On Sat, 29 Dec 2012 10:03:21 -0600, Steven Coker <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>I have a recently retired colleague that is a dive master for a dive shop in
>Jupiter and he has reported the same thing 3-4 weeks ago on the reefs off of
>Jupiter (80-100 feet).  He indicated that where they might see 1-2 deer
>cowries on a dive they were seeing dozens.  I asked about cold water and he
>did say they had a rather unusual influx of ~50 degrees F water a few days
>before the deer cowries started appearing.  I would not have thought 50
>degree water could kill them but maybe it slowed them down enough to make
>them susceptible to increased predation.
>
>Steven
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Conchologists List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of mike
>gray
>Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2012 7:42 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: [CONCH-L] SoFla cowrie die-off?
>
>
>I have reports of extraordinary numbers of fresh dead measled and deer
>cowries on the Boynton reefs. They are not drilled but they do not have
>rotting animals inside, very clean.
>
>Any similar reports?
>
>Any ideas?
>
>mike gray
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>[log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs To
>leave this list, click on the following web link:
>http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1
>Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and click leave the
>list.
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>[log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs
>To leave this list, click on the following web link:
>http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1
>Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and
>click leave the list.
>----------------------------------------------------------------------

This happen to the Hawaiian Cypraea population years ago as reported by me and others first in HSN.
Dead cowries were being reported by sport divers, dive shops, and collectors throughout the Hawaiian
chain. Since this occurrence years ago our tessellata population never came back. Only recently the
gaskini started a slow return. Mother Nature has everything on a schedule. Our rashleighana
population went extinct since the late 70's and ostergaardi in the late 80's(though still being found in
Midway, about 1,200 miles NW of Oahu).

----------------------------------------------------------------------
[log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs
To leave this list, click on the following web link:
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1
Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and
click leave the list.
----------------------------------------------------------------------