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Capis shell
Capis shell the total is 5.5, and in all sets the mean exceeds 5; i.e. the brown dots are always slightly prevalent, contrary to the collection from Ata'a. In Tjilaut Eureun, South Java, Dr. W. F. de Priester collected several sets of beach sea shells from 1931 to 1934 which mostly contain a sufficient number of E. helvola for calculating the average spotting; in P. Mal. Soc. London 21:92 (1934) these sets have been called:
set A B+D E F J
mean
class 6.1 6.2 6.1 6.2 6.1
the total 6.1 and the figures of all sets exceed class 6, so that the E. helvola from Java are still darker than those from Mombasa. Besides, one will observe that in Java the figures are practically identical, while in Mombasa the difference between the palest and the darkest set comprises almost one class.
Populations from adjacent areas may be rather different: in the Seychelles, R. Winckworth collected many E. helvola in 1936, both at Mahé (Anse Boileau) and on Digue Island: the average class of markings is 4.8 and 3.9 respectively, so that the 87 shells from Mahe are distinctly darker than those from Digue and from other islands of the archipelago. In East Africa the average class varies from 4.5 to 5.9, viz. from North to South: Malindi 4.6
Diani 4.5
Shanzu 5.1
Shimoni 5.9
Mombasa I. 5.5
Zanzibar 4.7
while in South Africa all populations are far darker, varying from 7.0 to 8.4 (Vetch Pier in Durban with 5.3 has been excluded on account of unusual environments): Durban 7.6
Kei Mouth 7.7
Clanstal 7.0
Kowie 7.6
Pondoland 8.4
Capis shell Readers may remember that this species is not a true sea shell (Cypraeidae), but it approaches, anatomically, the egg-shells (Ovulidea); in fact, the Indo-Pacific P. adamsonii and the West-American Jenneria pustulata are the only survivors of the subfamily Eocypraeinae which flourished in Cretaceous and Tertiary times, for their spire is involute even in young shells as it is in the living Ovulinae, too.
Photo: Heinike
Cypraea stolida,
natural size.
East Africa has long been known for its grand scenery and rich animal and bird life found on the highland savannas and around the great lakes. Mt. Kilimandjaro rises majestically from the surrounding plains to a height of 19,000 feet, and though situated almost exactly on the equator its head is hidden under perennial snow – in strange contrast to the giraffes and elephants browsing through evergreen bush on its lower slopes. It may be less known that East Africa also has a magnificent coastline which is only very recently being opened up to tourism, bringing the wonder-world of the Indian Ocean closer to interested visitors.
While Mombasa, centre of present-day tourism, has been a busy seaport and main crossroads of East Africa for more than two thousand years, the coastal areas to north and south are much less densely populated. In a gently swerving north-southerly line where the Indian Ocean meets the mainland, miles and miles of white sand beach stretch as far as the eye can see. To seaward a low coral reef runs parallel to the coast about five to six hundred yards off-shore and easily reached on foot at low tide, while on the land side the coast is fringed in many parts by thick tropical jungle in which monkeys and leopards still roam undisturbed today. Few native villages, only a handful of private holiday houses and no more than five or six hotels dot the coastline from Kikambala about 25 miles north of Mombasa to Diani Beach as many miles again to the south.
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capis shell
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