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Shell bracelets
The highlights of this trip were furnished by Sylvia who helped us find live Cyphoma gibbosum and C. mcgintyi on the Atlantic
side and live Lima scabra in a man-made lagoon on the Gulf side only two blocks from our motel. We had often admired the
pictures of these shells but as we had been strictly shallow water wading shellers, we had never thought we'd have the chance
to see and collect them alive in their natural surroundings.
To get to the Cyphoma we parked the car less than 50 feet from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, waded across a channel about 4
feet deep at low tide but only about 15 feet wide, climbed up on a coral reef and were right at the gorgonians on which we
found the Cyphoma. The water was only 10 to 20 inches deep over the reef so sometimes we almost collided with the large sea
urchins as we were snorkeling. It was a real thrill to see the live Cyphoma on the plants and especially the mcgintyi.
Between the three of us on two successive afternoons, we collected a total of (24) gibbosum and (8) mcgintyi so they weren't
really plentiful.
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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