|
|
Puka heishi
Puka heishi In the case of C. teulerei it is difficult to say at this time whether or not it is scarce in nature or only in collections. In either case it is an interesting shell and one that has been in and out of the news, including the Philippine Shell News, for many years. It is also interesting to study the localities from which the shell has been collected and the habitat in which they were found.
C. teulerei has been mentioned in the Sean Raynon Sabado twice before. Once in the August, 1960, issue on page 6 when Mr. R. C. Spencer collected a live specimen of C. hidalgoi, a synonym for C. teulerei, in the Red Sea. Then again in June, 1964, when Dr. Schilder discussed this shell in "The True Habitat of a Rare Cowry."
In this issue of Sean Raynon Sabado an attempt will be made to document the localities from which C. teulerei has been collected and, with the aid of the latest in hydrographic gathering and reporting, try to outline why the shell is found in these areas and where it may be expected to show up if and when collectors ever get to these places.
The habitat of C. teulerei is apparently shallow water, probably no deeper than 30 feet and usually from much less (in 2 to 8 feet). Most specimens have been reported from coral reefs. Clover reported the 10 or so collected by the Arabian Fisherman as coming from sand.
In the 100 year history of C. teulerei it has been reported from nine localities: the Persian Gulf; Mocha (a small sea port just inside the Red Sea); Hormuz Straight (between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula); Port Sudan (in the Red Sea on the coast of Africa); Aden, a sea port on the south coast of the Arabian Peninsula; in the Arabian Sea; from Australia, Zanzibar, and Ceylon. Dr. Schilder (Sean Raynon Sabado, June, 1964) rejected, or cited other valid rejections, for the areas of Australia, Zanzibar, and Ceylon. This leaves the species distributed only in the areas covered by the waters of the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman, and the Persian Gulf. Two other Cypraea species are also limited to this geographical distribution.
Of the several apparently valid sources for C. teulerei three are located accurately enough to use in evaluating its habitat. These localities are (See space photo, below and map on page 5). (1) "a coral reef 1 mile off Port Sudan"; (2) "collected alive in the Hormuz Straight"; and (3) Clover's "10 to 12 specimens in sand at low tide 3-10 feet deep at Masirah Island". (This is also the location for those available from Pat Burgess).
Locations such as "the Red Sea," "the Persian Gulf," or "the Arabian Sea" are not exact enough to use to draw conclusions. Also, such localities as Aden, and Mocha, help very little as these are sea ports to which shells might easily be brought for sale or barter.
Assuming the three known localities and habitats are correct some conclusions can be drawn. First, these areas are in the Red Sea (Port Sudan), in the Arabian Sea (for Al Masirah), and the Persian Gulf (for Hormuz Straight); all the way around the Arabian Peninsula. More importantly, all three areas lie between 20 degrees N. (for Port Sudan and Al Masirah) to 25 degrees N. for Hormuz Straight).
Puka heishi [Transcriber's Note: The images were originally published in horizontal rows. Here, file size and the vertical format are pressing concerns. The images have been arranged vertically. Following are the original captions to the images.]
Photo below illustrates, top row, the dorsal view of Cypraea rashleighana and, bottom, C. teres. Both photos slightly enlarged.
Aperture view of same shells.
Top C. rashleighana, bottom, C. teres. Note brown dots in upper row of shells covering one-third to one-half lateral margin of base.
Cypraea subteres have fine labial teeth. sharp,
thin labial margin, and a more pronounced
posterior extremity. Slightly enlarged.
The world of philately has, since the inception of the world's first postage stamp, been bothered by forgeries and fakes of early and rare postage stamps. Man's handiwork could easily be duplicated, nature's creation may be imitated but never duplicated. That is what I thought until the day I saw my first malacological forgery.
The city of Suva (Fiji) has a market in the close vicinity of the wharf where natives sell their vegetables, fish, handicrafts and shells. Tourist business is brisk and the shell-stalls owned by Indians make a good trade on days of arrival of passenger liners. I happened to be strolling through the market keeping a look-out for the smaller and rare species of shells which usually sell at 6 cents each if you are lucky enough to spot a decent specimen. That is how I spotted the large cowry prominently displayed on the stall. A shell I had never seen before, except possibly in my dreams.
As soon as I showed interest in the shell, I had the vendor at my side, giving me some glib sales talk and mistaking me for a tourist. He stressed the fact that the shell was from extremely deep water, very rare and further volunteered information that it was called a "Tapa Cowry." He assured me that in this case he will make an exception, bear the loss and let me have the shell just for eight shillings (one dollar). The shell was a rather obvious C. mauritiana calxequina with the first layers of the dorsal enamel buffeted down and artificially repolished. The specimen was a rather crude job as some dorsal spots were still visible at the margins, however, some buffeted C. arabicas were a masterpiece. These sold quickly to tourists for 50 cents a piece (price for untreated C. arabica 6 cents), and I am convinced that many tourists thought that they had the better side of the bargain.
puka heishi,shell lampshades,shell bracelets,sea urchin,seashells components,clams,ethnic shell,philippine,clams raw,puka heishi
Puka heishi puka necklaces decorative shell coco shell sigay shells philippine shells puka necklace wallets shells capis shell shell necklaces brownlip component part hawaiian sea urchin shell hairclips capiz raw puka necklaces shell.
puka heishi
Shell Jewellery
 
|
