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Tiger brownlip
The discovery of a number of Cypraea punctata, variation trizonata, both with and without brown teeth should help to settle
the problem of whether this is a separate species, as some have claimed. It would seem that the Polynesian representation
intergrades in Samoa with typical C. punctata.
Cypraea felina, variation melvilli, was also found increasing the range of this species to Samoa. The same is true of Cypraea
microdon, Cypraea minoridens and Cypraea eglantina. Cypraea argus was represented by one fresh empty specimen, and two old
eroded shells.
Cypraea tigris, usually so common on South Pacific Islands, was rare in Samoa. Mollusks are eaten with relish on Tutuila,
especially the larger top shells and cowries. The reefs are constantly searched by residents with food in mind. This may
account for the rarity of C. tigris.
I found a simple way to encourage the cowries to extend their mantles. A bottle of sea water was kept in the refrigerator and
cowries to be studied were placed in this water which was warmed to about 80 degrees - just so it no longer felt cold. In a
small amount of this stored water which probably lost some oxygen during refrigeration and warming [water accepts more gas,
not less, when it is chilled. See my explanation in NS#206 RCD] the shells put on a good show. The exact character of
mantle, siphon, tentacles and foot could be easily determined with a low power magnifying glass.
The name moneta (coin) refers to the former use of the cowry as coin in Africa, and caurica** is a badly latinized "cowry";
this word comes from the Hindoostanee language in which it means small coins, as moneta and annulus have been used as money
in ancient India too: they have been called Kaparda in Sanscrit, and Kavari by the Mahrats; the word cowry may, however, also
derivate from Kori which means tax in the language of Gujarat in India.
2. Many names derive from the habitat of the holotype:
from countries chinensisChina, gambiensisGambia, indica(East) India, melanesiaeMelanesia, mexicanaMexico,
surinamensisSurinam, (Guiana), westralisWest Australia (incorrectly contracted word); from seas: erythraeensisfrom the
Erythraean (Red) Sea; from islands: luchuanaLu-chu (Ryu-kyu) Islands, mauritianaMauritius, novaebritanniaeNew Britain,
ogasawarensisOgasawara (Bonin) Islands; from cities: eucliaEucla, West Australia; or from bays, capes, etc.: algoensisAlgoa
Bay, capensisCape of Good Hope. Some geographical names indicate the habitat relative to that of allied species, as
aequinoctialisequatorial, hesperina and occidentaliswestern, superstes- survivor (of the fossil martini).
3. Specific names established in honor of a male scientist have been spelled by affixing one 'i' to his surname:
artuffeli, barclayi, catei, childreni (emended), coxeni, dillwyni, fultoni, gaskoini, hirasei, hungerfordi,
kieneri, kuroharai, landeri, langfordi, listeri, martini, moelleri (emended), ostergaardi, reevei, robertsi,
rosselli, summersi, teramachii, teulerei, tomlini, vredenburgi, walkeri, wilkinsi; if two 'i' have been affixed
originally, as in beckii, boivinii, broderipii, comptonii, cumingii, friendii, goodallii, humphreysii, lamarckii,
owenii, the second 'i' should be suppressed according to the International Rules of Zoological Nomenclature (1958), whereas
valentia (named after Lord Valentia) should be called valentiai in [the] future. Compound names must be written in one word,
as depriesteri and macandrewi, as well as names containing both the Christian name and the surname: raysummersi (Ray
Summers). Names of scientists also may be used as adjectives, affixing 'ana' as in grayana, rashleighana, and sowerbyana, or
affixing 'i' an a as in bregeriana, dayritiana, petitiana, schilderiana. Species dedicated to a woman will be named by
affixing 'ae' to the surname as hammondae and saulae, or to the Christian name: annettae, katsuae, mariae, marielae;
schilderorum expresses dedication to both Schilders, and catholicorum to the German Catholic missionaries in New Britain who
sent us several thousands of cowries.
4. The generic name Cypraea:
is to be derivated from the Greek Kyprios (i.e. living in the island Cyprus), a surname of Aphrodite or Venus, the ancient
deity of beauty.
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