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Decorative shell
A malacological milestone was reached on October 6, 1962. For on that day, the first recorded microscopic examination was
made of the stomach of a Golden Cowry (Cypraea aurantium Gmelin), by Dr. Alison Kay, a marine biologist connected with the
Science Department of the University of Philippines. The specimen used was practically collected "On Order" by Mr. Francisco
E. Lahora, of Manay, Davao Province, Southern Philippines, and sent here for that purpose. The reason to find out what
Golden Cowries feed on.
More than a year ago, in conversation with Dr. Kay, she told us that there was no record that she could find concerning the
food of the Golden Cowry. Principle reason, she thought, was that so few were ever taken alive.
We recalled that when Mr. Lahora registered eight Golden Cowries several years ago (printed in the Sean Raynon Sabado at the
time) he had said that he, with his godson as diver, had collected these shells in slightly less than two years at Manay,
facing the Pacific in the Southern Philippines. Maybe he was still finding them. Maybe he could find one for Dr. Kay. So we
wrote Mr. Lahora. He answered that his godson, who was his diver, had gone to Cebu to visit relatives and he did not know
when he would return. Things did not look very promising, but on April 5th, 1962 we wrote Mr. Lahora another letter outlining
at some length the lack of any definite knowledge about the Golden Cowry, especially its food. We suggested that if and when
his godson returned from Cebu, they could make a great contribution to the sparse knowledge about this shell, if they could
find one, and ship it in alcohol to Dr. Kay, care of the Science Department of the University of Philippines. We also
specified that if possible the cowry should be collected late at night or early in the morning, so that it would have
finished its daily feeding and would have a full stomach for Dr. Kay to examine the contents of.
Well, here's what happened although we did not hear about it until long afterwards. The godson came back from Cebu, and night
after night during most of May, 1962, and part of June, they went out late at night, Mr. Lahora manning the boat, and the
godson diving and looking for that Golden Cowry. Finally on June 12 at 11:00 P.M. they found it. Apparently the shell had
taken its evening meal, and gone to bed in a little cave in the coral where the diver found it. It was immediately placed in
alcohol, from which it was not taken until it reached Dr. Kay's lab. Many more interesting details about this hunt for the
Golden Cowry may be read in Mr. Lahora's letter which is primed belong:
More so than in other ways of collecting shells, infinite patience and perseverance is needed to build up even the smallest
collection of ex-pisce specimens. Further I should mention the number of disappointments you will encounter in the few
specimens that come your way. Only one shell in twenty will be a perfect and really desirable specimen, and only one in ten
reasonably good. I have had beautiful large Voluta ponsonbyi with teeth holes pierced through them, or the lips badly
damaged, or even worse, a perfect Cypraea fultoni but with a hole in it. Also to be taken into consideration is the fact that
a fish must be caught within two hours of having consumed a shell, otherwise the shells will be ruined by stomach acids. Last
but not least is the fact, which I have had from very good authority, that only about one fish in ten, of the species which
eat these shells, will have a shell in its stomach. Naturally all sorts of other edibles form their diet in addition to
shells.
Sparodon durbanensis (Castlenau), commonly known as the "Musselcracker," is the fish to be relied upon, more than any other,
to produce these exciting shells for us. This species is found only in South Africa off the Natal coast. It attains a maximum
weight of approximately 40 lbs., and develops massive jaws and powerful teeth. ...
The following list of ex-pisce shells in my collection, which I have patiently acquired during the past fourteen years, may
be of interest to readers:
...
..., Cypraea arabica L. var. immanis Schilder, C. broderipii Sow., C. cernica Sow., C. citrina Gray, C. fultoni Sow. C.
helvola L. var. argella Melvill, C. vitellus L. var. dama Perry;...
The Hotel Arahiri, as I have said, lies on the edge of a lagoon where the barrier reef is about 3/5 of a mile offshore. On
the sea wall and small stone dock in front of the hotel, a black Nerita from 3/4 to 7/8 of an inch in length was common on
the rocks, while the small cobbles at the water's edge were covered by thousands of a small Neritina, possibly N. chrysostoma
Broderip. On some of the rocks forming the dock, and more abundantly on rocks at the mouth of a small freshwater stream
entering the lagoon close by, specimens of Ostrea circumsuta Gould were collected.
On the barrier reef, the top of which, except for scattered coral heads, was just under the surface, the following species
were found: Cypraea tigris L. and obvelata Lam., Terebra maculata L., Strombus gibberulus L., Conus pulicarius Hwass, small
specimens of Pinctada margaritifera L., and a large Barbatia.
On the western end of this segment of the barrier reef, where it is broken by Taone Pass, is a small ilot, consisting of a
heap of coral fragments piled upon the reef flat at the eastern border of the pass. Around this little island, which is only
about ten yards in width, a good collection was made; here the commonest species was Cypraea obvelata.
...
Other good collecting places were found in Faaone, near the isthmus leading to the beautiful Taiarapu Peninsula. A short side
trip was made along the south coast of this peninsula, and collecting was attempted in a rather muddy lagoon. The only common
species found here were Cypraea obvelata, Isognomon perna L. and Barbatia sp., which were found under clumps of the coral
Pavona praetorta. These species are among the commonest found in shallow water under coral fragments all along the coast
Nearby, in shallow water and on a sandy bottom, a small, mahogany-colored Terebra was found by tracking.
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