Shells

Many of us have picked up a shell and carried it home. Shells can carry memories of people and places.  They can be used as gifts, as part of ceremony or makers of identity. Shells like kina shells, cowries, trochus, clam, oyster and muscle shells can hold cultural and symbolic and economic significance in many parts of Papua New Guinea.  Here are some shells found in Papua New Guinea and across the Indo-Pacific.

1
Rochia nilotica (Giant or Commercial Trochus, Family Trochidae) – specimen shown with outer (non-nacreous) pink/red and white layer polished off to show the mother of pearl shell underneath
1 specimen displayed
Indo-Pacific species known to occur in Papua New Guinea
Queensland Museum

2
Rochia nilotica (Giant or Commercial Trochus, Family Trochidae) – natural (unpolished) specimen
1 specimen displayed
Rabaul, Papua New Guinea
Collector R Wales, 1991
Queensland Museum

3
Conus litteratus (Lettered Cone, Family Conidae)
1 specimen displayed
Kaileuna Island., Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guniea
Collector Dr GJM (Fred) Gerrits, 1969
Queensland Museum

4
Conus leopardus (Leopard Cone, Family Conidae)
1 specimen displayed
Muwo Island, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea
Collector Dr GJM Gerrits, 1968
Queensland Museum

5
Benguina semiorbiculata (Half-round Cardita Family Carditidae)
1 specimen (with both valves) displayed
‘Tropical Pacific’ – an Indo-Pacific species known from Papua New Guinea
Collector Thora Whitehead
Queensland Museum

6
Tegillarca granosa  (Granulose Ark Clam, Family Arcidae)
1 specimen (with both valves) displayed
Papua New Guinea
Collector J Simmonds
Queensland Museum

7
Septifer bilocularis (Box or Ledge Mussel, Family Mytilidae)
1 specimen (with both valves) displayed
Gove, Northern Territory Australia
Collector Kevin Lamprell, 1987
Queensland Museum

8
Monetaria moneta (Money Cowrie, Family Cypraeidae)
2 specimens displayed
Port Moresby Harbour, Papua New Guinea,
Collector C Jeffrey ,1976
Queensland Museum

9
Monetaria annulus (Gold-ringed Cowrie, Family Cypraeidae)
9 specimens displayed
Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea
Collector J Simmonds
Queensland Museum

10
Papustyla pulcherimma (Manus Island Green Tree Snail, Family Camaenidae)
3 specimens displayed
Manus Island, Papua New Guinea (only place it occurs)
Coll. Keith and Ann McCollim
Queensland Museum

11
Conomurex luhuanus (Red-mouthed Stromb, Family Strombidae)
3 specimens displayed
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Collector Keith and Ann McCollim 1967/68
Queensland Museum Collection

12
Chama pacifica (Pacific Jewel Box, Family Chamidae)
1 young specimen (both valves) displayed
Arafura Sea dredged 8.2metres 11°.14.00 ,132°.38.00
Collector Thora Whitehead
Queensland Museum

13
Chama pacifica (Pacific Jewel Box, Family Chamidae)
1 specimen (a lower valve) displayed
Lower (very thick) valve of adult specimen
Guadalcanal , Solomons Islands
Collector Thora Whitehead
Queensland Museum

14
Spondylus candidus (Candid Spiny Oyster, Family Spondylidae)
1 specimen (with both valves) displayed
Mwatawa, Kiriwina Is., Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea
Collector Dr GJM Gerrits, 1968
Queensland Museum Collection

15
Pinctada maxima (Gold-lip Pearl Oyster, Family Margaritidae)
1 specimen (one valve only) displayed
Indo-Pacific species known to occur in PNG
Queensland Museum