I forgot to say the Jervis Bay specimens were from 18m depth
Geoff


>From: Geoff Macaulay <[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: Fri, 17 May 2002 22:13:31 +1000
>
>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
>
>
>_________________________________________________________________
>Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com


_________________________________________________________________
MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:
http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx