David,
The intertidal specimen of C parthenopeum was by my recollection heavily
worn and encrusted (seen 20 years ago and not collected). Its periostracum
was worn but recognizable.
I did however collect a few specimens from further north at Jervis Bay
(before protected) and had one smaller (?younger) specimen that had no
significant encrustations. The larger specimen had multiple small coralline
encrustations mostly on the periostracum itself and therefore relatively
easy to remove
Geoff


>From: David Kirsh <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Conchologists of America List <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: funny how you find the best shell in the 1st 10 minutes
>Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 14:12:31 -0700
>
>Geoff,
>
>Yeah, I was wondering if others would confirm that it's unusual to make
>intertidal finds. Thanks for responding on that. When I stopped at the
>marine lab at Panacea, FL, the scientists had collected a live C.
>parthenopeum in shallow water from a bay in the panhandle of FL. That may
>or
>may not be unusual for FL but my intuition tells me that it is a less
>frequent depth for North Carolina, which experiences generally colder
>winters.
>
>My shell is 3 1/2 inches in length. Yours was worn? I guess it partly
>depends on the age and these can get quite a bit larger than mine.
>
>In that vein, I was going to ask people about one other notable thing about
>my shell: There is absolutely no encrustation at all. There were 2 or 3
>very
>small filaments of green algae on the entire shell, which may have drifted
>into the periostracum and tangled.
>
>But the periostracum was evidently doing a superb job of preventing fouling
>organisms. Is this unique to certain species maybe up to a certain age? The
>properties of the periostracum would be quite valuable to understand, no?
>(Haven't checked the archives whether this particular has been discussed,
>but I don't recall it).
>
>David Kirsh
>
>
>
> > From: Geoff Macaulay <[log in to unmask]>
> > Reply-To: Conchologists of America List <[log in to unmask]>
> > Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 21:29:55 +1000
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: funny how you find the best shell in the 1st 10 minutes
> >
> > David
> > I have seen a few Cymatium parthenopeum while diving, but only ever one
> > intertidally. It was also sitting out in the open on an intertidal sand
>flat
> > at Merimbula in southern New South Wales, Australia, at night.
> > It was a pretty grotty worn old shell but quite an amazing animal
> >
> > Geoff


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