|
|
Cyprea vitilus
This species was first collected by Mrs. Iris Cohen of Fish Hoek, South Africa in 1964. Both of her specimens were
beach-collected. The holotype (Bishop Museum, Honolulu, No. B.B.M. 8911) is well preserved and fresh appearing.
The specimen illustrated above was collected by Mr. Lynn K. Kapp of Pinelands Cape, South Africa, in April, 1966, on the
beach in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa. This specimen is unmistakably C. cohenae, but differs from the others collected in that
the columellar aperture bears tiny widely spaced teeth. It should be noted that considerable variation in dentition is found
in many South African cowries. Cypraea cohenae may be distinguished easily from the two cowries that it most closely
resembles Cypraea edentula Gray and Cypraea amphithales Melvill. Cypraea cohenae has strong, deeply cut, brown stained labial
teeth; C. edentula seldom has even faint crenulations on its lip. Cypraea amphithales has fine closely spaced teeth on the
columella and base; C. cohenae occasionally has widely-spaced small teeth limited to the aperture.
If Mr. deVaul knew what repercussions his taking of 37 Murex insularum on a Christmas weekend 1965 would have, I am certain
he would have given up shell collecting right then and switched over to philately. No less than four articles were published
condemning his action, and before Mr. deVaul's enthusiasm for shell collecting turns to sour grapes, we might try to view the
matter more objectively and see if the guilt of "Over-collecting" can be distributed more equally.
The taking of over 1200 specimens of Voluta deshayesi in New Caledonia and several hundred Cypraea coxeni in New Britain is
legend among collectors, and details need not be repeated here. Hugh Cuming and Andrew Garrett, both celebrated Pacific
collectors who somehow avoided making headlines on "Over-collecting" during the last century, were both indiscriminate
collectors. Garrett did not blush when he wrote that he collected 1,500 specimens of Mitra papilio at Raiatea "in a few days"
(1880, Journ. Conch., 3:27).
Dr. Maria Schilder in her little book "Die Kaurischnecke" (Leipzig, 1952, 1-47), gives us an insight on over-collecting; the
figures quoted by the author were extracted from entries in old business ledgers on the export of Cypraea annulus and C.
moneta to West Africa.
cyprea vitilus,sundial landsnail,puka shell,paua,shell jewelry s,shell inlay shell tiles,tuna zulcosa,rose clam,haliotis asinana,cyprea vitilus
Cyprea vitilus notorium pecten vexillum orange telena vergata strombus canarium lambis crocata component part conus aulicus craft shells black agate cordakia tigpena seashells components shell anklets land snail wholesaler pinkrode mactan.
cyprea vitilus
Shell
Bracelets
|
