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Pecten palleum
C. cribraria is not known to occur in Mauritius; Viader (Maurit. Inst. Bull., 1(2), 1937), recorded C. cribraria from
Mauritius, however, Viader's records are unreliable, and were compiled from literature records and not actual specimens
examined. Viader reports Pacific species, e.g. C. eburnea, C. mariae and C. gaskoini from Mauritius.
C. esontropia most probably evolved from C. cribraria, through effective geographical isolation, on the same lines as C.
caputdraconis from Easter Island (Pacific), C. semiplota Mighels and C. granulata Pease, from Philippines, and C.
erythraeensis Sowerby, from the Red Sea region. C. esontropia is regarded as a weak species by some, strong subspecies by
others, and a valid species by most workers.
Back on the boat our loot included Conus glans, stercus; Muscarium and Scabreusculus, Cypraea chinensis and poraria; Lambis
lambis (by the dozen); Rapa violacea; Nassarius papillosus; Oliva miniacea; Mitra ambigus; Murex adusta and triqueter to name
a few.
After lunch we traveled further into the Bay and dove again with about similar results. About 3 P.M. we anchored all the way
inside the Bay and could even see some native huts on the beach. The water still was deep but more dirty here. We were told
that Selangium Bay is used as an anchorage for the U.S. Navy Fleet during the typhoon season and I can easily believe this as
it is 50' deep all over right up to 100 feet off shore.
Anyway, into shore three of us went. The rest of the party were too tired to dive anymore. The reef, as such, was all dead
and very dirty, only about 3' deep too. We spread out and started to look over the area. It was mostly dead silty slabs of
coral and dead coral heads to turn over. Only a few Lambis and Cypraea erosa were found and nothing else. As I was about to
give up and head back to the boat with the other divers, I noticed a small, dirty sand patch about 4" x 12" with two
elongated humps sticking out of it. As this was just a glance I didn't think much of it, till I remembered the shape of a
shell shown in Webb's Handbook, Plate 5, see #8, and instantly it came to me what Webb said, "I have had these from the west
coast of Luzon" which is where I was today. Before me, in 3' of dirty, muddy water was a perfect pair (alive) of Murex clavus
- a synonym for Murex elongatus. My joy was boundless and I had everyone in the boat looking for this rarity in no time. We
spent till almost dusk, but to no avail. There just were no Murex elongatus on that reef anywhere.
We had a bit of a time getting home as the boat's running lights were burned out, and we hadn't planned on traveling after
dark. The moon was out and all went well till we came to Subic Bay. From here on we were in the main channel that the
aircraft carriers use and it was a scary run into port, but we made it O.K. Everyone had a good time and for me it was one of
the finest diving trips I had made in years. No doubt, we and many others will go back to Selangium Bay as these were the
first 2 live Murex elongatus found in this area with accurate locality data, from what I can gather talking to the local
divers and shell collectors. The natives bring them to Manila from the Sulu Sea area but never seem to know exactly how or
where they are found.
The Murex elongatus were covered with seaweed and moss and blended in well with the dirty brown to black reef. With their odd
shape too, they don't look like a normal sea shell at all.
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