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Capiz shells
Capiz shells The recently described cowry E. rabaulensis (Schilder, 1964, Arch. Moll., 93:141-144, fig.1) has been recorded only from New Britain and is known from less than a dozen specimens.
Mr. Mick Laurent collected a specimen of E. rabaulensis in 2 feet of water on Lilisiana reef, Malaita, Solomons, and forwarded the shell including the preserved animal for examination through Mr. 1. Gower. The shell measured 19.2 mm in length, 9.6 mm in width, labial teeth numbered 20, columellar ones 19. The shell is creamy-fawn with 4 narrow, brownish, interrupted and somewhat obsolete transverse zones, small spots and a dilacerated dark brown dorsal blotch; extremities have a pair of blackish-brown terminal blotches and teeth are dull and short. The radula shows that the species would be more properly assigned to the genus Erronea Tröschel, instead [of] Notadusta Schilder.
The recently described Erronea stohleri Cate & Schilder, 1968 (The Veliger, 10:382-383, pl. 54) bears a great resemblance to the Solomon Island rabaulensis. Erronea stohleri is said to differ from rabaulensis in characters of coarser anterior columellar teeth and a dorsum which is not zonate but has a central dorsal blotch which according to the authors has not been observed in species of Notadusta. The Solomon Island rabaulensis does show a dilacerated dorsal blotch, and the presence or absence of dorsal blotches or zones in cowry species appears to be a variable feature. Erronea errones (Linnaeus) or E. subviridis (Reeve), both occur with or without a dorsal blotch, and Notadusta species may prove to be just as variable in this feature once more specimens become known.
Although encountering a consistent westerly set, limited veliger distribution from the periodically proximal counter-equatorial current distinguishes the Phoenix Group as a western limit for most Indo-Pacific shell species. Oceanographic separation apparently prevents introduction of South American and Eastern Pacific species. Situated in the midst of the Phoenix Group, McKean Island lies approximately one hundred miles from its nearest neighbor, Gardner Island. Isolation by distance is perhaps not so significant as that imposed by the great depth of surrounding water, averaging 2800 fathoms on all sides. Idealized current flow and consistent dry climate characterize this isolation geologically. Ecologically, such forms of natural isolation create boundaries to various marine life, thus providing other marine life forms the opportunity to develop and interact in a unique environment the influence of which is emphasized by uniformity. Consequently, the prevalence, distribution and evolution of an established species can be studied with greater validity when these three variables are regarded as a sole function of a particular isolated environment; usually produced artificially by the restriction of scientific method, but in the case of McKean Island, more perfectly imposed by natural forces.
Amongst the coral rubble 278 Cypraea depressa, 87 Conus ebraeus, and 62 Cypraea caputserpentis were collected in one hour from the study area. Scarcity of live specimens on adjacent reef platform offers the following explanations of study area beach shell abundances: 1. location leeward of trades, current and heavy surf, 2. narrowing of barren coralline platform with increased occurrence of deep sand-filled channels, and 3. gradual slope of sand beach steepening north and south where a 17 foot continuous coral shingle land rim intervenes, rising directly from the platform.
Capiz shells Other C. teulèrei follow-up letters included one from Phil Clover. He wrote, "I really enjoyed reading the C. teulèrei article. You must have done a lot of research on that project.
"I have learned the name of the collector who found the shells in the Al Masirah Island area is Ali. He now has a new home and a second wife and is quite happy over it all.
"A hundred or so years ago C. teulèrei must have been 'found' because quite a few are to be seen in museum collections. But from then until recently specimens sold for about $600.00. I think the price of this shell will now level at about my list price."
Ed. Note: The comments below are quoted from a letter received recently from Prof. Dr. F. A. Schilder, Schleiermacherstr. 19; DDR 402 Halle-Saale, Germany. In offering his criticism and comments of the article Dr. Schilder said, "I hope you will not be offended by this criticism: real scientists never should be offended." As far as we of the Shell News are concerned, we welcome comments and constructive criticism. One of our main objectives is to get information to Philippine Shell members in as accurate a form as possible. Comments such as Dr. Schilder's help accomplish this.
"The September issue of Sean Raynon Sabado the arrival of which I appreciated in my last letter, was very quickly followed by the October issue, which arrived very few days ago: I sincerely thank you for sending me the copy by air mail so that I must not wait long time to learn the contents. I noticed the correction of JEFFERIES on p. 2. The paper of DEBANT on Cribrarula fischeri (not: Cribraria fisheri) is very instructive and the figures are fine. However, in future you should ask the authors of papers to add the size of the figured specimens, as in fact the shell represented in fig. 5 must be much smaller than that of fig. 6. Besides it is regrettable that Mr. DEBANT constantly misspelled cumingii into cummingii, and fischeri into fisheri. The generic name Cribraria is a preoccupied homonym, and has been rechristened into Cribrarula four decades ago."
This is a surprise sequel to my recent report on two dead Cypraea marginalis Dillwyn found at Diani Beach, East Africa. To my great thrill and excitement I discovered that I have actually collected three more, live, C. marginalis during my repeat trip to the same area in February of this year.
The shells were collected on 6th February 1969 during an extreme low tide (four days after full moon) from the undersides of large coral boulders lying half submerged in the lagoon at just around low tide level. They are three little beauties of 24.5, 23, and 18.5mm [in length], respectively, with dark olive brown dorsum spotted profusely with white dots, some of which are ringed with dark brown. The base is a shiny, deep mauve with some dots and, on the outer lip, streaks of darker purple. (See photo... [right].)
The dead specimens found before were much lighter in color. Although their exterior was still quite glossy and porcellaneous, they must have undergone considerable fading. Especially the dorsal coloring appeared on first sight quite different, with the dark ringed spots much more conspicuous on the pale background than the white ones. In the live shells the exact opposite is he case. This is also the reason why I did not bring the two finds into connection at first, and failed to recognize the newly found live shells for what they were.
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