The Rumphius' slit shell, the most famous of Taiwan mollusks, is the largest member of the slit shell family (Pleurotomariidae). These mollusks appeared 570 million years ago, earlier than the dinosaurs. The cone-shaped Rumphius' slit shell has a crack starting at the mouth of the shell and an attractive pattern of red and yellow flame-like stripes. Impressive in appearance, the shells can measure up to 23 centimeters in length. It resembles a colorful palace in miniature.
The first Rumphius' slit shell was kept at a museum in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in the 18th and 19th centuries. Around 1936, two more were discovered in Japan and the Philippines, but sadly both were destroyed during World War II.
In 1969 the Taiwan Provincial Museum obtained a living Rumphius' slit shell, which attracted 30,000 visitors in one day. Unfortunately, it died after just a few days.
As a result of improved fishing technology, more than 400 Rumphius' slit shells have been pulled from the oceans. But because the Rumphius is so famous, the supply can't meet demand, and today it still commands a high price.
In May 2005 fishermen from Ilan's Nanfang-ao Harbor pulled up an 18-centimeter Rumphius' slit shell from the sea floor at a depth of 300 meters. After being kept in Chang Yi-hsien's Shell Museum for four months, it produced more than 10,000 semi-translucent gold eggs. It was the first time that a Rumphius' slit shell had produced eggs in an aquarium.
Taiwan's first Rumphius' slit shell was discovered off Tungsha Island, but all subsequent ones were discovered off Kuishan Island.
These living fossils are hard to acquire. When a fishing boat lifts its nets it must stop them for an hour every ten meters of depth to allow any slit shells caught in them to depressurize, or else they might die from the rapid change in pressure. From this you can calculate that fishing nets placed at a depth of 120 meters will require 12 hours to be completely hauled up. Catching living Rumphius' slit shells depends upon the patience of fishermen and their willingness to sacrifice their own self-interest.
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