|
|
Cordakia tigpena
Recently Mr. Trevor J. Sutcliffe, Mount Yokine (Western Australia) has sent me for examination, a Zoila venusta (Sowerby; of
67 mm which he and Mr. Milton East have collected by skin-diving in Geographe Bay, west Australia. The pale orange dorsal
blotches and the unspotted pink margins prove it to be a typical venusta. Besides, Mr. Ray Summers of Petaluma (California)
sent me a color photograph of a similar venusta of 73 mm, which had been collected at Busselton in Geographe Bay, and Mr. C.
N. Cate, Los Angeles (California) possesses another venusta of 69 mm, found in 60 feet off Binningup. Consequently the true
venusta lives in the same area as the dark spotted episema Iredale does, which spreads from Cape Naturaliste to Abrolhos Is.
(coll. Cate), and developed near Perth the dwarf race sorrentensis Schilder. Therefore Zoila episema should be classified as
[a] "morphe" of subspecific rank (see Schilder, 1966, Veliger 8:185) as it is sympatric with the closely allied Z. venusta
and hardly differs in structure, but distinctly in color without any intermediateds known up to now.
The cowrie Lyncina sulcidentata (Gray) is restricted to the Philippine Islands from Philippines to Kure. Nevertheless its
length varies considerably, viz. from 25 to 68 mm, and its relative breadth (expressed in per cent of length) varies from 62
to 83%. Such extremes, however, are rare; the "usual variation" is 32-48 mm and 68-75% respectively: this range comprises two
thirds of specimens approaching the mean and is approximately equal to the double standard deviation (see The Veliger 8:209,
1966).
In the diagram (page 6) 112 adult shells from various localities have been plotted by length against relative breadth: each
dot indicates one shell, the straight lines indicate the limits of "usual variation" in each character calculated by
excluding the extreme [one-]sixth on each end, and the circle passing through the four points of intersection theoretically
comprises about two thirds of shells approaching the center in both characters (40 mm, 71.5%).
The diagram shows two peculiarities: first the median (small circle in 38/72) is eccentric, as most specimens accumulate in
the left half of the diagram, so that the curve of variation in length becomes skew (as it is in many animals); second, there
is a distinct negative correlation between length and relative breadth, as the small shells are relatively broad, the large
shells more slender (as it is in most cowrie shells): for the upper left and the lower right areas outside the limits of
usual variation contain twelve specimens, but the lower left and the upper right corners contain none.
I may add that the holotype of [Cypraea] Mauritia eglantina var. couturieri Vayssière (1905, Journ. de Concyl., 53:13, pl. 1,
Fig. 3), which shows three pallid zones crossing the dorsum, also may be an artifact; I could produce similar specimens by
using a hot iron.
Photos - Hayes --- not to scale
Figs. 1, 2;
two aspects of van Eck's
C. guttata from Talwat Village;
length 68mm.
Figs. 3, 4;
a juvenile specimen from Tavui;
length 59mm.
Figs. 5, 6;
a 51mm guttata from
the Korere district.
Rabaul, the township on the Gazelle Peninsula of New Britain in the Trust Territory of New Guinea, achieved some degree of
fame among shell collectors during 1963 when Mrs. Anne Appleton found a Conus gloriamaris. The subsequent discovery of an
additional seven of the much sought after shells in the Rabaul area during the following twelve months, highlighted the
possibility of other rare shells coming to light in these and surrounding waters. In fact five more C. gloriamaris were to
come up from the neighboring islands of Bougainville, New Ireland, and the coastal region of the New Guinea mainland.
With the accent on shells, and their value (Hoerler specimen of C. gloriamaris selling for $2000 after having been purchased
for a few shillings) all 25,000 coastal natives in the Gazelle Peninsula are conducting an almost feverish hunt for shells.
The result is that interesting specimens can be purchased by collectors in the native market and other places.
One such collector is Carl van Eck, a Health Inspector with the Papua and New Guinea Department of Health. In the course of
his work van Eck travels extensively in the Gazelle Peninsula, and his interest and knowledge of shells is well known to the
local natives. Consequently he recognized immediately a Cypraea guttata when it was produced with other shells at Talwat
Village, about 4 miles from Rabaul. The shell was purchased with other less rare shells from a native woman for a small sum,
and van Eck returned to Rabaul, certain that he had a C. guttata but at the same time heading for the nearest reference
books. The drawing in Tucker Abbott's Sea Shells of the World confirmed his hopes. The shell had a puncture hole in one side,
was fairly dull in gloss and measured approx. 68mm in length.
A few days later van Eck was near Tavui, about six miles on the other side of Rabaul, when he was again offered a C. guttata.
This shell was not full formed, had a good gloss, and had some smell of decaying mollusk in it when purchased for a shilling
or so. It measured about 59mm in length.
During the course of the next week he was again offered a third C. guttata in neighboring Korere district. This shell was
well formed, though only about 51mm in length, and was dullish in color.
To date his extreme good fortune has not been extended though he lives in hopes that more will come his way. All shells are
extremely light in weight, and bear the characteristic fawn brown color with conspicuous white spots of varying size on the
dorsum. Teeth extend across the base, sometimes forked, and over the sides in bright red ridges.
van Eck can give no information to support the claim made that a C. guttata found off Malaita in the British Solomon Islands
during 1963 was found in the stomach of a fish. Certainly no information was volunteered to him by the sellers of these rare
shells, and in his excitement to acquire them, it did not occur to him to ask the natives. It is very doubtful that the
original finders could be located and that they would give the correct information the local Tolai native has a habit of
giving the answer he thinks will most please you.
cordakia tigpena,notorium,raw,shark teeth,inlay,shell bracelets,mop shell raw,murex huastillum,philippine shellcraft,cordakia tigpena
Cordakia tigpena wallets shell black lip trocca tuna zulcosa native shell hawaiian blacklip shells jewelries assorted shell shell component shell component export clam raw shell pendants exporter of fashion shell cay-cay capis shell clams.
cordakia tigpena
Shell
Bracelets
|
