188. Lyncina camelopardalis w/basic data, Red Sea

189. 2 Cantharus undosus w/basic data, Philippines

190. Sinovacula constricta w/basic data, Taiwan

191. Haustellum langleitae w/basic data, Sumatra

192. Conus villepinii fosteri w/data Tampa, FL

193. Pteropurpura bequaerti w/data Tampa, FL

194. Pleuroplaca trapezium w/data Philippines

195. Pleuroplaca granosa w/data, Costa Rica

196. Turbinella angulata w/data, Bahamas

197. Conus striatus w/data, Philippines

198. Chicoreus virgineus w/data Oman

199. “2 species of Vasum”:  Vasum muricatum w/data, Florida Keys, & Vasum

capitellum w/data, Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles

200. Lambis lambis w/data, Philippines

201. Spondylus americanus w/data, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

*202. Perotrochus teramachii w/data and operc!  East China Sea, NICE!

opening bid $20.00

*203. LARGE glazed stoneware planter in the shape of a snail, 27” across, designer

piece!  Retail price $280.00, bring muscles and room in your car if you want this!

opening bid $20.00

204. Set of 5 different shell design Christmas cards

*205. Shell Gift for your Child or Grandchild!  18 different shell related toys, stickers,

puzzles, books etc…all 1st quality, new in packages!  Comes complete with a

lovely shell design gift bag!  Retail value over $100.00, opening bid $20.00

*206. Beautiful glass urn filled with 1st quality polished shells.  Created & donated by

Sue Hobbs & Phil Dietz, retail value over $120.00, opening bid $20.00

*207. Upright Lucite case filled with 12 assorted Spondylus and Jewel Boxes,

opening bid $20.00

Many Thanks to our Generous Donors:

Nancy Galdo

Lauren Cope Estate

Bob and JuYing Janowsky

Randy Allamand

The Broward Shell Club

An anonymous friend of the Broward Shell Club

Bob & Alice Pace
Tom Ball

Sue Hobbs & Phil Dietz

Richard Kent

Don and Kitsmueller /“Keys Shells”

Caledonian Seashells

Nicholas Zantop

Phyllis Diegel

Stephen Tan / MT Shells

Vincente “Vic” B. Dungog

Al, Bev & Neil Deynzer / Showcase Shells

Randy Bridges

Kinsey Maxwell

Gene Everson

Linda Zylman Holzinger & David Holzinger

2014 BSC SHELL SHOW AWARDS

2014 BSC SHELL SHOW AWARDS – SCIENTIFIC DIVISION

AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY AWARD – Tom Grace – Family Calliosgomatidae – Pacific/Pacific Rim Region (Category: Superfamily One Region Any Manner)

CONCHOLOGISTS OF AMERICA AWARD – Sheila Nugent – Red Truck Adventures Seeking More Fresh Water Mussels (Category: Land/Fresh Water Shells Any Manner)

THE DuPONT AWARD – Norman Terry – Family Ranellidae – (Category: One Family Minor Any Manner)

“BEST OF THE BEST” – Gene Everson – The Shell Collecting Hobby

LEN HILL MEMORIAL – Pat & Bob Linn – Tibias of the World – (Category: Super 10)

SHELL OF SHOW – Self-Collected – Gene Everson- Conus theodorei (Category: Single Shell FL/Carib. Self Collected)

SHELL OF SHOW – Any Manner – Greg Curry, Sr. – Tenebrincola cukri (Category: Single Shell Worldwide Any Manner)

JIM VUNKANNON MEMORIAL FLORIDA/CARIBBEAN TROPHY – Linda Shockley – Marco Island Area Bivalves (Category: Beach Shells Self Collected)

GERRIT deGRAFF MEMORIAL – Amy Tripp – Double-Row-Spinned Busyson in Lighting Whelks (Category: One Species Any Manner)

NEIL HELPER MEMORIAL TROPHY FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE – Harry Berryman – Seldom Seen Cones of Cape Verde (Category: One Region Any Manner)

BETTY HAMANN FOSSIL TROPHY – Greg Curry, Sr. – Athleta spinos in Genus Athleta (Category: One Genus Any Manner)

BEST STUDENT EXHIBITOR – Marissa Linn – Equestrian Conch (Horse Conch) (Category: Student 7-12 Grade Any Manner)

BEST SEA LIFE– Phyllis Gray – Sea Beans Reprised (Category: Sea Life)

EXHIBITOR’S CHOICE AWARD – Linda Shockley – Marco Island Area Bivalves (Category: Beach Shells Self Collected)

SCIENTIFIC RIBBON WINNERS

STUDENT – Grades 7-12 – Any Manner – BLUE – Marissa Linn – Equestrian Conch

ONE REGION ANY MANNER – BLUE -Harry Berryman – Seldom Seen Cones of Cape Verde

SUPERFAMILY/FAMILY ONE REGION ANY MANNER – BLUE -Tom Grace – Family Calliosgomatidae Pacific Rim Region

ONE SPECIES ANY MANNER – BLUE – Amy Trip – Lighting Whelks

ONE FAMILY MAJOR ANY MANNER- BLUE – Kenneth Brown – Sampling of Family Cypraeidae; RED – Pat & Bob Linn – The Helmets of the World

ONE GENUS ANY MANNER – BLUE – Greg Curry, Sr. – Genus Athleta

ONE FAMILY MINOR ANY MANNER – BLUE – Norman Terry – Family Ranellidae

ONE SPECIES ANY MANNER – RED – Charles Barr – Canarium urcues

SINGLE SHELL WORLDWIDE SELF-COLLECTED – BLUE – Thomas Grace – “Aberrant” Megalonaias nervosa

SINGLE SHELL WORLDWIDE ANY MANNER – BLUE- Greg Curry, Sr. – Tenebrincola cukri; RED – Gene Everson- Conus alconnelli; WHITE – Gene Everson – Bolma johnstoni

SINGLE SHELL FL/CARIB. SELF COLLECTED – BLUE – Gene Everson – Conus theodorei; RED – Jeannette Tysor – Fastigiella carinata; WHITE – Kenneth Brown – Olividae

SINGLE SHELL FL/CARIB. ANY MANNER – BLUE – Thomas Grace – Calliostoma aurora; RED – Greg Curry, Sr. – Lyria Beauii; WHITE – Pat Linn – Atlantic Deer Cowrie

SINGLE SHELL FOSSIL SELF COLLECTED – BLUE – Linda Shockley – Scaphella sp. Collier County; RED – Pat Linn – Turbinella regina; WHITE – Shelia Nugent – Pusula pediculus

ABERRANT SHELLS ANY MANNER – BLUE – Ed Shuller & Jeannette Tysor – Wonder Where the Color Went? (Albinos)

SEA LIFE  – BLUE – Phyllis Gray – Sea Beans Reprised; RED – Bev Dolezal – Sea Life

LAND/FRESH WATER SHELLS ANY MANNER – BLUE – Shelia Nugent – Red Truck Adventures Seeking More Fresh Water Mussels

SUPER 10 – BLUE – Pat & Bob Linn – Tibias of the World

BEACH SHELLS SELF-COLLECTED – BLUE – Linda Shockley – Marco Island Area Bivalves; RED – Charles Barr – Asaphis delorata

Judge’s Scientific Special Merit Ribbons (2) Harry Berryman – Seldom Seen Cones from Cape Verde and Tom Grace – Family Calliosgomatidae Pacific Rim Region

2014 BSC SHELL SHOW AWARDS – ARTISTIC DIVISION

BEST STUDENT EXHIBITOR TROPHY – ARTISTIC – Marissa Linn – Greeting With Echinoderms (Category: Hobbyist Student Grades 7-12)

BEST IN SHOW TROPHY HOBBYIST – Pat Linn – Whelks in the Round (Category: Hobbyist Décor Wall Hung Only)

BEST IN SHOW TROPHY PROFESSIONAL – Marci Chamberlain – Princess Periwinkle (Category: Professional Special)

BEST IN SHOW TROPHY SAILOR’S VALENTINE – Hans Hoppenbouwers – Flora (Category: Hobbyist Sailor’s Valentine – Single Octagonal Case)

BEST IN SHOW TABLETOP SHELL CRAFT – Marci Chamberlain – Princess Periwinkle  (Category: Professional Special)

BEST IN SHOW WALL HUNG CRAFT – Heather Strawbridge – Coquina Garden (Category: Professional Mirror)

FAY MUCHA MEMORIAL BEST COLLECTIBLES – Sheila Nugent – Banjara Pot-Ring Cowrie Headdresses (Category: Collectibles)

EXHIBITOR’S CHOICE AWARD – Marci Chamberlain – Princess Periwinkle (Category: Professional Special)

ARTISTIC HOBBYIST RIBBON WINNERS

STUDENT GRADE K-6 – BLUE – Zoe Wood – House by the Sea

STUDENT GRADE 7-12 – BLUE – Marissa Linn – Greetings with Echinoderms

SAILOR’S VALENTINE – Single Octagonal – BLUE – Hans Hoppenbouwers – Flora

DÉCOR TABLETOP ONLY – BLUE – Barbara Good – Fun with Shells; RED -Tom Laurin – Snowbird’s Delight

PHOTORPHY- BLUE – Sheila Nugent – Mussels in the Stream; RED – Jeanette Tysor – Pacific Panama Nudibranchs; WHITE – Amy Trip

COLLECTIBLES – BLUE – Sheila Nugent – Banjara Pot-Ring Cowrie Headdresses; RED – Charles Barr – Chess Pieces

DÉCOR WALL HUNG – BLUE – Pat Linn – Whelks in the Round; RED – Tom Laurin – Saturn

ARTISTIC PROFESSIONAL RIBBON WINNERS

PICTURE OF MOSAIC – BLUE – Charles Barr – Shark Hex

FLOWER ARRANGEMENT – BLUE  – Pat Jenkins – Vase of Spring Flowers

SAILOR’S VALENTINE – Single Octagonal Case -BLUE – Jane Santini – Victoria’s Bouquet

MIRROR – BLUE – Heather Strawbridge – Coquina Garden; RED – Charles Barr – Fight Club

DÉCOR TABLETOP ONLY – BLUE – Leslie Ventresa – Splendor; RED – Heather Strawbridge – Reef Candelabra

PHOTOGRAPHY – RED – Bev Dolezal

PAINTING/DRAWING – BLUE – Charles Barr – Lions Lips

JEWELRY – BLUE – Mario Piras & Sue Burns Piras – Hand Crafted Shell & Coral Jewelry

HOLIDAY THEMES – RED – Heather Strawbridge – Seahorse Christmas Tree

SPECIAL – BLUE – Marcia Chamberlain – Princess Periwinkle; RED – Mario Piras & Sue Burns Piras – Self Collected Worldwide Beach Glass; WHITE – Charles Barr – Dollar Totem

Judge’s Special Merit Ribbons (2) Hobbyist – Sheila Nugent – Photography – Mussels in the Stream & PROFESSIONAL – Mario Piras & Sue Burns Piras – Hand Crafted Shell & Coral Jewelry

FLORIDA UNITED MALACOLGISTS TO MEET APRIL 12, 2014

Florida United Malacologists (FUM) 2014 – First Announcement

The fifth meeting of Florida United Malacologists (FUM) will take place on
Saturday, April 12, 2014, at The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum (BMSM) on
Sanibel Island, Florida. The one-day gathering is designed to enhance
communication among professional, collectors, citizen scientists, and
student malacologists, with topics including, but not limited to, biology,
ecology, paleontology, archaeology, and conservation. FUM follows the
pattern established by similar informal gatherings such as BAM (Bay Area
Malacologists), SCUM (Southern California United Malacologists), MAM
(Mid-Atlantic Malacologists), and OVUM (Ohio (River) Valley United
Malacologists).

Presentations are limited to 15 minutes plus 5 minutes for questions.
Presenters are required to submit a brief abstract limited to 150 words or
less. The gathering will be free to presenters and pre-registered
participants. We are making arrangements for a possible fossil field trip
on Sunday, April 13. Visits to the BMSM collection and library will be
limited to two days prior to the gathering, Thursday, April 10, and Friday,
April 11. Box lunches and dinner at a local restaurant (to be arranged) will
be available at cost to participants and presenters. An event reservation
form will be posted soon on the Museum web site (www.shellmuseum.org).
Seating is limited, so please return the reservation form prior to March 15,
2014.

Please send inquiries and reservations to BMSM Curator Dr. José H. Leal, at
jleal@shellmuseum.org. The deadline for submission of abstracts is March 31,
2014. The FUM program including abstracts and times of presentations will be
posted on the Museum web site, http://www.shellmuseum.org, shortly after the topic
submission deadline.

Kind regards to all,

José H. Leal, Ph.D., Curator & Director of Education
The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum
Editor, The Nautilus
jleal@shellmuseum.org
http://www.shellmuseum.org <http://www.shellmuseum.org/&gt;
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(239)395-2233
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SHELL OF THE MONTH – JANUARY 2014

GuttataCypraea guttata azumai, Schilder 1960

Cypraea guttata, Gmelin 1791 is one of the most exquisite of all shells. Until recently it was also one of the rarest. When Burgess wrote his monumental book “The Living Cowries” in 1970, he stated that there were fewer than 20 known specimens. Today due to the Asian commercial fishing fleets trawling in deep water, specimens consistently come to the market. Cypraea guttata has an orange dorsum with white “drops”; The extremities are rostrate and spiny. The prominent teeth extend the width of the base and are deep brown stained contrasting to a white base.

   The variety Erosaria guttata azumai, which is presented here, was not known until Schilder described two dead collected specimens from off the coast of Japan  in 1960. Today specimens collected in the East and South China Seas are the ones most likely to be offered by dealers. Cypraea guttata guttata, Gmelin 1791, the Philippine variety and first described is the hardest to acquire. They grow to the largest size and these big specimens are incredibly striking (and super expensive too!)  Cypraea guttata surinensis, Raybaudi 1978  which comes from the Andaman Sea is the most vibrant with a richer color and almost black teeth. It also tends to bring the highest prices. Because most specimens come from commercial trawling, too many substandard and immature specimens reach the market. This specimen though is in gem condition, average in size, and exemplifies the reduced spotting that is typical of the azumai variety. It was trawled in 2008 at 200 meters deep off the coast of Zhejang Province near Ningbo City in the East China Sea. The shell  was purchased direct from China and donated by Richard Kent.

SHELL OF THE MONTH – NOVEMBER 2013

Murex melanoleucus Morch 1860

Our feature shell for this month is supplied by Emmett and James Redding with a shell(s) from the Jean Redding collection.  The beautiful Murex melanoleucus Morch 1860 was collected live on the rocks leading out to Vernado Island, Vernado Beach, Panama on January 28, 1986. Vernado Beach is/was an extraordinary collecting site.  The normal tide range is some 14 to 20 feet between high and low tides.  To achieve that vertical drop the tides at Verando go out a half mile or more.  By using sand bars and a rocky bar you can walk out to Vernado Island a mile off shore.  This pair of Murexes were collected on the rocky bar about half way up the sides of the rocks.  They were feeding on barnacles and bivalves exposed by the falling tides.  Their coloration and shapes matched the background color/shapes.  M. melanoleucus can grow up to 7 inches, but the larger ones are frequently worm eaten towards the apex.  Other than removing the animal no exterior cleaning was done, but after 20 plus years one of the operculums has been lost.

There is one hazard to collecting these alive – getting them off the rocks without tearing most of the skin off your fingertips! Those spines do a number on flesh and newspaper. And, yes – you don’t want to play catch with them!

Our thanks to Steve Braska and Anne Kennedy for their donations to the Raffle Table in September, and to Richard Kent, Steve Braska and Heather Strawbridge for donations at the October meeting.

2014 SHELL SHOW RULES AND ENTRY FORMS

Greetings!  The Broward Shell Club cordially invites you to attend the 49th Annual Broward Shell Show on January 18-19, 2014 at the Emma Lou Olson Civic Center, 1801 NE 6th Street, Pompano Beach, Florida 33061, USA.  The 2014 Show is open to the Public and admission is FREE! Exhibitors may download the entry form and show rules, attached to the email, on our Facebook page,https://www.facebook.com/groups/BrowardShellClub, or on our website, http://browardshellclub.org.

Broward Shell Show Invitation, Rules and Show Information: Click on link to read:   2014 BSS RulesFINAL

Entry Forms: Scientific entry2014    Artistic entry2014    Best of the Best entry 2014

Entry forms must be received no later than Friday, January 3rd, 2014.

Each exhibitor shall submit an entry application to:

Alice Pace, 7405 SW 128 Court, Miami, FL 33183

Or Email your application attachment to: alicepace90@att.net

Major scientific awards presented include the Conchologists of America (COA), Dupont, American Museum of Natural History and Best of the Best. Special club trophies include Len Hill Memorial for Most Beautiful Exhibit, Jim VunKannon Memorial Florida/Caribbean, the Gerrit DeGraaff representing a large and exceptional specimen of a chosen species, Betty Hamann Memorial Fossil Trophy, Neil Hepler Memorial for Education Excellence, Shell of the Show (self-collected and any manner) plus Best Student and Best Beginner trophies, as well.

Club artistic awards include Best in Show trophies for Hobbyist, Professional and Sailor’s Valentine, the Fay Mucha Memorial for Best Collectibles, Best Table Top, and Best in Wall Hung Shell Craft. Also, Best Student and Best Beginning trophies.

Included with the rules is a great hotel package available for those who are visiting from out of town.  Also, included is the form to be complete if you would like to attend our Judge’s Dinner on the evening of Friday, January 17, 2014.  We hope you’ll join our friendly, fun-loving club for our exciting shell show weekend.  We’ll have a great time!!!

If you have any questions, please email Alice Pace at alicepace90@att.net or call 305-301-1296.

Very best regards,
Alice Pace
2014 Chairperson Broward Shell Show