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The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Volume 3: The Seashells by Roger McIlroy and Novi E. Yusniasita Dols including Fossil Shells by Han Raven Photographs by Roger McIlroy (RM) Novi E.Yusniasita Dols (NY) Hans Dols (HD) Claudia and Walter Obendrauf (CO) 1st Edition: Nov 2008 Panaga Natural History Society Panaga, Seria, Brunei Darussalam 1 1) Tun 2) Fig Shell 3) Moon Snails 4) Apple Snail 5) Helmet Shell 6) Tibia 7) Turritella 8) Straw Sundial (left) and Clear Sundial (right) 9) Cone Shell 10) Conch (fossil) 11) Helmet Shell 12) Top Shells (Moon Snail to upper left) 13) Common Button Tops 14) Olives 15) Helmet Shells 16) Babylon 17) Frog Shell 18) Clam 19) Nerite 20) Cowrie 21) Egg Cowrie 22) Murex 23) Ark Shell 24) Murex 25) Rays Shell 26) Cockles 27) Donax Clams 28) Donax Clams 29) Oyster 30) Giant Barnacle 31) Egg Case 32) Sand Dollar 33) Starfish This display of shells collected by Claudia Obendrauf offer a very fine selection of the commonest shells to be found on the Heart of Borneo Beaches (CO) Published by Brunei Press Commercial Printing Services Email: [email protected] Website: www.bruneipress.com.bn Tel: +673 245 6170 1st Edition published in Nov 2008 ISBN 99917-32-23-3 Copyright © 2008 in text: Roger McIlroy and Novi E. Yusniasita Dols Copyright © 2008 in photographs: Roger McIlroy and Novi E. Yusniasita Dols or as credited All rights reserved. No part of this 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 written permission of the copyright holders. Contact the authors and find out more about this series via: PNHS website: http://www.bsp.com.bn/panagaclub/pnhs/ Cover Photograph: The tiny Common Button Tops Umbonium vestiarum are as common and as beautifully variable on the beach as snowflakes in a blizzard. Every one has a unique coloration and pattern, and offer fantastic photos for the close-up cameraman. A Nassa Mud Snail Nassarius (Zeuxis) castus, with hermit crab and a brown Whelk Cantharus (Clivipollia) wagneri have gate crashed this Common Button Top assemblage. (RM) Printed in Brunei Darussalam Contents Section 1: The Seashells........................................................................ 1 Gastropods........................................................................... 4 Abalones...................................................................................... 6 Babylons...................................................................................... 7 Conches (Kalasiu or Gong-gong)................................................. 8 Cone Shell................................................................................... 9 Cowrie......................................................................................... 10 Crown Shell................................................................................. 11 Ear Shell....................................................................................... 11 Fig Shells...................................................................................... 12 Frog Shell..................................................................................... 13 Harp Shell.................................................................................... 13 Helmet Shells............................................................................... 14 Horn Shells.................................................................................. 15 Limpets........................................................................................ 16 Mitres.......................................................................................... 18 Moon Snails................................................................................. 19 Mud Creepers (Tekuyong Sirok).................................................. 21 Murex.......................................................................................... 22 Nassa Mud Snail.......................................................................... 23 Nerites (Tekuyong Timba)........................................................... 24 Olives........................................................................................... 25 Sundials....................................................................................... 28 Tibias........................................................................................... 29 Triton Shells................................................................................. 30 Tankard Shells.............................................................................. 31 Top Shells.................................................................................... 31 Tuns............................................................................................. 33 Turban Shell................................................................................. 34 Turritella...................................................................................... 35 Vase Shell..................................................................................... 36 Volutes......................................................................................... 36 Wentletrap................................................................................... 37 Readers who wish to search by the scientific name are referred to the Index and Checklist at the back of the booklet. Section 2: Bivalves................................................................................ 38 Ark Shells..................................................................................... 41 Asiatic Hard Clams...................................................................... 42 Cockles........................................................................................ 42 Donax Clams............................................................................... 43 Glass Shells.................................................................................. 44 Oysters (Tiram)............................................................................ 46 Piddocks...................................................................................... 47 Razor Shell or Razor Clam (Pahat-pahat)..................................... 48 Ray Shells..................................................................................... 49 Shipworms................................................................................... 50 Terrestrial and Fresh Water Snails......................................... 51 Apple Snails (Kalambuai)............................................................. 51 Land Snail.................................................................................... 52 Cephalopods........................................................................ 53 Harvest Cuttlefish (Kalabutan)..................................................... 53 Echinoderms........................................................................ 54 Keyhole Sand Dollar..................................................................... 55 Sand Star...................................................................................... 56 Coelenterata......................................................................... 57 Coral............................................................................................ 57 Crustaceans.......................................................................... 58 Crabs........................................................................................... 59 Fossil Shells (by Han Raven)................................................ 60 Displaying Shells.................................................................. 64 Photographic Notes.............................................................. 66 Glossary................................................................................ 67 References............................................................................ 70 Websites............................................................................... 71 Checklist and Index to Species............................................. 72 Quick identification Guides for Common Gastropods......... 76 Foreword Dr Grahaeme Henderson Managing Director, Brunei Shell Petroleum C are and concern for the environment is an integral part of Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP)’s business. Our efforts were duly recognised in 2008 when we won the prestigious Shell Chief Executive HSSE global award for environmental performance. Everyone in Brunei Darussalam is proud of this huge achievement. BSP is the leader in the private sector in providing support for the Government’s conservation efforts. We contribute significantly towards the Government-led, landmark biodiversity conservation initiative, the Heart of Borneo. We also partner the Government on a wide range of initiatives, including the Anduki forest reserve biodiversity plan, Sungai Seria wetlands, PRYNSA schools’ outreach programme, and numerous eco tourism projects. BSP is delighted to sponsor this series of booklets on the seashore life of Brunei Darussalam written by our employees, along with contributors from Panaga Natural History Society and others passionate about the environment. Well researched and attractively illustrated, they will further add to efforts to promote this country’s incredibly rich, hugely diverse and largely pristine environment to a wider audience. Looking after our environment is vital…for today, tomorrow and for future generations. Preface Hans Dols Honorary President, Panaga Natural History Society (PNHS) M any who visit Brunei’s tropical seashore will be quickly aware they are entering a very special place. This is a new world with much to be seen, touched and explored. All will be fascinated by the diversity of our coastal ecosystem and want to find out why it is so important to them and to Brunei. What started as short leaflets to illustrate our beach excursions has grown into a series of booklets presenting a whole gamut of information dealing with our coastal flora, fauna, and the physical environment we all share. Roger McIlroy compiled the information from various sources and with the help of contributors from the PNHS and others involved in preserving Brunei’s environment has spent many hours distilling the best information on a multitude of topics and has managed to write all this down in a very handy and readable format fit for a wide audience. This series of booklets are only a start and the PNHS hopes that many will be inspired by this work to create further editions on the seashore life and indeed on other wildlife of Brunei to help sustain these wonders for posterity. Acknowledgements T he seashell collections on which this guide is based are mostly from Panaga beach, between Kuala Belait and Seria. Many of the specimens can be inspected in the PNHS shell collection, in which regard we would like to acknowledge Ricardo Villar who from 1992-1995 recorded more than 200 gastropod species and donated his collection to the PNHS, and also Kwie Hiang van de Graaf for making available her extensive collection of Panaga beach seashells for study. In particular we should thank Dr Han Raven who collected more than 2000 species of recent and fossil shells from Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah while residing in Miri, Sarawak, from 1992-1997. Han is now a scientific associate with the National Natuurhistorisch Museum, Naturalis in the Netherlands, and based on his collection is preparing a series of “Notes on Molluscs from North West Borneo” for “Vita Malacologica.” With his encyclopaedic knowledge of Borneo shells, he has been invaluable in the correct identification of the PNHS shell collection, the shell collection in the Brunei Muzium and in the editing of this booklet. We would also like to thank Marina Wong, Aziah binte Hj Ahmad and Esther Lee for their inspirational 1996 Common Seashore Life of Brunei, an indispensible reference, Jackie Maskall for her editorial skills, the BSP External Affairs Dept. Team and May Lim and the Brunei Press Team for the final product. The Heart of Borneo Initiative T he World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has for many years been driving initiatives to protect the biodiversity of the Borneo rainforest. In addition, efforts to promote responsible forest trade have reached new milestones. In November 2003, the WWF brought to Singapore groups such as Conservation International (CI), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC); where it was agreed that the concept of a transboundary conservation area in Borneo should be promoted, with WWF taking the lead. This area became known as the Heart of Borneo, and this programme is leading the way to conserve one of the world’s most precious biodiversity treasures (Ref 1). The support of the three nations that make up the island of Borneo, Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, was Brunei on NW Coast of Borneo (Ref 10) secured, culminating in the Declaration on The Heart of Borneo Initiative signed in Bali, Indonesia, in February 2007. The Heart of Borneo, with its message of: “Three Countries, One Conservation Vision” covers a total of 220,000 square km of equatorial rainforest The signatories of the Declaration on the Heart of Borneo through a network of Initiative: Three Countries, One Conservation Vision. areas and Brunei’s signatory, Pehin Dato Dr. Awang Haji Ahmad bin protected Haji Jumat, on far left (Brunei Forestry Dept) sustainably-managed forest, and through international co-operation led by the governments of the three countries. The approximate boundaries of the HoB rainforest with the preliminary demarcation of the HoB rainforest Brunei has the highest proportion of its land area covered by rainforest and is unique and special in that the Heart of Borneo rainforest continues into the lowlands. This means the HoB rainforest is never far from the coast throughout Brunei, and actually reaches the seashore of the South China Sea in the Belait District near Kuala Belait, and Brunei Bay in Temburong. This the third volume in this series describes the seashells and other shelly remains to be found on this seashore and follows on from the volumes describing the physical environment and the seashore plants. The Seashells booklet also covers many other “finds” washed up or stranded on the beach. The Starfish Astrospecten sp. is one example. Heart of Borneo beaches have many of these voracious hunters, who embrace their prey then extrude their stomach out to engulf and ingest it! (RM) The Seashells The Seashells Introduction T he HoB beaches provide a rich and fascinating source of seashells. A casual walker can always rely on finding a wide variety of shells, and at low tide, the living shellfish can be examined. Each visit is almost guaranteed to provide something new and fascinating. The Heart of Borneo beaches, nature coexisting with Brunei’s hydrocarbon development (BSP) 1 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Seashells are the hard outer protective case of marine organisms collectively called shellfish. Of these, the molluscs are the largest group. Molluscs have adapted, survived and diversified far longer and far more successfully than most groups of organisms. Unlike most organisms, molluscs, especially shelled molluscs, have chronicled these progressive changes in a 570 million year long fossil record. Shells stand therefore as examples of the cumulative refinements of form resulting from natural selection over hundreds of millions of generations. That evolution produces such forms of beauty and also produces creatures (us!) that can appreciate such beauty is a matter of wonderment. Molluscs (Kerang-kerang in Malay) provide a fairly wide range of seashells. The number of species living along the Brunei coast is likely to be many hundreds, if not several thousand, (Ref 9) though only a small proportion can A typical sifting of shells from the beach at low tide (RM) 2 The Seashells be considered common as the HoB beaches offer no sheltering rocks or coral. The broad stretch of fine sand is very exposed to the elements with strong tides and wave action, meaning that though occasionally washed up, algae and seaweeds do not grow Clam fisherlady equipped for a good catch of Kanau (RM) there. There is therefore a limited choice of habitats and food for shellfish. However a wide range of relatively uncommon shells are also washed up from deeper water further offshore and also fossil shells from older sediments which are eroded away are often found. The living molluscs that can be routinely observed are generally small although abundant, like the Common Button Top, the Donax Clam and Common Olive. A number of large edible bivalves are present and although not readily visible can be examined as captives in fishermen’s buckets. There are eleven or so classes of organisms in the Mollusc phylum (a phylum is a group of animals with a similar body plan), of these the main classes described in this volume are the gastropods, bivalves and cephalopods. The Bold script refers to the common name in English, and also in bold, but in brackets, the local Malay name followed by the Family name. On the next line, the scientific name is given in italics followed by the author citation, ie the name of the individual (or team) who first described the species, the year, and the length of the shell in mm. 3 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Gastropods G astropods are the most diversified class in the phylum of molluscs, with 60,000-75,000 known living species. This class of animals is second only to insects in its number of known species. Gastropods have a single spiral shell formed from calcium carbonate secreted from the mantle, the outside of the body wall of the mollusc. The animal inside has a head with eyes and tentacles and a mouth equipped with an abrasive tongue or “radula” with which it can graze on diatoms and other algae or in some species, penetrate the shells of its prey. The radula is covered in sharp teeth in rows with as many as 1000,000 teeth. The radula also acts like a conveyor belt, bringing forward new teeth as old teeth are worn away. Predatory marine snails such as the Cone Shells use a specialized radula tooth as a harpoon. Many gastropods can retreat into their shell and close a door (operculum) behind them to avoid predation, although in others, the operculum is reduced or eliminated, or even adapted for other uses. For instance, in species of conches, the operculum is elongated and claw-shaped, and is used to dig into the sand to enable the conch to perform a leaping type of locomotion. Many marine gastropods are burrowers, and have a siphon acting as a snorkel, enabling the animal to continuously draw in a water current Main organs of a marine gastropod, drawn and annotated by Novi containing oxygen Dols 4 The Seashells and food into their bodies. The siphon is actually an elongated extension of the mantle which is rolled into a tube. The snail extends it out of the left side of its shell to suck in water, which then flows past the gill “ctenidium” to take in oxygen, and exhale carbon dioxide, the oxygen depleted water being expelled at the right side. The siphons are also used to “taste” the water, in order to detect prey from a distance. Sometimes the shell has a siphonal canal to accommodate and protect this structure. Gastropods also have a single muscular foot that has evolved to allow movement and tunnelling. Operation of the gastropod radula. Tongue muscles (brown) move the abrasive radula, which is a toothed chitinous ribbon, back and forward to scrape food or bore into a victims shell (Ref W13) A. 1. 2. 9. D. F. 3. C. E. 4. 6. 10. 5. 7. 8. B. G. A. Apex posterior B. Anterior C. Length D. Spine E. Body F. Whorl G. Aperture 1. Shoulder 2. Axial ribs 3. Spiral ribs 4. Labial ribs 5. External Lip 6. Internal Lip 7. Siphon 8. Siphonal canal 9. Situres 10. Columellar folds Schematic of a gastropod shell, drawn and annotated by Novi Dols. 5 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Abalones Fam. Haliotidae Ear Abalone Haliotis planata Sowerby, 1833, 57 mm I t is unfortunately rare to find this large and beautiful shell locally. The shell is thin and light, but not fragile, and is characterised by a line of holes on the side known as “ostioles” which allow the release Ear Abalone Haliotis planata (NY) of water from the gills. The innermost layer of the shell is composed of mother-of-pearl, which in many species is highly iridescent, giving rise to a range of strong and changeable colours which make Ear Abalone Haliotis planata underside showing iridescent them attractive as mother-of pearl (NY) decorations. The flesh of certain large abalones is a desirable food. Abalones live in shallow water beneath rocks along the shoreline and in reef plateaux. They are herbivorous, feeding on algae. 6 The Seashells Babylons Fam. Babyloniidae Spotted Babylon Babylonia borneensis Sowerby III, 1864, 30-50mm The Babylon Babylonia borneensis, one of the most beautiful of Panaga gastropods but common only in fragments. (30-50mm) (RM) I t is difficult to find a perfectly intact Babylon although many fragments of broken Babylon shells can be found, quite easy to recognize because of their distinctive pattern. The base colour is cream with brown spots in spiral rows. In older specimens the brown spots fade to orange. The operculum is horny. The Babylon Babylonia borneensis. The shell in the middle is fresh, whilst the outer two are older and discoloured. (HD) Babylons are primarily scavengers, feeding on carrion. In some parts of SE Asia, they are caught for food in bamboo traps baited with dead fish. 7 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Conches (Kalasiu or Gong-Gong) Fam. Strombidiae Aratrum Conch Strombus (Euprotomus) aratrum Roding, 1798, 80 mm. (locally as fossils) Dog Conch (Kalasiu) Strombus (Laevistrombus) canarium Linnaeus, 1758, 67 mm. and the closely related Strombus (Laevistrombus) turturella Röding, 1798 Marginate Conch Strombus (Dolomena) marginatus robustus Linnaeus, 1758, 48 mm. Vittate Conch Strombus (Doxander) vittatus apicatus Man in’t Veld & Visser, 1993 60 mm. Dog Conch Strombus (Laevistrombus) Aratrum conch Strombus turturella (NY) aratrum (NY) (probably a fossil). C onches are edible herbivorous gastropods Vittate Conch Strombus vittatus of a medium to large size (50-160mm) apicatus (HD) that inhabit sandy mud in shallow water. As they graze the sea bottom on algae and other vegetable matter, the flared shell edge protects the animal while feeding. They are sometimes called the sea cows of the shell world! They also have a strong foot that, aided by a serrated operculum, allows them to vault away from predators. At least four types of conch as listed above can be found locally, the Dog Conch being the most common. This is handy, as it is a prized dish, and can be widely found deep fried (often as fritters) in SE Asia. The Aratrum Conch found locally is probably a fossil as fresh specimens have only been reported from Sabah (Ref 9). 8 The Seashells Cone Shell Fam. Terebridae Figuline Cone Conus (Cleobula) figulinus Linnaeus, 1758, 55 mm. Hyaena Cone Conus (Chelyconus) hyaena Hwass in Bruguiere, 1792, 54 mm. Textile Cone Conus (Cylinder) textile Linnaeus, 1758, 78 mm. S everal types of Cone Shell are found on the HoB beaches, although identification is not easy as the shell is sometimes covered with a horny skin (periostracum), which conceals the pattern. Also, beware! They have From left to right a.b. Conus hyaena, c.d. Conus figulinus Only the one on the right is fresh, the others an elongated proboscis that are probably Holocene fossils (Ref 9) (RM) contains tiny harpoon shaped structures that are actually modified teeth. Contact with prey will trigger the harpoon, carrying along with it enough venom to paralyse the victim or worse – live individuals should not be handled! (Ref 6). Thankfully, only the shells are usually found here, although live Figuline Cones with their black body and shells covered by algae have been seen in a tide pool at Panaga E7. Thankfully this species is harmless (Ref 9). The most dangerous cone shell, the textile shell, Conus (Cylinder) textile (Linnaeus, 1758) 78 mm, is found locally but only so far as empty specimens or fragments in Panaga, Muara, and Miri, Sarawak. Live Conus (NY) Textile Cone Shell Conus (Cylinder) textile (NY) 9 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Cowrie Fam. Cypraeidae Arabian Cowrie Cypraea arabica Linnaeus, 1758, 47 mm. Miliaris Cowrie Cypraea miliaris Gmelin, 1791 Onyx Cowrie Cypraea onyx Linnaeus, 1758 C ommon cowries found in Panaga are small but beautifully formed. Fresh specimens are glossy with vivid colours, but most specimens found on the beach are old and worn Like most snails, cowries begin life with a typical helically coiled shell. The final whorl however becomes greatly expanded and envelops all previous whorls. Cowries look very different in action, as the shell is completely enveloped by the mantle (outer layer of the body) which also maintains the glossy surface of the shell by the secretion of a pearl-like substance. Juvenile cowries are often plain and only develop complex patterns and colours in adulthood. Arabian Cowrie Cypraea arabica (NY) Arabian Cowrie Cypraea arabica underside (NY) Top: Cypraea arabica, lower left: Cypraea miliaris, lower right: Cypraea onyx (5 cent piece) (RM) 10 The Seashells Crown Shell Fam. Melongenidae Crown Shell Hemifusus ternatanus Gmelin, 1791, 120 mm. T his carnivorous animal feeds on other molluscs on muddy bottoms near mangroves or estuaries. It is a rare shell locally, coveted because of the large and unique aperture. Bright brown in colour, it has a long siphonal canal and a thick, elongated operculum. Crown Shell Hemifusus ternatanus (NY) Ear Shell Fam. Ellobiidae Midas Ear Shell Ellobium aurismidae Linnaeus, 1758, 82 mm. Nuclea Ear Shell Cassidula nucleus Gmelin, 1791, 22 mm. Panther Ear Shell Pythia pantherina A. Adams, 1850, 16 mm. Panther Ear Shell showing lateral stripes (RM) T his family has relatively few species and is limited to habitats of intertidal mangrove or brackish water swamp in the Heart of Borneo sungais. They are terrestrial snails and breathe air through lungs. The name “ear” derives from the very prominent enlarged teeth on the lip, which prevent predators entering the aperture to attack the Ear Panther Ear Shell Pythia pantherina (NY) 11 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Shell. Panther Ear Shells also have a “stripe” along the side. The Midas Ear Shell E. aurismidae is much broader and when alive, is covered by a thin, dark brown periostracum. In the photograph, the periostracum has been eroded revealing the shell’s white colour beneath. Nuclea Ear Shell Cassidula nucleus (NY) Midas Ear Shell Ellobium aurismidae (NY) Fig Shells Fam. Ficidae Variegated Fig Shell Ficus variegata Roding, 1798, 47 mm. Underlined Fig Shell Ficus subintermedia d’Orbigny, 1852, 50 mm (almost certainly a junior synonym of Ficus ficus Linnaeus, 1758, (Ref 9) T Variegated Fig Shell Ficus variegata distinguished by purple aperture (RM) Fig shells Ficus subintermedia. wide opening indicative of predatory burrowing (RM) 12 hese predatory snails get their name from their shape, which is reminiscent of the fruit, and live on sandy bottoms at tide levels and below, generally at depths exceeding 25 metres where they feed on worms and echinoderms such as sand dollars. The attractive light and fragile shell is tinted orange with brown tints with varying numbers and sizes of spots. The streamlined and large open aperture is indicative of a predatory burrowing habit. The Seashells Frog Shell Fam. Bursidae Elegant Frog Shell Bufonaria elegans Sowerby, 1835, 42 mm. Rana Frog Shell Bufonaria rana Linnaeus, 1758, 36 mm. T he common name Frog Shell comes from the knobbly sculptured aspect of most species, which resembles the warty skin of some frogs. These species live on sandy bottoms below tide level. They are carnivorous and secrete an acid used to paralyse their prey of various worms. Sized up to 50mm, the shells are fairly common on the beach as homes for hermit crabs. Rana Frog Shell Bufonaria rana (RM) Elegant Frog Shell Bufonaria elegans with resident hermit crab (HD) Harp Shell Fam. Harpidae Harpa articularis Lamarck, 1822, 35 – 60 mm. H arps are relatively large predatory molluscs that live buried beneath the sand in shallow water. They are characterised by strong radial ribbing that adds strength to the shell. They are able to shed the rear portion of their foot, like the ability of some lizards to shed their tails, this presumably distracts potential predators while the animal escapes. Harp Shells: Harpidae Harpa articularis (RM), specimen on the right worn by wave action. It is reported that Harp Shells come to the surface after dark to forage, mainly for crabs. 13 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Helmet Shells Fam. Cassidae Helmet Shell Phalium bisulcatum Linnaeus, 1758, 64 mm. Helmet Shell Phalium (Phalium) bandatum Perry 1811 H elmet shells (so called as large varieties can be the size and shape of an old fashioned military helmet), are relatively common and have a distinctive grid-like pattern. Broken parts are usually found, but an occasional Helmet Shell Phalium bisulcatum (Ref W12) complete specimen turns up. Helmet Shells inhabit burrows on open sandy bottoms, from which they emerge at the turn of the tide and crawl about in search of food. Their prey consists mostly of sand-dwelling sea urchins and sand dollars. Phalium bisulcatum, is the most common species of the Borneo seashore locally, although Phalium (Phalium) bandatum has also been found, though this may be a Holocene (fossil) specimen (Ref 9). Helmet Shell Phalium bandatum (HD) 14 (Phalium) The Seashells Horn Shells Vertagus Horn Shell Rhinoclavis vertagus Linnaeus, 1758, 30-50 mm. Fam. Cerithiidae Telescope Shell/Creeper (Berungun) Telescopium telescopium Linnaeus, 1758, 98 mm Fam. Potamididae Vertagus Horn Shell Rhinoclavis Vertagus (RM) H orn shells are elongated spiral shells, with rounded aperture and a very short siphonal canal. The Vertagus Horn Shell is of medium to large size at 3050mm. It is quite thick and robust, with a slightly tapered Telescope Shell/Creeper Telescopium telescopium (RM) lip, and is generally yellowish white. Members of this group have an upturned canal in the shell which protects the siphon and allows them to live just beneath the surface in fine calcareous mud of coral reef areas, from very shallow to deeper waters. The elongated Telescope Shell or Telescope Creeper is distinctive for its thick heavy shell with numerous flattened whorls and is one of the biggest shells to be found locally. It is exposed in mangroves during very low tides using its highly extendable proboscis to gather titbits from the mud surface. The snail is edible. 15 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Limpets Order Patellogastropoda or Siphonariidae L impets have a simple conical shell and attach themselves to the substrate using their muscular foot. They can hold themselves against the rock surface with very considerable force when necessary, enabling them to withstand wave action, predation and also helping them to avoid drying out during low tide, even when in full sunlight. Small limpet or possibly false limpet amongst an oyster covered rig block substrate (RM) 16 The Seashells Limpets are only occasionally seen along the HoB beaches due to the lack of hard surfaces. However shown here is a very small (1 cm) example along with oysters on a rig support block. The example shown be a true Limpet ie a Patellogastropod but it may also be a representative of the Siphonariidae or False Limpets which always occur high in the littoral zone. The latter breathes through a siphon that emerges on the side of the shell, which therefore always has a small part of the shell protruding from the otherwise ellipsoid shape. A rig support block offering a rare hard substrate on local beaches for numerous organisms.(RM) 17 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Mitres Mitre Shells Mitra (Nebularia) aurantia aurantia Gmelin, 1791, 22 mm Fam. Mitridae Ribbed Mitre Vexillum vulpeculum Linnaeus, 1758, 43 mm. Fam. Costellariidae M itres are so named because of their resemblance to the conical peaked headware sometimes worn by ecclesiastical figures. The Mitridae are a large family with quite a lot of variability in size and generally brightly coloured, although the Costellariidae has also many species with more subdued tones. They are characterised by their spindle shape and the folds or teeth on the inner lip (columella). They live buried under the sand, only emerging to hunt at night. Their long and flexible proboscis is used to inject a paralysing venom into their prey before consuming it. Ribbed Mitres have strong axial ridges and often colourful spiral banding. 18 Mitre Shell Mitra (Nebularia) aurantia aurantia (RM) Ribbed Mitres Vexillum vulpeculum (RM) The Seashells Moon Snails, Sand Snails Fam. Naticidae Bladder Moon Snail Polinices (Glossaulax) didyma Roding, 1798, 28 mm Nerite Sand/Ear/Moon Snail Sinum neritoideum Linnaeus, 1758, 29 mm. Tumid Moon Snail (Tekuyong Putih) Polinices tumidus Swainson, 1840, 25 mm. Tumid Moon Snails Polinices tumidus (RM) T here are more than ten moon snail species in the PNHS collection, but the Tumid and Bladder Moon Snails are the most common. They are edible shellfish, (16-39 mm) but fishermen don’t collect them locally, preferring bigger bivalves. The shell is most often seen occupied by a hermit crab, but the live mollusc may sometimes be observed at very low tides. It is an aggressive carnivore that emerges at night to prey on other molluscs, especially bivalves, by boring holes into their shells using an acid solution. The holes drilled by Moon Snails and other predatory shellfish are often evident on collected shells. The seabed is not a peaceful place! In the late afternoon its trail can be observed on muddy sand, but mostly it burrows just below the surface in search of bivalves. It often has an attractive pure white shell that is used instead of pebbles in the traditional game of Congkak, although Bladder Moon Snails Polinices didyma (RM) 19 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo locally the specimens vary from pure white through various degrees of brown as shown in the illustration. The edible Bladder Moon Snail Polinices didyma is bigger than the Tumid Moon Snail at 15 -40 mm, and only exposed live at very low tides. Although their shells are nearly spherical, these animals can inflate their tissues with seawater to make a wedge shape to facilitate rapid burrowing through sand and mud. Nerite Sand Snail Sinum neritoideum(NY) The Nerite Sand Snail or Nerite Ear Snail has more of an ear-like appearance from the underside hence Moon Snail egg collars with Donax Clams for scale (RM) its common name. The shell is much smaller than the animal and is almost obscured by the mantle lobes. The eggs of the Moon Snails are cemented in a matrix of sand and hardened mucus to form a “sand collar” of about 2 -3 cm diameter. The collar terminology referring to the shape reminiscent of old fashioned separate shirt collars. Moon snails are not commonly eaten locally but are sold in markets in Thailand and Vietnam. (Ref 3). 20 The Seashells Mud Creepers (Tekuyong Sirok) Fam. Potamididae Mud Creeper Cerithidea cingulata Gmelin, 1791, 17 – 43 mm. Typical scene of live Mudcreepers forming a network of trails in the mangrove mud of Sungai Seria (RM) T hese are small brown checked conical gastropods, seen here along with Common Buttontops. The Malay name (“Sirok” means to suck) refers to how it is eaten, as the top is usually cut off the shells before cooking. These gastropods usually are found in mangroves; on the beach the shells are invariably occupied by Hermit Crabs, so the shells may have been brought there by the tide. Mud Creepers C. cingulata, often inhabited by Hermit Crabs, in a bed of Common Button Tops (RM) 21 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Murex Fam. Muricidae Drupella Murex Drupella rugosa Born, 1778. Short Spine Murex Murex brevispina ornamentalis Vokes & Ponder, 1988, 48 mm. Spine Murex Murex trapa Roding, 1798, 65 mm. Turnip Shell Rapana rapiformis Born, 1778, 35 mm, 64 mm. Short Spine Murex Murex brevispina ornamentalis (NY) Spine Murex Murex trapa (HD) M urex are carnivorous molluscs, living in shallow sub-littoral waters. Using an acid secretion they bore holes into bivalves and other shellfish, corals, barnacles and echinoderms, through which it can attack its prey. The Murex family includes many members that are highly attractive and complex in structure, their elongate shells highly sculptured with spines or fronds. The shell body consists of raised spiral ribs, with a siphonal canal much longer than the rest of the shell to protect the siphon as it probes around 22 Turnip Shell Rapana rapiformis (NY) The Seashells looking for food. The Turnip Shell in particular has a unique aperture, but is rare locally. Drupella is a voracious predator of coral, and able to detect corals by detecting chemicals emitted by the coral body. (Ref W6) Drupella rugosa vs Brunei 5c coin (16.5 mm) (RM) Nassa Mud Snail Fam. Nassariidae Nassa Mud Snail Nassarius (Zeuxis) siquijorensis A. Adams, 1852, 32 mm. Fine Line Nassa Nassarius (Zeuxis) concinnus Powys, 1835, 20 mm. T his small but fairly common shell living in shallow water, mud and sand is characterised by its long siphon, which is waved about as the animal moves across the bottom in order to detect their prey. They are scavengers, drawn by the scent of decaying crabs, fish and sometimes jellyfish and on which they feed. They also hunt for living animals such as bivalves or worms. Sometimes the live shell is found in early evening when the animals become active, in pools created by sand bars. The very first known form of personal jewellery was made of Nassarius shells. These were made 75,000 years ago in South Africa (Ref W4) Nassarius siquijorensis (HD) 23 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Nerites (Tekuyong timba) Fam. Neritidae Exuvia Nerite Nerita (Theliostyla) exuvia Linnaeus, 1758, 30mm. Striped Nerite Nerita (Ritena) balteata Reeve, 1855, 34 mm M ost Nerites live in intertidal areas, especially estuaries, where they are attached to mangrove roots, rock, or man-made structures. Other species of this family occur in fresh water or fully marine environments. The Striped Nerite Nerita (Ritena) balteata is the most common in local estuaries. Their shells are distinguished by a semicircular aperture which is straight across one end. The operculum also has a strong tooth, which is whitish and fairly thick, to lock it to the inside of the shell. This characteristic, together with the ability to attach to the hard substrate, allows them to survive in the rugged habitat of splash zone down to the intertidal zone. Nerites are edible and a popular seafood in Brunei. The Malay name Tekuyong Timba, means “Timba Snail”, a “timba” being the vessel used to bail water from boats. Nerite Nerita exuvia (NY) 24 Nerite Nerita exuvia (NY) underside showing semicircular aperture The Seashells Olives Fam. Olividae Common Olive Oliva oliva Linnaeus, 1758, 22 mm. Wide Olive Anazola nebulosa Lamarck, 1811, 40mm. The black (with white tip) variety of Common Olive Oliva Oliva is common locally (RM) O lives are commonly found tunnelling at the end of a circular track of attractive patterns on the surface of wet sand during very low tide. The super glossy surface and streamlined shape readily identifies them as rapid burrowers in the sand. Although they feed on carrion, they prefer to hunt other molluscs, especially smaller snails and bivalves that they engulf with their foot, smother with slime then pull under the sand to eat. They are often seen in The orange variety of Common Olive Oliva Oliva making a getaway (NY) 25 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo mating pairs. They exhibit a variety of colour patterns, the orange and black common olives being particularly attractive and easily found locally. Common olives, mating pair (RM) Olives: top Anazola nebulosa right and bottom Oliva oliva Scale: Brunei 5-cent piece (1.5 cm diameter) (RM) 26 Common olive Oliva oliva feeding trails make a lovely abstract pattern on a rain-flooded sand surface (RM) The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Sundials Fam. Architectonicidae Picta Sundial Architectonica picta Phillippi, 1849 Clear Sundial Architectonica modesta Phillippi, 1849 Clear Sundial Architectonica perspectiva Linnaeus, 1758 Straw Sundial Heliacus (Grandeliacus) stramineus Gmelin, 1791 T he name of this family comes from the Greek “architekton” which means “master builder” in reference to the beautiful and detailed patterns on the shells and the “spiral staircase” feature visible from underneath. It is 1050 mm in size, lives in water depth of 6 metres or more, and is commonly washed ashore all along the Brunei coastline. Sundials top left A. picta, top right A. perspectiva.(RM) (A picture of the Straw Sundial can be seen in the collection of seashells near the front of the booklet) 28 The Seashells Tibias Fam. Rostellariidae Shin Bone Tibia Tibia melanocheilus A. Adams, 1854, 40 – 110 mm. T his is one of the larger shells to be found locally, but it is not common. The extended siphonal canal is a feature that protects the Tibia’s siphon, the soft fleshy tube which serves to “smell” or “taste” the water in order to locate a possible source of food. Another feature, the “teeth” on the lip of the aperture protects the animal while feeding. Long thought to be part of the Strombidae family, recent studies indicate these “shin-bone shells” should be recognised as a separate family, the Rostellariidae. Shin Bone Tibea: Tibea melanocheilus (RM) 29 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Triton Shells Natator Tadpole Triton Gyrineum natator Roding, 1798, 28 mm. Fam. Ranellidae Reticulate Triton Distorsio reticularis Linnaeus, 1758, 54 mm Fam Personidae. T riton shells are named after the Greek god Triton, son of Poseidon, god of the sea. They are famous for the large size of many species, sometimes up to ½ metre in length, and their use as musical horns by removing the tip and blowing through them. It is also famous as one of the few predators of the notorious crown of thorns starfish. Natator Tadpole Triton Gyrineum natator(HD) The beautiful small Natator Tadpole Triton is relatively common locally, although some of the shells house hermit crabs. The Tadpole Tritons live in intertidal areas under rocks. The live Reticulate Triton has a thin periostracum with long Reticulate Triton Distorsio reticularis (NY) bristles on its dorsal surface, and the shell is usually a delicate pink in colour. 30 The Seashells Tankard Shells Fam. Angariidae Delphin Tankard Angaria delphinus Linnaeus, 1758, 37 mm. S ince it inhabits intertidal areas of coral rubble and broken reef it is rare to find this shell washed up on the beach locally. The shell is thick, strong and heavy with a blunt spine; the corneous (horny and soft) operculum Worn Tankard Shell Angaria delphinus, almost certainly Holocene of Angaria is thin and fossil (NY) transparent (compared with thick, semi circular cat’s eyes operculum of Turban Shells allowing them to withdraw deep into the interior of the shell. Live Tankard Shells feed on algae and their spines are often covered with marine growth. Top Shells Fam. Trochidae Common Button Top (Terigai, Sigai) Umbonium vestiarum Linnaeus, 1758, 6-14mm. Maculate Trochid Trochus maculatus Linnaeus, 1758, 35 – 50 mm. Pyramid Trochid Tectus pyramis Born, 1778, 53 mm. Radiated Trochid Trochus radiatus Gmelin, 1791, 20-35mm T he Trochidae are a large family with many species varying from the tiny Common Button Top to the quite large Tectus and Trochus shells. Trochus Top Shells are shorter than they are wide, while Tectus Top Shells are taller than they are narrow. Tectus pyramis (above), Trochus radiatus, (below left) and Trochus maculatus, (below right) (RM) 31 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo The Top Shells have evolved their conical shape similarly to limpets, to allow strong currents and surf to easily wash over without dislodging them. They appear in a number of colours and variation in texture. They are herbivores, feeding on algae. A wide variety of Trochus may be found at the Empire Hotel at Jerudong, where the shingly areas of the beach at the northern end of the complex are particularly rich in specimens. The “Common” Button Top is certainly common on local beaches and is second only to the Donax Clam in population of the lower shore face. A scraping of the sand will often reveal tens if not hundreds of these stunning little creatures. The shells are so small that the Common Button Tops Umbonium vestiarum and Donax Clams (RM) fantastic variety of colour and pattern is easily missed by the casual observer, but in close-up the beauty of these shells reveals itself. Local people string up the shells to make curtains. The shellfish can also be used to make a tasty soup. However, pick them up quickly as they are surprisingly quickly propelled by their muscular foot back into the sand. 32 The Seashells Tuns Fam. Tonnidae Tonna dolium Linnaeus, 1758, 58 mm. Tonna maculata Linnaeus, 1758, 55 mm. Tonna tessellata Lamarck, 1816, 62 mm. Tonna allium Dillwyn, 1817 Tuns Tonna tessellata (RM) I t’s quite rare to find these beautiful shells, and if stranded they are rapidly taken by a shell collector. The live shellfish is found from tide level down to great depth, and has a thick brown periostracum and many different colour variations. “Tun” refers to the resemblance to a round English barrel with raised metal straps. They feed at night, creeping up on their prey of molluscs, echinoderms and sleeping fish and pouncing, propelled by their large muscular foot. Jerudong beach, where land reclamation has used sand from deep water off Jerudong, is a good location to find them. Tuns from left : two specimens of T. dolium, T. tessellata and T. allium (HD) 33 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Turban Shell Fam. Turbinidae Tumid Turban Turbo (Marmarostoma) cf. angyrostoma Linnaeus, 1758 Tapestry Turban, Cat’s Eye Turban Turbo petholatus Linnaeus, 1758, 65 mm. T urbos are medium sized shells (65 mm) hard, thick and solid with a beautifully coloured pattern. The internal walls of the shell are lined with mother-of-pearl (nacre). T. petholatus is considered the most beautiful of all Turbos. The operculum is heavily calcified, thick and rounded and looks like a Cat’s Eye. Rare locally since their habitat is near coral reefs. In other parts of South East Asia, Turban Shells are extensively collected for ornaments and buttons. Cat’s eyes: examples of the Turbo’s operculum. (NY) Tumid Turban Turbo (Marmarostoma) cf. angyrostoma (NY) 34 Tapestry Turban, Cat’s Eye Turban Turbo petholatus (NY) The Seashells Turritella Fam. Turritellinae Turritella Turritella bacillum Kiener, 1835, 35 - 74 mm Screw Turritella Turritella terebra Linnaeus, 1758, 34 – 125 mm. L ike a unicorn’s horn, with its long narrow cone shape, the Turritella is one of the most distinctive and collected shells locally. Two species are found: T. bacillum whose shell is chestnut brown although also seen faded to orange on older specimens, and T. terebra, whose shell is light brown to white with more pronounced ridges on the whorls. Turritellas are often seen in abundance washed up during the monsoon period, November to February, but can be found all year round usually as individual specimens. Turritella Turritella bacillum (RM) Screw Turritella Turritella terebra (HD) 35 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Vase Shell Fam. Vasidae Vase Shell Vasum turbinellum Linnaeus, 1758, 75 mm. Vase Shell Vasum turbinellum (NY) Vase Shell Vasum turbinellum (NY) T he Vase Shell is large, very solid and heavy with fairly prominent spiral bands and large ribs on which there are stout spines. It feeds on bivalves and worms. Rare locally, with the example shown being probably a Holocene fossil. Volutes Fam. Volutidae Melo-melo Melo melo Lightfoot, 1786, 35 – 170 mm. M elo melo is the biggest shell in the PNHS collection. It is not rare locally but mostly found only as broken fragments. The Volute is a fast moving carnivore, feeding on crabs, sometimes fish and also prawn. It kills its prey by enveloping and suffocating it with its foot. It spends most of its life buried in the sandy or muddy bottom in shallow to deep waters. Melo-melo Melo melo (NY) Used in the past as a drinking vessel and for baling out boats. 36 The Seashells Wentletrap Fam. Epitoniidae Pallasi Wentletrap Epitonium pallasi neglectum Adams & Reeve, 1850, 30 mm. R Pallasi Wentletrap Epitonium pallasi neglectum (NY) arely found locally these shells have been much sought after by collectors for their unique aperture, prized by the Romans and still fetching a high price today. The name “wentletrap” means spiral stairway in Dutch, and it is the characteristic ribbing in the spiralling aperture and the open whorls that give the shell its appeal. Wentletraps are predators, and have a varied habitat. They might be found on the soft bottom of tide pools, shallow and deep water and also in the reef area associated with coral and anemones. 37 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Bivalves B ivalves are exclusively aquatic molluscs with two symmetrical valves with a hinge at the top, during life held together by powerful muscles and a hinge ligament, but in the shell The characteristic marks of the sand trawl (RM) collected on the beach, usually only the ligament remains holding the two valves together. In general bivalves don’t move around much, but this varies much depending on the life to which species have adapted. Oysters and mussels fix themselves by attaching their shells to firm substrata through cementation or byssal threads, but a few bivalves (e.g. most Pectinidae and Limidae) can swim very well to escape predators. Also bivalves living in intertidal ranges have a well-developed foot with which they can dig themselves in quickly whenever they are washed out of the sediment. Bivalves don’t have the radula that gastropods use for feeding. In fact they are the only molluscs that don’t have a radula. Instead they use their two siphons to feed by inhaling and expelling water while being safe in their 38 The Seashells burrow. The water and food particles are drawn in through one siphon to the gills where tiny, hair-like cilia move the water, and the food is caught in mucus on the gills. From there, the food-mucus mixture is transported along a groove to the palps which push it into the clam’s mouth. The second siphon carries away the water. The gills also draw oxygen from the water flow. Other bivalves use siphons to pick up sediment (detritus feeders) or to eat other organisms (carnivorous bivalves). For vision, scallops have complex eyes with a lens and retina, but most other bivalves have much simpler eyes, if any. There are also light-sensitive cells in all bivalves, that can detect shadows falling on the animal. Although many bivalves are sedentary as adults, their eggs develop into highly mobile juvenile stages that are dispersed far and wide. Sand trawling for Kunau, a popular evening activity for many Bruneians (RM) Donax (wedge and bean) clams are the most common bivalves on local beaches, but their large relative, the Kunau Meretrix meretrix is the most sought after by fishermen. 39 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Binge Umbo Anterior abductor muscle Heart Liver Posterior abductor muscle Stomach Mouth Exhalant siphon Anus Excretory organ Foot Inhalant siphon Gill Gonad Edge of mantle Main organs of a marine bivalve, based on a clam, drawn and annotated by Novi Dols Main features of a clam shell (Muriel Gottrop Ref W15) 40 The Seashells Ark Shells (Tambayangan), Fam. Arcidae Ark Shell Anadara (Scapharca) deyrollei Jousseaume, 1893 Cornea Ark Shell Anadara (Scapharca) cornea Reeve, 1844 Granosa Ark Shell Anadara (Tegillarca) granosa Linnaeus, 1758, 40 mm. Pilula Ark Shell Anadara (Cunearca) pilula Reeve, 1843 T he shells of A. deyrollei (left) and its larger cousin A. cornea are distinguished by a long flat hinge, giving an extensive area over which to issue the byssal threads they use to attach themselves to a hard substrate. The shells, with a resemblance to folded bird wings have a brown or black marked periostracum which is often hairy and commonly conserved near the margins but may extend over a sizeable portion of the shell. There are also marked ribs, the grooves between being about half the width of the ribs. It is a well-known edible species, size up to 70mm. The Pilula Ark shells in contrast have a short hinge, a deeper shell with a more pronounced umbo, and often well developed colour banding. However, watch out, the coloured Anadara pilula are often Holocene (Stone Age) fossils reworked and stained over time. Fresh shells less frequently washed up on the beach are white with a brown, hairy periostracum (Ref 9). Anadara cornea (above) and the smaller Anadara deyrollei (below) showing the brown remnants of the hairy periostracum that originally may originally have covered a sizeable portion of the shell (RM) Anadara pilula, Reeve, 1843. Different colours: stripes and orange and pink tints (RM) 41 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Asiatic Hard Clams Fam. Veneridae Kunau Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus, 1758 T his large (up to 13cm) edible bivalve is much sought after by local people on local beaches, being considered to have the finest taste, and is sometimes seen in Kuala Belait wet market. The tool of choice for harvesting is a flat bladed implement which is dragged Kunau Meretrix meretrix supper coming up! (RM) an inch or so below the sand to hit and unearth the large shellfish. The markings on the sand from this means of shellfish hunting are very distinctive. Cockles Fam. Cardiidae Cockle Vepricardium sinense Sowerby, 1844 A ll cockles, although varying in surface texture and ribbing have a basic heart shape, hence the family name from the ancient Greek kardia meaning heart. The cockle commonly found locally is V. sinense, with deep ribs, elongated hinge and a serrated edge. 42 Cockle Vepricardium sinense (RM) The Seashells Donax Clams Fam. Donacidae Bean Clam Donax dysoni Deshayes, 1854, 10 – 15 mm. (Juveniles (Feb/Mar) 3-6 mm) Faba Clam Donax (Latona) faba Gmelin, 1791 Incarnates Clam Donax incarnatus Gmelin, 1789 Wedge Clam Donax cuneatus Linnaeus, 1758, 25-35 mm. P robably the most common bivalve on local beaches, it is found at low tide in huge numbers. Attractive banding and colouration is typical of D. incarnatus, but by far the most abundant species is D. dysoni. Both species have a wide distribution, far beyond Borneo. D. dysoni is also the dominant species throughout the beaches on both sides of the Baram Delta – from Tanjong Lobang, Miri, to Seria. (Ref 9) There are so many that those exposed by wave action often struggle to burrow back into the sand due to the sheer number of their companions underneath. The shells of this edible mollusc are strongly built, smooth and wedge shaped. If exposed, digging is immediate and active, with the streamlined shell pulled almost instantly into an upright position, and drawn down rapidly into the sand. Different species of Donax Clams, the four on left are D. incarnatus, the next four Bean Clams D. dysoni. and the two on the right are again D. incarnatus (RM) Wedge Clam Donax cf. cuneatus (HD) 43 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Glass Shells Window Pane Shell (Selisip, Kaping-kaping) Placuna placenta Linnaeus, 1758, 85 mm. Fam. Placunidae Raeta sp. Raeta (Raetellops) pulchella Adams & Reeve, 1850, Fam. Mactridae Window Pane Shell Placuna placenta (RM) T ransparent shells have been found on local beaches in two forms. The large (10cm) Placuna placenta commonly known as the Window Pane Shell, is ten times the size of the drifts of tiny (8mm) transparent glass shells Raeta (Raetellops) pulchella that accumulated on the Panaga beach in May and June 2007 and also reported from Piasau Beach (Ref 9). 44 The Seashells Drifts of Raeta (Raetellops) pulchella (RM) 45 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Oysters (Tiram) Fam. Ostreidae Oyster Crassostrea and Ostrea sp. Large individual oyster with 20 smaller oysters attached (RM) O ysters are sessile bivalves, which means they don’t move around, and therefore no longer need a foot. The naming of individual oyster species in SE Asia is not resolved (Ref 4) because for many species, the shape of the shell is highly variable, conforming to the shape of the substrate and neighbouring oysters and other organisms. This had led to confusion, along with the realisation that many species cohabit together. Oyster fragments are often found, probably broken off offshore structures. The large (14.5cm) specimen shown comprises a single individual curving from left to right covered with at least 20 smaller oysters and a barnacle. It was found in a large pile of oyster shells on the shore of the Sungai Seria estuary where the oysters had probably been dressed (flesh removed) by returning fishermen. 46 The Seashells Piddocks Fam. Pholadidae Piddock Pholas (Monothyra) australasiae Sowerby, 1849 Piddock Pholas (Monothyra) orientalis orientalis Gmelin, 1791 P iddocks, sometimes called “angelwings”, are unique in that one of the piddock’s shells has a set of ridges or “teeth”, which they use to grind away at stiff clay or soft rock and create tubular burrows. The shape of these burrows is due to the rotating motion of the piddock as it grinds the rock to make its home. The piddock stays in its burrow for its eight year lifespan, with only its siphon exposed to take in water that it filters for food. When the piddock dies, other marine life such as sea anemones, crabs and other molluscs often take over the burrow. Piddocks, burrowing specialists left and centre: Pholas orientalis and right Pholas australasiae (RM) Two different species are found locally. P. orientalis is larger and has no radial ribs on the back side of the shell (at the bottom of the picture) whereas in P. australasiae the ribs extend over the entire shell. P. orientalis has a wider spacing of the ridges than P. australasiae on the right. 47 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Razor Shell or Razor Clam (Pahat-pahat) Fam. Solenidae Razor Shell Solen sp. up to 110 mm A very distinctive bivalve, known for its long narrow rectangular shape, whose similarity to the old-fashioned cut-throat razor gives it its name. The Razor Shell is a strong and quick burrower as its thin and narrow shell slips easily through the sand. It is famous for its burrowing prowess, and is considered able to burrow faster than a man can dig! Its digging activity involves inflating the foot hydraulically, extending down into the sand and anchoring the animal. Deflation of the foot then draws the shell down while the shell squirts water down into the sand, fluidizing the sand in its path. The foot is thought to exert a pressure of 2 kg/cm2. (Ref W11) At the other end from the foot the siphon emerges at surface to breathe and feed. The siphon breaks easily when the animal is disturbed. In this way, the animal probably avoids being dragged out of the sand by its siphon. The Malay name is based on its resemblance to a chisel or “pahat”. Damaged example of Razor Shell Solen sp. (RM) 48 The Seashells Rays Shells Fam. Pharidae Purple Rays Siliqua radiata Linnaeus, 1758 Winter Rays Siliqua winteriana Dunker, 1852 W ith its radial white “rays” on a purple/blue semi translucent background the beautiful and fragile S. radiata is a relatively common find on local beaches. The Winter Rays S. winteriana is a larger species with transparent white shell. The species of this genus have a radial ridge inside the anterior (short end) part of the shell, which can be seen from the outside as a bright white ray. Purple Rays Siliqua radiata (RM) Purple Siliqua radiata and white Siliqua winteriana (NY) 49 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Shipworms Teredo (Tambilok) Fam. Teredinidae S hipworms are not worms at all, but rather a group of unusual saltwater clams with very reduced shells, notorious for boring into (and eventually destroying) wooden structures which are immersed in sea water, including piers, docks and wooden ships. Sometimes called “termites of the sea”, they are marine bivalve molluscs often known as Teredo Worms, although shipworms belong to several genera (Ref W7). Teredo Shipworm (Ref W7) Locally, evidence of shipworm activity is seen in the multiple holes penetrating beached logs. Its two shells, enclosing only the front end of the body, function not as protection but as a tool, with ridged and roughened surfaces used for boring. Shipworm holes in driftwood (RM) As can be seen in the picture, the clam lines its burrow with a calcareous coating produced by its mantle to act as protection to its body. This phenomenon was observed by 19th Century British engineer Brunel. Based on this he designed a modular iron tunnelling framework - a tunnelling shield - which enabled workers to successfully tunnel through unstable ground, resulting in the Thames Tunnel, the first tunnel ever built beneath a major river (Ref W7). 50 The Seashells Terrestrial and Fresh Water Snails Apple Snails (Kalambuai) Fam. Ampullariidae (junior synonym Pilidae) Golden Snail Pomacea canaliculata Lamarck, 1804, 40 – 60 mm. Golden Snail Pila ampullacea Linnaeus, 1758, 50 mm. Golden Snail Pomacea canaliculata showing variations in color and striping (RM) Golden Snail Pomacea canaliculata showing watertight operculum (NY) F reshwater snail Pomacea canaliculata is a South American introduced species and is very similar to the local Pila ampullacea. Both have a large rounded shell of a brown to brownish green colour, sometimes having darker stripes round the shell. They are peaceful freshwater herbivores and nibble on vegetation in and around the drainage ditches. They are well suited to life there as their operculum can close tight to prevent drying out during dry periods. They have a system comparable to the gills of a fish (at the right side of the snail body) to breathe under water as well as a lung (at the left side of the body) to respirate air, fitting them well to a semi-aquatic life. In time of flood the shells are carried into the sea by rivers to be washed ashore where they become a favourite home for the Land Hermit Crab. 51 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Land Snail Fam. Achatinidae (Terrestrial) African Land Snail (Tekuyong Jipun) Achatina fulica Bowditch, 1822, 70 mm T he terrestial African Land Snail is an introduction into SE Asia and another whose shell is washed into the sea from drainage ditches, and snapped up by Land Hermit Crabs. It has an attractive r o u n d e d conical shape, almost twice as long as it is broad, brown, but with significant African Land Snail (Tekuyong Jipun) Achatina fulica (RM) banding, considered to be caused by variations in the snail’s diet. As it is happy eating a wide variety of vegetation it has been popular as a pet, and can live up to six years. It also African Land Snail (Tekuyong Jipun) Achatina fulica (RM) is edible and was introduced into some SE Asian islands as a food reserve for GIs in the Second World War. Locally it is considered to have been introduced by the Japanese during WW2 hence the Malay name (Ref 21). 52 The Seashells Cephalopods Harvest Cuttlefish (Kalabutan) Sepia sp. Fam. Sepiidae Sephia pharaonis Ehrenberg, 1831 I n cephalopods the molluscan foot has evolved into tentacles, and the eyes and nervous system are highly developed. In fact cephalopods are considered the smartest of all molluscs. They move primarily by jet propulsion as the siphon through which it draws oxygenated water is elastic and muscular, and can rapidly contract sending out a jet of water. The cuttlefish is edible and Common cuttlefish Sepia sp. (Ref W9) caught mostly at night when fisherman use strong light to attract squid and cuttlefish, both in estuaries and out at sea. During the day they hide away under ledges or in caves or weed beds. The external molluscan shell has become an internal calcium carbonate “cuttlebone” which is commonly washed up on local beaches, and are often available in pet shops for cage birds to nibble as a calcium supplement. There are various species of Sepiidae living off the Brunei coast. The largest is Sepia pharaonis Ehrenberg, 1831. (Ref 9). Cuttlefish “cuttlebone” (CO) 53 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Echinoderms E chinoderms belong to the phylum Echinodermata which means “spiny skinned” and the skin of these animals is indeed covered with spines. The phylum includes starfish, sea cucumbers, brittle stars, and crinoids. They have fivefold symmetry (called pentamerism) and move by means of hundreds of tiny, transparent, adhesive “tube feet” powered by a vascular system that is a complex of tubes and canals filled with water. The body actually consists of five equal segments, each containing a duplicate set of various internal organs. They have no heart, brain, nor proper eyes (sea stars have eyespots and brittle stars and sea urchins have light sensitive cells). Their mouth is situated on the underside and their anus on top. They are found either washed up or can be located by the impression they make on the sand as they bury themselves. 54 Live sand dollar Echinodiscus truncatus top side (CO) Keyhole sand dollar skeleton (RM) The Seashells Sand Dollar Fam. Astriclypeidae, Order Clypeasteroida Keyhole Sand Dollar Echinodiscus truncatus L. Agassiz, 1841 S and dollars usually burrow just below the surface of the sand and collect detritus from the sand-water interface. The body is very flat, somewhat circular in outline, and covered with minute spines giving it a velvety appearance. The two slots in the sand dollar are called “lunules”. The petal shape in the centre (petaloid) is where the sand dollar breathes. They move by means of their tube feet and spines. E. truncatus is uncommon, but can be found opposite the Panaga beach shelter at very low tide especially in April-June. Their skeletons are occasionally washed up but have to be handled carefully if they are to be preserved for a collection as they are very fragile. Live sand dollar Echinodiscus truncatus, underside in evening light (RM) Sand Dollar imprints on the sand after burial (CO) 55 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Starfish Fam. Archasteridae, Class Asteroidea Sand Star, Sea Star (Bintang Laut) Astrospecten sp. S tarfish are famous for their radial symmetry, and several arms, usually five, radiating from a central body. Astrospecten is a small starfish (5-6 cm), grey on top and white underneath when dead, and brownish on top when alive. It is sometimes found washed up in large numbers. Most starfish Sea star Astrospecten sp. skeletons (RM) are voracious hunters, preying on other animals, particularly clams, corals, other echinoderms, or anything else unlucky enough to cross their path. They have two stomachs, one used for digestion, the other to extrude outward to engulf and digest prey. This feature allows the starfish to hunt prey that is much larger than its mouth would otherwise allow. During the day, the sea star is buried just under the mud where you can sometimes see the imprint. The central disc is a white colour and the white spot of the madreporite can be seen between the bases of the arms. (The “madreporite” is the structure that filters water for the sea star’s hydraulic vascular system). During the breeding season in April and May, Astrospecten can be found in mating pairs, the male on top, with its arms between the arms of the female. 56 Sea Star Astrospecten sp. (CO) Sea Star imprint on the sand after burial (CO) The Seashells Coelenterata Coral F ragments of coral are an unusual find on local beaches although there are coral reefs offshore and coral growths on the legs of the production platforms. Pieces of hard white coral skeletons that appear on local beaches are probably all Holocene Fossils. (Ref 9). The example of branched red coral is much more unusual, and appears to be a basal section of the seafan Melithea, which are fairly abundant on reef walls in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean and on offshore structures. Red coral is becoming endangered because it is made of a magnesium/calcium carbonate that is hard enough to make into jewellery. Unfortunately it grows very slowly, and the trawling techniques commonly used to harvest the coral are hugely damaging to the coral reefs. Dead white coral fragment, possibly fossil. (RM) Red coral fragment, possibly seafan Melithaea (RM) The answer to this unsustainable trade is for us all to stop buying coral jewellery. Seafan Melithaea in situ (Ref W6) 57 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Crustaceans Barnacles Balanus Fam. Balanidae Acorn Barnacles Semibalanus balanoides Giant Barnacle Megabalanus tulipiformis Goose Barnacle Lepas anatifera The biggest barnacle washed up locally, Megabalanus tulipiformis (RM) A corn barnacles are the most common barnacle found locally, followed by the goose barnacle. These are usually found still alive and attached to timber. The biggest barnacle by far, and found quite often locally is Megabalanus tulipiformis, with a huge opening some 2 cm wide. 58 The Seashells 59 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Fossil Shells by Han Raven B eaches undergo constant change: generally growing between monsoons and shrinking during the NW monsoon in particular due to longshore drift and strong winds and tide. Shells washed up on the beach are usually relatively fresh from animals actually living on the beach, in the sand immediately below low tide level. Especially during storms with a seaward wind (a rare event in Brunei) bottom currents can result that may deposit Fossil shells from outcrops of the Miri (numbers 5 and 9) and Seria (the rest) Formations, NE of Tutong - 1. Polinices tumidus, 2. Tonna sulcosa, 3. Althleta multispinosa, 4. Architectonica perspectiva, 5. Acila bruneiana, 6. Anadara cf. rotundicosta, 7. Amusium hulshofi, 8. Bathytormus foveolatus, 9. Placamen lamellata, 10. Clementia papyracea, 11. Dosinia spec. 60 The Seashells many live shellfish onto the beach. However, most of the time only the shells are washed up, their former inhabitants having been consumed along the way. However, some shells are washed up that have been buried for much longer, maybe thousands or millions of years, and are actually therefore fossil shells. These may be only a few thousand years old, eroded from recent sediments by particularly strong tides, currents or waves, or changes in deposition due to building of beach defences. Older fossils also occur, generally originating from layers exposed in coastal cliffs. Shark Tooth Penanjong Beach (Ref 10) Older specimens are easily recognised as fossils: the larger ones by their duller colours such as cream or grey and fainter or absent markings compared to fresh shells, whereas smaller fossils are often found in pebbles. In fine sediment (for example mud) there generally are anaerobic conditions in which shells lose their original colours very quickly and become bluish or greyish in colour. This can be observed in a very simple experiment: put a few Melongena gigas, a large fossil gastropod found at Penanjong beach by Charlie Lee probably from the Seria Formation (HR) 61 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo dead molluscs (with the animals) in an airtight vessel topped up with water. After only a few days the colours of the shells will have disappeared to a dirty white to dark grey. Watch it – there will also be an awful smell, indicative of the hydrogen sulphide (H2s) produced during decomposition! If the fossil was laid down in coarser sediments there generally will have been oxygen and the original colours of skeletons may be preserved or they obtain yellowish colours. Holocene shell (Marginella ventricosa). Subsequently the sediment will be common fossil shell on beaches from Muara to Miri, always grey and dull colour (HR) compacted and water flow will cause the sand grains and enclosed fossils to cement together. Some shell fossils have partially dissolved during this process and therefore fall apart quickly when eroded by rain or sea, or when cleaned too briskly by the collector. For such fragile fossils very little water and a soft brush should be used. Some fossils have fully dissolved, and then only the moulds of shells are preserved. In Brunei such fossils originate from the Miocene to Pliocene shales and sandstones of the Seria and Liang Formations exposed in cliffs between Tutong and Muara (e.g. at Penanjong), which are between 2 and 10 million years old. Seashells are the most common fossils, but also fossilised crabs, solitary corals, shark teeth, and sea urchins can be found. A collection of fossil shells from these outcrops collected in 1931 by geologists of the Bataafsche Petroleum Maatschappij (now Shell), are in the National Natural History Museum Naturalis, Leiden, The Netherlands and shown in the figure above. Many local fossils are Holocene fossils, with an age of only 8000 years or 62 The Seashells less. They originate from a variety of deposits which have been eroded by the sea, or which have been used to extend the beach such as at Jerudong where young sediments dredged from near shore have been used to raise the beach. These coastal defence and construction activities sometimes disturb deposits with abundant fauna which can tell us a lot about the geological history of the area. It is worthwhile taking photographs, taking samples and noting down the exact location if you come across such work. Such temporary outcrops often disappear quickly (after day or weeks) but may provide unique information. Once you start to assemble your collection, you will notice that a number of your shells, even some that are very common on Brunei beaches, are only represented by fossil shells, so it’s worth knowing which is which! 63 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Displaying Shells Wendy McIlroy’s glass top table shell display (RM) S hells need to be thoroughly cleaned before display. Thankfully most of those found on the beach are dead and the previous occupant has long gone. Just a wash to remove sand is usually all that is required. If 64 The Seashells any remnant of the previous owner is still there find a quiet corner of your garden and leave the seashell for a week or two and it will be cleaned for you by ants and birds. To store, airtight plastic containers or zip-lock plastic bags are ideal to keep dust out. A bureau with thin drawers is also ideal. The serious shell collector will keep shells of different localities and dates separate, with a label comprising family name, genus and species name, locality, date, collector, and a description of circumstances. Each collector can decide how much detail to record – but especially for rare species it is valuable to keep proper data. Note that there is very little published about the seashells of Borneo and anyone may find species that have thus far not been recorded for Borneo or that are even new to science! Containers with multiple drawers for nails and screws can provide a suitable home for a shell collection, and are available from many hardware shops (RM) Shells look well displayed in rattan or palm baskets, in glass jars or dishes. A beautiful way to display your shells is in a box frames on the wall. Choose to frame shells individually and cluster the frames into larger groups on the wall or create a dramatic composition of a number of shells within a single frame. A glass top table is also another beautiful way to display your best specimens. 65 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Photographic Notes S hells are of such variety of form, texture and colour that stunning photographic images can be taken with a reasonable digital camera. Roger initially used a Konica Minolta (now Sony) Dynax 7D digital camera with an 18-50 mm zoom lens but has now moved on to a 12.2 megapixel Sony 700 CDSLR-A700 camera with a 16-80mm Carl Zeiss Zoom Lens. The camera has image stabilisation which is always “on” but other settings are usually automatic. One important photography tip. Keep you camera in a plastic bag in a warm part of your house (the toilet?) and let the camera warm up in the bag when you take it out of doors, before shooting. Don’t keep your camera in a cold air conditioned environment and take it straight outside for photography. External condensation will prevent a good shot and internal condensation can damage the camera. The black background to some of the photos is a piece of black velvet, available from fabric shops. The shells have been washed, dried and sprayed or wiped with a light baby oil or mineral oil to give shine, although some collectors frown on this as oil is difficult to remove and with time many oils may become yellowish. Spraying with gloss varnish will also provide a shine, but again frowned upon by serious collectors. To see a variety of specimen shells photographed professionally against a wide range of backgrounds, Ref 2 is the best source. 66 The Seashells Glossary Aperture Apex Base Bivalve Body whorl Brackish Byssal threads Calcareous Callus Caudal Columella Corneous Deplete Deposit Desiccation Disperse Distribution Dorsal Estuarine Estuary principal opening from which the body parts of a gastropod shell emerge the starting point of a shell, at the end of the spire of a gastropod shell with the smallest and oldest whorls part of the shell surface opposite the apex a mollusc with two-valved shell last whorl of a gastropod shell next to the aperture, containing all the major body parts except the visceral mass. low salinity water, usually river water that has been mixed with seawater strong horny filaments used for attachment to the substrate consisting of calcium carbonate thicker section of the aperture of a gastropod; it may partly or completely cover the umbilicus referring to the tail or the tail end of the body solid or hollow axis of a gastropod shell made of horn-like substance to reduce greatly in quantity an area where sediment is laid down drying out spread or move away from the spread of an organism over geographic area referring to the back or upper surface of a shell relating to estuary confined area around a river mouth, affected by tidal action causing brackish water 67 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Filter feeder an animal that gets its food by filtering out suspended matter from the water Fossil animals and plant remains that after death were preserved in sediments and turned into rock Fossil record the list and description of fossils Foot muscular extension of a mollusc’s body used for locomotion Gastropod a group of mollusc characterised by a single shell Geologic time the time span required for most geological processes, ranging from thousands to millions of years Habitat the type of place where a particular plant or animal normally lives Ikan fish in Malay Inter-tidal area of the shore that is submerged at the high tide and exposed at low tide Invertebrate animal that lacks a backbone, usually small in size Juvenile this term can be applied to any young animal or plant Ligament more or less calcified, horny structure that holds the two valves of a bivalve shell together Lip the edge of the aperture of a gastropod shell Littoral between high and low tide (intertidal) Mantle a layer in the body wall of the mollusc’s body that secretes the shell Molluscs soft fleshy invertebrates usually covered by a shell Operculum a horny plate on the foot of some gastropod that serves as a lid to close off the shell to protect their soft parts Outer lip outer edge of the aperture Peristome edge of the aperture on the gastropod shell Periostracum external skin covering or epidermis Posterior towards the rear or bottom end Predation a way of life where an animal hunts other animals for food Prey an animal taken by a predator as food Radula abrasive “tongue” used by gastropods for feeding Sandstone a rock that is formed from sand 68 The Seashells Sedentary not moving about; often permanently attached to the substrate Sedimentation the process of depositing sediment Sediment material deposited by water or sand Siphon a tubular organ used by molluscs to draw in or eject water Siphonal Canal extension, sometimes elongated from the base of the shell to protect the siphon Species A group of organisms which through isolation, environment or interbreeding have formed their own genetic race, and in theory, will not produce offspring when mated with another such race Subspecies A geographical variant of a species which is sufficiently different to be recognised as such Sub-littoral below low tide level Spire all the whorls of a gastropod shell with the exception of the body whorl Substrate the material on which an organism lives Subtidal below the low tide mark, always underwater Suture line joining two successive whorls on a gastropod shell Tekuyong a generic Malay word for snail Terrestrial relating to land as opposed to air or water Transition passing from one condition to another Umbilicus central cavity in a gastropod shell, formed by the internal walls of the whorls Umbo the beak, or apex on a bivalve shell; the point from which the shell begins to grow Whorl complete single turn in a spirally twisted gastropod shell Zooxanthellae uni-cellular plants living in symbiosis with various animals such as corals and giant clams 69 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo References 1) Wong, Marina et al, Common Seashore Life of Brunei, Brunei Museum, 1996. 2) Harasewych, M.G. Shells, Jewels from the Sea, Rizzoli International Publications Inc 1989 3) Tan, Leo W.H., A Guide to Seashore Life, Singapore Science Centre, Revised Edition, 1992 4) Tan, K.S, A Guide to Common Seashells of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, First published 2000 5) Tan, Ria and Alan Yeo, Chek Jawa Handbook. Simply Green, Singapore 2003 6) Ming Chou Lake, A Guide to the Dangerous Marine Animals of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre 1993. 7) Dharma, Bunyamin, Recent & Fossil Indonesian Shells. Conchbooks 2005 8) Dharma, Bunyamin, 1988 and 1992 Siput dan Kerang Indonesia I and II Indonesian Shells I & II Verlag Christa Hemmen 9) Raven, J.G.M. personal communication 10) Sandal, S.T., editor, 1996. The Geology and Hydrocarbon Resources of Negara Brunei Darussalam- 1996 Revision. Bandar Seri Begawan, Syabas. 243 pp. 11) Morton, Brian & Morton, John, Seashore Ecology of Hong-Kong. Hong-Kong University Press 1983. 12) Sabelli, Bruno, Simon & Schuster Guide to Shells. Simon & Schuster inc. 1980 13) D. Roberts, S. Soemodihardjo, W. Kastoro, Shallow water Marine Molluscs of North-West Java. Lembaga Oseanologi Nasional. LIPI, Jakarta-Indonesia 1982. 14) Elkin. J. Sea Watch Report. Panaga Natural History Society, Brunei Darussalam 1991. 15) Raven, J.G.M., Notes on Molluscs from NW Borneo. 1. Stromboidea (Gastropoda, Strombidae, Rostellariidae, Seraphidae). Vita Malacologica 1: 3-32. Dutch Malacological Society, The Netherlands 2002. 16) Raven, J.G.M. & J.J. Vermeulen. Notes on molluscs from NW Borneo and Singapore 2. A synopsis of the Ellobiidae (Gastropoda, Pulmonata – Vita Malacologica 4: 29-62. Dutch Malacological Society, 2007 17) Marsh, Losette & Slack-Smith, Shirley, Sea Stingers. Western Australian Museum, Perth 1986. 18) Coleman, Neville, What shell is that?. Paul Hamlyn Pty limited NSW 2099. National library of Australia 1975. 19) Gopalakrishnakone. P. Dangerous Animals. Singapore University Press 1990. 20) Marina Wong and Aziah Hj Ahmad. Gastropods and Bivalves that have Vernacular Names in Brunei. Brunei Museum Journal, Vol 9, 1994 70 The Seashells Websites W1) W2) W3) W4) W5) W6) W6) W7) W8) W9) W10) W11) W12) W13) W14) W15) Eddie Hardy’s Internet Guide to Marine Gastropods A truly stunning site with huge amounts of data including thousands of images and professional taxonomy listings. http://www.gastropods.com/ Conchology Inc Comprehensive site but very suspect guidelines for collecting; such as “the steel bar is useful to reach animals which are hidden in rock crevices”. http://www.conchology.be/en/home/home.php Man and Mollusc http://www.manandmollusc.net/ Wikipedia Commons: Nassarius Wikipedia Commons: Turritella Science Links Japan http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200511/000020051105A0413502.php Panaga Divers website http://www.panagadivers.com/ Wikipedia: Shipworm Teredo Wikipedia: Achatina fulica Wikipedia Commons: Cephalopod (Jose Carvalho) Wikipedia Commons: Textile cone (Richard Ling) (GNU) Wikipedia: Razor Shell Un regard sur les coquillages zonatus.com http://pagesperso-orange.fr/zonatus/Liste/Galerie_vendus/Galerie_vendus.htm Wikipedia: Gastropod Wikipedia Commons: Bivalvia (Kim Lundgren, GNU Version 1.2) Wikipedia Commons: Bivalvia (Muriel Gottrop) 71 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Checklist and Index to Species Species Page The Seashells 1 Gastropods 4 Abalones Ear Abalones Haliotis planata 6 Babylons Spotted Babylon Babylonia borneensis 7 Conches Dog Conch Strombus (Laevistrombus) canarium or Strombus (Laevistrombus) turturella Marginate Conch Strombus (Dolomena) marginatus robustus Vittate Conch Strombus (Doxander) vittatus apicatus 8 Cone Shells Figuline Cone Conus (Cleobula) figulinus Hyaena Cone Conus (Chelyconus) hyaena 9 Cowries Arabian Cowrie Cypraea arabica Miliaris Cowrie Cypraea miliaris Onyx Cowrie Cypraea onyx 10 Crown Shell Crown Shell Hemifusus ternatanus 11 Ear Shells Midas Ear Shell Ellobium aurismidae Nuclea Ear Shell Cassidula nucleus Panther Ear Shell Phythia pantherina 11 Fig Shells Underline Fig Shell Ficus subintermedia Variegated Fig Shell Ficus variegata 12 Frog Shell Elegant Frog Shell Bufonaria cf. elegans Rana Frog Shell Bufonaria rana 72 13 Location Date The Seashells Species Page Location Date Harp Shell Harpa articula Harpa articularis 13 Helmet Shells Helmet Shell Phalium (Phalum) bandatum 14 Horn Shells Vertagus Horn Shell Rhinoclavis Vertagus Telescope Shell/Creeper Telescopium telescopium 15 Limpets 16 Mitres Mitre Shells Mitra (Nebularia) aurantia Ribbed Mitre Vexillum vulpeculum 18 Moon Snails (Sand Snails) Tumid Moon Snail Polinices tumidus Bladder Moon Snail Polinices (Glossaulax) didyma Nerite Sand/Ear/Moon Snail Sinum neritoideum 19 Mud Creepers Mud Creeper Cerithidea cingulata 21 Murex Short Spine Murex Murex brevispina ornamentalis Spine Murex Murex trapa Turnip Shell Rapana rapiformis Drupella Murex Drupella sp. 22 Nassa Mud Snails Fine Line Nassa Nassarius (Zeuxis) concinnus Nassa Mud Snail Nassarius (Zeuxis) siquijorensis 23 Nerites Exuvia Nerite Nerita (Theliostyla) exuvia Striped Nerite Nerita (Ritena) balteata 24 Olives Common Olive Oliva oliva Wide Olive Anazola nebulosa 25 Sundials Clear Sundial Architectonica modesta Clear Sundial Architectonica perspectiva Picta Sundial Architectonica picta 28 73 The Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo Species Page Tibias Shin Bone Tibia Tibia melanocheilus 29 Triton Shells Natator Tadpole Triton Gyrineum natator Reticulate Triton Distorsio reticularis 30 Tankard Shells Delphin Tankard Angaria delphinus 31 Top Shells Common Button Top Umbonium vestiarum Pyramid Trochid Tectus pyramis Maculate Trochid Trochus maculatus Radiated Trochid Trochus radiatus 31 Tuns Tonna dolum Tonna maculata Tonna tessellata 33 Turban Shell Tapestry Turban, Cat’s Eye Turban Turbo petholatus Tumid Turban Turbo (Marmarostoma) angyrostoma 34 Turritella Screw Turritella Turritella terebra Turritella Turritella bacillum 35 Vase Shell Vase Shell Vasum turbinellum 36 Volutes Melo-melo Melo melo 36 Wentletrap Pallasi Wentletrap Epitonium pallasi neglectum 37 Bivalves 38 Ark Shells Ark Shell Anadara (Scapharca) deyrollei Cornea Ark Shell Anadara (Scapharca) cornea Granosa Ark Shell Anadara (Tegillarca) granosa Pilula Ark Shell Anadara (Cunearca) pilula 74 41 Location Date The Seashells Species Page Location Date Asiatic Hard Clams Kunau Meretrix meretrix 42 Cockles Cockle Vepricardium sinense 42 Donax Clams Bean Clam Donax dysoni Faba Clam Donax (Latona) faba Incarnates Clam Donax incarnates Wedge Clam Donax cuneatus 43 Glass Shells Window Pane Shell Placuna placenta 44 Oysters Oyster Crassostrea and Ostrea sp. 46 Piddocks Piddock Pholas (Monothyra) orientalis orientalis Piddock Pholas (Monothyra) australasiae 47 Razor Shell Razor Shell Solen sp. 48 Ray Shells Purple Rays Siliqua radiata Winter Rays Siliqua winteriana 49 Shipworms 50 Terrestrial and Fresh Water Snails 51 Apple Snails Golden Snail Pomacea canaliculata Line Golden Snail Pila ampulacea Land Snails African Land Snail Achatina fulica 52 Cephalopods Harvest Cuttlefish Sepia sp. 53 Echinoderms Keyhole Sand Dollar Echinodiscus truncatus Sand Star, Sea Star Astrospecten sp. 54 Coelenterata 57 Crustaceans 58 75 Quick identification Guides for Common Gastropods, drawn and annotated by Novi Dols. About the Authors: R oger McIlroy has lived in Brunei Darussalam with his wife and children since arriving from their home country of Scotland in 2001. Roger holds degrees in Geology and Petroleum Engineering and has managed to combine his work in this field with a keen interest in the environment. This series of books draws on his documentation of the facts and images of the natural history around the Panaga area of Brunei which has been their home. He sees this series as a fitting gift to the people and wildlife of Brunei Darussalam in recognition of their hospitality and friendship during his stay. N ovi Ellya Yusniasita Dols was born in Jakarta, Indonesia, and grew up sailing the nearby Thousand Islands. Novi’s nautical interest and love of biology led to her studying Marine Biology in Universitas National in Jakarta. During this time she was involved in the gazetting of the Gunug Halimun National park, the construction of artificial reefs in Bali and marine ecology work in the Kepulauan Seribu. In 1995 she moved to Brunei where she taught Marine Biology at Muzium Brunei and led the Shell sponsored survey of the Two Fathom Rock rig reef. Currently a busy mother of three living near the beach her interest naturally focussed on the shells and fish regularly found and landed on the west Brunei beaches. In her other life as a graphics artist she has illustrated two of Brunei Shell’s annual calendars and many other small publications.