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Murex torrifactus
The first specimen of C. bregeriana in Fiji was collected by Mr. A. Jennings at an island off the Nadi coast. Subsequent
specimens were dredged by A. Jennings at Momi (West coast of Viti Levu), however, they were dead. The first live specimen was
dredged by Jennings and myself off the island of Akuilau (W off Nadi) in only 2 fms depth. The locality was sandy bottom,
broken coral, and a lot of short stubby green weed. C. lutea humphreysii is found in the same locality, clinging to the
leaf-like weed. The bregeriana fell out of a crevice from a coral which was brought in by the dredge.
The six specimens so far found in Fiji (3 live-collected and 3 beach) compare fairly well with New Caledonian specimens, and
differ only slightly in the following characteristics:
1. They are much smaller.
2. The lilac rim around the dorsum is extremely pale.
3. The marginal dark brown spots are absent.
4. The white "dust spots" extend much farther up the dorsum (labial side up to 1/3 of the height of the shell and on the
columellar side they reach half way up the dorsum).
The mean measurements and teeth count of the 6 Fiji specimens are as follows: Length: 18mm, Width: 62% of Length, Height: 51%
of Length, Lab. T: 20, Col. T: 19.
The specimens of C. bregeriana that I have examined showed that the feature of the white spots on the base and margins are a
consistent feature, lacking in all other races of walkeri. I examined the following specimens:
11 specimens in the Australian Museum, Sydney. (ex-Rossitter coll., all from New Caledonia.)
13 specimens in New Caledonian collections (Bernie. Mus., Reverce, Tourres and D. Boust coll.)
2 specimens from New Caledonia in my own collection.
6 specimens collected in Fiji.
Radula studies from a Fiji-collected specimen were made by Dr. Schilder, and his results were kindly made available for
publication in this article. Some of the radula indices were as follows: radula contained 96 plus 8 (nascentes) rows, its
entire length was 7.9mm (shell length was 12.4mm), and the breadth of the median was 0.071mm. Illustrated is a drawing (after
Schilder) of half a row of the radula examined. Dr. Schilder states that there is not the slightest difference between the
radula of bregeriana and the radula of walkeri which he examined from Dangar Besar, Saleh Bay, Indonesia. Both of these agree
with Vayssière's illustration of the radula of bregeriana from Noumea (1927).
For the reef crawler who likes tide pools and the splash zone of reefs, the best area is from the Barber's Point Light House
to the Campbell Estate Barge Harbor. In general the shore in this area is composed of coral slabs and law (2 to 4 ft.)
cliff-like drop-offs on which the usually rather moderate breakers wash over at high tide and which are left dry except for
sometimes rather heavy splashing during low tide. Small to moderate tide pools are the rule but occasionally rather large
pools may be found. At times this area has no breakers and the shore line then offers moderately good shelling in shallow
water suitable for a diver equipped with mask, flippers, and snorkel. A look box can also be used in the more shallow areas
in very quiet waters. In these tidal areas by far the most common shell is Nerita picea which can be taken by the hundreds.
Also I have collected Nerita neglecta and more rarely Nerita plicata. Also very common are all Philippines species of the
Littorinidae. Occasionally I find shells of the Patellidae family clinging to coral or rocks. Also in the tidal pools,
clinging to the underside of small coral chunks, were Purpura intermedia and harpa. And finally, for the splash zone, my
first Hydatina amplustre was collected in the rocky area midway between Barber's Point lighthouse and the barge harbor.
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