Andrew Vik
Tampa, Fl., U.S.A.
[log in to unmask]
 
Kurt:
 
I'm amazed that a landsnail collector would be repelled by the few discomforts
of  beach shelling. I have always found land collecting to be much more
hazardous. When hunting on limestone formations, you are subject to cuts and
bruises and the threat of rock slides and sudden falls. Hoards of mosquitoes,
ticks, chiggers, wasps, ants, spiders, scorpions, leaches, snakes, etc. take
turns dining on your flesh during trips to the forest. I have never returned
from the beach as completely filthy dirty as I get during a good landsnail
trip. Landsnailing is not for wimps! A day on the beach is completely relaxing
by comparison. By the way, freshwater collecting is not for timid souls either.
There are hoards of mosquitoes, leaches, snakes, alligators, snapping turtles,
etc., ..............
 
Kurt Auffenberg wrote:
 
> Bill,
> Since I don't live near the beach and actually deplore it due to the heat,
> glare, sunburn, salt, and sand in and on every body surface and crevice,
> I've never seen this behavior.  Next season let me know.  I'd love to drive
> over and witness this.  I'll try to find that paper.  Now you guys know why
> I work on landsnails.
>
> Kurt
>
> At 07:21 PM 3/11/99 -0500, you wrote:
> >Kurt, I am not referring to any paper.  All of the people who spend
> >any time on the beach in the summer will see the behavior that
> >I described (surfing with an umbrella shaped foot).  You can stand
> >in a foot of water and literally pick these guys up as they "surf" by.
> >The kids are especially thrilled by this as they try to snatch them
> >up as they go by.  They are not disloged -- they have a purpose
> >-- mating.  C. Lloyd has made even more interesting observations
> >in regards to the latter (mating) and other unusual behaviors which
> >are not yet fully understood. We will see what happens this summer!
> >
> >Compared to our other common Terebra (Terebra dislocata) which
> >is a passive species, the Hastula salleana are very active and are
> >reminiscent of a Strombus alatus or Fasciolaria tulipa when handled
> >- struggling and fighting to return to their natural surroundings.
> >
> >Regards,
> >
> >Bill F.
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Kurt Auffenberg <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
> >Date: Thursday, March 11, 1999 12:28 PM
> >Subject: Re: A Dealer's Life (was: An Idea...)
> >
> >
> >>Well, Tom.  It looks like it's just you and me on Terebra.  So, I'll just
> >>spit out a few things.  Bill Frank is probably referring to a short paper
> >>written on the underwater surfing abilities of Hastula salleana.  They
> >>follow the tide up and down as they get dislodged by the surf.  It's a
> >>pretty cool behavior, but the study was quite anecdotal.
> >