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SEA SHELLS OF JEFFREYS BAY Douw G Steyn Elise J Steyn
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Jeffreys Bay Shell Museum
This Second Edition Published on behalf of the Humansdorp Museum Association, curators of the Humansdorp Museum and the Jeffreys Bay Shell Museum, by:
Write-On Publishing 59 Tom Brown Boulevard Santareme, St Francis Bay. 6312. Tel: +27(0)422941023 frank@writeonpublishing.co.za www.writeonpublishing.co.za Production - Second Edition: Frank Nunan Š Copyright 2017 - Humansdorp Museum Association Photography: D G Steyn Cover Photograph: Frank Nunan - Seagulls on the beach at Jeffreys Bay at sunrise All rights reserved - no part of the publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. First Edition: Eldolise Publishers Menlyn - 1999 Second Edition: October 2017 ISBN: 978-0-620-77753-7
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CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......................................................... iv INTRODUCTION .................................................................... v COMMON NAMES OF JEFFREYS BAY SHELLS ......................... vi NAMES AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF SPECIES Gastropoda ...................................................................... 1 Polyplacophora .............................................................. 61 Scaphopoda ................................................................... 61 Cephalopoda . ................................................................ 63 Bivalvia .......................................................................... 72 Non-molluscan finds ...................................................... 81 BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................... 83 INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES............................................... 84
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors are indebted to Thea Marsh for sharing her vast knowledge of Jeffreys Bay shells with us, as well as giving advice on the occurrence of particular species in that location. Arie Jooste is thanked for his contribution to the knowledge of Jeffreys Bay shells which he shared freely with fellow collectors. Thank you to Anna Blom, Esther Botha and Flo Ball for their infectious enthusiasm and for keeping shelling alive at Jeffreys Bay. We are grateful to Cornelia September, Lettie Manuel, Sally Titus, Sarina Capoto and others for their assistance in the compilation of the list of common names. We are particularly thankful to Repro-Touch for advice and for preparing the manuscript for publication.
Rocky outcrops and a sandy beach where the shells are found, and a welcome to all visitors to Jeffreys Bay v
INTRODUCTION
Genesis 1 : 21 “And God created great sea creatures, and everything that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind” ....and so God created an abundance of seashells to be enjoyed and cherished by beachcombers and shell collectors alike. Many beachcombers lived off the molluscan abundance through many centuries, to which the presence of shell-middens all along the coast testifies. This treasure of shells is beached along the entire length of the South African coast line but nowhere in such abundance as at Jeffreys Bay. Many South African collectors and holiday makers converge on the beach-es of Jeffreys Bay throughout the year. On the beach one encounters collectors with large plastic bags picking up everything that the eye can see whereas the more serious collectors can usually be recognised by the much smaller size of their containers. Many serious collectors defy unpleasant winter weather when the shells wash up in even greater numbers and then usually in better condition. The reputation of Jeffreys Bay has grown to such an extent that shell collectors from overseas are frequently encountered on the beach, enjoying the beauty and variety of the shells of Jeffreys Bay. Wave-action in the bay results in the formation of waves ideal for surfing. Surfers from all over the coun try and from many parts of the world come to Jeffreys Bay to participate in surfing competitions and for the challenge of riding the waves. These waves and sea-currents are responsible for the great numbers of shells that wash up in such variety on the beach. The Algoa shell-province stretches from about Still Bay to the Kei River Mouth. Jeffreys Bay is located slightly to the east of the centre of this area. A fair percentage of warm-temperate endemic molluscs occur in this area. Some Indo-Pacific species reach the southern-most limit of their range here. Upwelling of cold water and counter-currents occasionally lower the water-temperature to such a degree that their dispersal further south is limited. The warm Agulhas Current becomes progressively cooler towards the west and is much cooler at Jeffreys Bay than along the Kwazulu-Natal coast, affecting the molluscan population of the entire area. Although shells occur all along the beach particularly behind rocky outcrops, certain areas are known for particular shells. Most shells wash up during neap tides but some may only be found at or after spring tides. Local residents seldom use the scientific names of shells but refer to them by their local or colloquial names. These names were created for communication among members of the same family and later among members of the same community to collect shells for their shell craft. It is therefore, not surprising that only those shells that are regularly used have common names. The unnamed shells are recognised and referred to as “just shells” (sommer skulpies). Some shells have more than one name and other shells are named collectively. Epitoniums are known as “dresdens”, bullias are called “slakkies” and patellas are known as “spoons”. In December 1998 the Jeffreys Bay Shell Museum was opened to the public. This fulfills a long-standing need for a reference source for local collectors, as well as visitors from the rest of the country and from abroad. We hope that this booklet will further foster interest in the abundance of interesting and beautiful shells on the Jeffreys Bay beaches, as well as in those shells found on the rest of the South African shores. vi
COMMON NAMES OF JEFFREYS BAY SHELLS
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SCIENTIFIC NAMES
ENGLISH
1 2 4-14 4 7 11 15 27 26 28 32 34 - 45 35 36 37 38 40 41 52 67 70 72 73 74 76 78 - 82 78 85 87 88 - 90 92 93 95 51, 52 106 107 109 110
Haliotis midae Haliotis spadicea Fissurellidae - All Dendrofissurella scutellum Diodora elizabethae Pupillaea apeda Trochidae - All Diloma sinensis Turbo sarmatica Tricolia capensis All Patellidae Patella miniata Patella tabularis Patella oculus Patella compressa Patella cochlear Patella granularis Protoma capensis Calyptraea chinensis Crepidula porcellana Natica forata Natica queketti Natica tecta Neverita didyma Triviidae Trivia apetta Trivia oryza Primovula beckeri Phenacovolva species Cypraea fuscodentata Cypraea cohenae Cypraea verhoefi Turitellidae - All Phalium labiatum zeylanicum P.l. zeylanicum fm iredalei Tonna variegata Charonia lampas pustulata
Abalone Venus Ear Dolly Vardens Surfer’s Button Duck foot
55, 56 111 113 116 117 - 121 122 - 126
Dendropoma sp. Cabestana cutacea Cymatium klenei Argobuccinum pustulosum Epitoniidae - All Janthinidae - All
Top Periwinkel Berries Plates Pink plate Black plate Spoon Spoon Spoon Candle Chinese hats Coffee bean Cat-eye Purple-eye Brown-eyes Fish-eye Baby Toes Large Baby Toe Mermaids tears Baby Tart Jam Tarts Giant owl Donkey Screw Cock Hen Boxing Gloves J.Bay’s large shell, pink lady Shoulders Dresden Violet shells
AFRIKAANS
Perlemoen Siffie Hippiekrale Knopie Eendvoet Hoedjie Tol of Top Periwinkel Arikreukel Bessie Borde Pienk bord Swart borde Swartpuntbakkie Opskeplepel Lepel Hoedjie of skilpad Kersie Sjinese hoed Koffiepit Katogies Persogie Bruinogies Visoog Babatoontjies Groot Babatoon Traantjies Babajemtertjie Jemtertjies Grootuil Donkie Dik Donkie Skroef Haan Hen Bokshandskoene Jeffreysbaai se groot skulp Kaiings Skouers Hondjie, Lé-os Dresden Bloubottels
134 148 166 167 170-179 170 180 172 173 181 182 183 185 191 196 201 205 207 208-220 231 -237 240 242 244 245 247 277-281 288 289 292 302 - 309 302 - 309 310 311 314 321 324 329 333 336 344 345 355 364 366 377 370 378 387
Pteropurpura uncinaria Coralliophila fritschi Burnupena pubescens Babylonia papillaris Bullia sp. All Bullia annulata Demoulia ventricosa Bullia callosa Bullia laevissima Demoulia abbreviata Nassarius speciosus Nassarius pyramidalis Nassarius capensis Nassarius kraussianus Dolicholatirus bairstowi Ancilla albozonata Melapiunm lineatum Callipara bullatiana Marginellidae species Small Marginellidae Limaria tuberculata Mitra picta Trigonostoma foveolata Trigonostoma semidisjuncta Clionella confusa Conidae Hydatina physis Acteon albus Bulla ampulla Segments of Polyplacophora Polyplacophora - All Dentaliidae species Argonauta argo Spirula spirula Glycymeris connollyi Barbatia obliquata Chloromytilus meridionalis Perna perna Pinctada capensis Chlamys tincta - Single valve Pecten sulcicostatus Thecalia concamerata Solen capensis Gastrana matadoa Donax serra Tellina alfredensis Donax sordidus Venerupis corrugata
Stag Coral Shell Turkey Guinea fowl Rosebud Football King Queen Wheat ear Tick Pupa Pig Onion Dachshund Sandpigs Rice Angel wings Dates Steps Basket steps Carrots Tassels Zebra White dove Owl False Teeth Boat, Armadillo Elephant tusk Paper Nautilus Rams-horn Ostrich Plate Black Mussel Brown Mussel Pearl oyster Fan Large Fan Ghost hand Pencilbait Handbag Fancy petal Pink angelwing Butterfly Wings Purse
Takbok Koraalskulp Kalkoentjie Tarentaal Slakke Bobbejaanboud Roosknop Dikslak Dikslak Voetbal Koning Koningin Koringaar Bosluis Papie Varkie Ui Worshond Sandvarkies Rys Engelvlerke Dadels Trappies Mandjietrappies Wortels Osse Zebra Wit duifie Uil Valstande Skuitjies Olifanttand Kamskulp Ramshoring Hardebakkie Volstruisbakkie Swartmossel Bruinmossel PĂŠreloester Waaier Groot Waaier Spookhand Potloodaas Handsak Skoenlapper Pienk Engelvlerk Vlindervlerke Beursie viii
NAMES AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF SPECIES Class: GASTROPODA
Order: VETIGASTROPODA FAM. : HALIOTIDAE 1. Haliotis midae (Linnaeus, 1758). 160mm Common 2. Haliotis spadicia (Donovan, 1808). 70mm Common 3. Haliotis parva (Linnaeus, 1758). 45mm Uncommon
FAM. : FISSURELLIDAE 4. Dendrofissurella scutellum hiantula (Lamarck, 1822). 25mm Common 5 Diodora calyculata (Sowerby, 1823). 28mm Common 6. Diodora elevata (Dunker, 1846). 22mm Common 7. Diodora elizabethae (E. A. Smith, 1901). 35mm Uncommon 8. Diodora parviforata (Sowerby, 1889). 25mm Rare 9. Diodora spreta (E. A. Smith, 1901). 28mm Common 10. Fissurella mutabilis (Sowerby, 1834). 20mm Common
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Class: GASTROPODA
11. Pupillaea aperta (Sowerby, 1825). 38mm Uncommon 12. Medufissurella dubia (Reeve, 1849). 30mm Common 13. Cosmetalepas africana (Tomlin, 1926). 20mm Uncommon 14. Amblychelepas platyactis (McLean & Kilburn, 1986). 25mm Rare
FAM. : TROCHIDAE 15. Gibbula cicer (Menke in Philippi, 1844). 6mm Common 16. Gibbula benzi (Krauss, 1848). 12mm Common 17. Gibbula multicolor (Krauss, 1848). 6mm Common 18. Gibbula multicolor fm. biporcata (A. Adams, 1850). 6mm Uncommon 19. Gibbula loculosa (Gould, 1861. 10mm Rare 20. Clanculus mixtus (E. A. Smith, 1903). 12mm Common
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Class: GASTROPODA
21. Clanculus waltonae (Sowerby, 1892). 12mm Rare 22. Clanculus miniatus (Anton, 1839). 16mm Common 23. Calliostoma africanum (Bartsch, 1915). 14mm Uncommon 24. Calliostoma ornatum (Lamarck, 1822). 20mm Common 25. Diloma tigrina (Anton, 1839). 35mm Uncommon 26. Diloma sinensis (Gmelin, 1791). 40mm Common 27. Diloma variegata (Anton, 1839). 20mm Common
FAM. : TURBINIDAE 28. Turbo sarmaticus (Linnaeus, 1758). 100mm Common 29. Turbo cidaris (Gmelin, 1791). 38mm Common 30. Cinysca granulosa (Krauss, 1848). 7mm Common
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Class: GASTROPODA
31. Cinysca forticostata (E. A. Smith, 1904). 6.5mm Uncommon 32. Tricoliakochii (Phillippi in Krauss, 1848). 25mm Abundant
FAM. : NERITIDAE 33. Nerita albicilla (Linnaeus, 1758). 25mm Common
Order: DOCOGLOSSA FAM. : PATELLIDAE 34. Patella argenvillei (Krauss, 1848). 80mm Uncommon 35. Patella miniata (Miniata Born, 1778). 75mm Common 36. Patella tabularis (Krauss, 1848). 90mm Common 37. Patella oculus (Born, 1778). 80mm Common 38. Patella compressa (Linnaeus, 1758). 70mm Rare 39. Patella longicosta (Lamarck, 1819). 60mm Common 40. Patella cochlear (Born, 1778). 60mm Common
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