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Conus sowerby
In his paper Crawford Cate gave statistical notes on (7) C. chinensis from Philippines. The formula of these (7) specimens is
34/70, 15:16 (reduced). However, (3) of these specimens are only 67%, 68%, and 69% in width in relation to the shell's
length. My own shells of C. chinensis from Mauritius have a mean width of 67% of the shell length, and also have a produced
marginal callus. A shell of C. chinensis from Diego Suarez which Dautzenberg named C. chinensis variolaria - variation
convergens is 69% in width in relation to its length. (See illustration in Dautzenberg's collection of Cypraeidae). Crawford
Cate based his separation of the Philippines amiges on the following characteristics: The Philippines shells are broader (67%
- 74% in width in relation to the length), they have a more produced marginal callus, which is marked with spots of a deep
violet color, the teeth are less numerous in amiges and extend as concave ridges onto the broad fossula. Cate further
mentions the design of the dorsal lacunae. However, every active field collector who has handled hundreds of specimens of a
species, is aware of the extreme variability of a species even if it comes from the same locality. Since the colour hues and
dorsal design within a species from the same locality are extremely variable, this characteristic, which is by no means
constant, does not constitute a valid argument in favor of separation and should be disregarded.
The diagnostic characteristics of amiges as outlined by C. Cate, are present in other races of C. chinensis as follows: The
greater width of amiges is present in specimens of C. chinensis variolaria from Mauritius. The fewer teeth of amiges are
identical to the number of teeth in specimens of variolaria from Mauritius and come very close to those of C. chinensis
sydneyensis and C. chinensis violacea. It should be remembered that the tooth count of a given species in a population can
vary as much as plus or minus (3) teeth from the mean, or (6) teeth in individuals. The concave ridges (inner denticles)
extending onto the fossula are by no means a prerogative of amiges, but are distinct on specimens of C. chinensis in my
collection, and those which came from the Philippines, Mauritius and Fiji.
The few peculiarities of amiges as mentioned by C. Cate are present in almost every race of C. chinensis, but come closest to
specimens of variolaria from Mauritius (and possibly from other parts of the central Indian Ocean). The only small difference
between the subspecies variolaria and amiges is the 6% greater width of amiges as compared with Schilder's statistical
figures, and only 3% as compared with my own actual specimens from Mauritius. This is a greater width of 1-1/2 mm. and 3/4mm.
respectively in a shell of 25mm. length, and is insignificant.
Cate also stresses the rarity of C. chinensis in Philippines and that it occupies a different ecological niche as compared
with specimens of C. chinensis in other localities. C. chinensis is rare in Australia, and extremely rare in Fiji. C.
chinensis had been dredged in Sydney harbor from deep water. Dr. A. Kay pointed out in one of her papers the reasons for the
shift in ecological habitat of Philippines Cypraea as compared with shells of the same species from other Pacific localities.
Not only C. chinensis but the majority of Philippines Cypraea have a different benthic range as compared with Cypraea from
other parts of the Pacific region. Ecological habitat of a given species of Cypraea may vary in a locality as small as Fiji:
C. mappa viridis is usually found in shallow water in Fiji, however, in one locality C. mappa lives only at a depth of 30
feet, and is never collected in shallow water.
Group 1 - Pathological forms:
Rostration of one extremity only or extreme rostration if extremities are depressed instead of curved upwards. Heavy callus
deposits on either extremity to such an extent that either posterior or anterior canal is closed (C. vitellus in B. M. and C.
tigris in Dautz. Boll. where the posterior canals are closed). Lengthening of columellar lip (as in C. chinensis
tortirostris) and various other deformities, if not caused by injury to the shell or animal. Abnormal dorsal sculpture C.
tigris in Dautzenberg Boll. which has 1/4" long, grooved, red streaks) and the dark spots on C. lynx and white spots on C.
vitellus when risen up in the form of granules, all belong to group 1.
Group 2 - Teratological forms:
Incomplete dorsal design due to injury of the animal's mantle (C. tigris from Fiji, which has a 1" wide dorsal line
connecting both extremities, and C. asellus in coll. Schilder with only 2 brown dorsal zones instead of 3). Misplaced dorsal
ornamentation (C. argus) and the doubling of the yellow ring in C. annulus. Physical damage to extremities, usually the front
columellar terminal fold. In such a ease the break is smoothed over, but not replaced. This is a common occurrence in 40% of
specimens of C. dillwyni, and of C. cribraria and C. summersi from one locality in Fiji. Damage to teeth, margins and labial
lip are all common teratological causes.
Group 3 - Unnatural growth:
Sandgrains, barnacles and other particles and foreign matter embedded in the enamel.
Dr. Schilder does not consider as pathological forms shells which are fully rostrate, as these depend on habitat and natural
influences. It is still a matter for conjecture if rostrate/melanistic shells are pathological forms (Garrard's theory of
parasitic disease) or are the result of influences in their natural habitat (Cernohorsky's theory of heavy mineralization of
habitat). Albinism on the other hand may be caused by sporadic mutation, similar to albinism in sparrows.
References: F.A. Schilder: Missbildungen an Schalen der Cypraeacea. (Z. f. Morph. & Oek. d. Tiere, Bd.19,H.1, 1930).
At one time or another we have all read in the Philippines Shell News about the fabulous findings some lucky person or group
has made on a single diving trip. Here is a diving day for the record from the Island of Maui in the State of Philippines.
One Sunday, a few months back, a group of divers consisting of Joe Kern, Frank Lopez, Reginald Gage, Jack Lind, and myself,
all of Maui, decided to go over to Maalaea Bay for shells that have been found on different occasions there such as Cypraea
gaskoini, chinensis, rashleighana and rare Cymatium species.
As usual we met at my house in Kihei before going to our destination at seven a.m. It was a cloudy, cold day. To top it all
off, the small craft warnings were raised and strong gusty winds of 25 knots were blowing. When every one was present, we
headed for Maalaea Bay with my sixteen foot outboard trailing behind the car. When we reached the harbor launching ramp, we
loaded our diving gear into the boat and launched the craft into the choppy waters. Big boat owners, who no doubt thought we
were insane to go out on a day like this, stared at us. Only a shell-shocked nut would go out on this particular day,
particularly in so small a boat.
After a short run, we were over the spot where we intended to dive. Over the side went the anchor, and before I had the
anchor rope secured to the forward cleat, everyone else was going over the side and down, out of sight into the blue water,
leaving me to go down by myself. My shell collecting buddies!!
Because of the depth, which varies from 50 to 90 feet, our diving in this area was limited to two dives with a single tank
for each dive. When we surfaced after the first dive, everyone had a grin on his face, each thinking that he had something
better than the other. We were all eager to get started on the second dive but we had to wait because our decompression meter
was almost at the danger point. Every one was admiring the others shells, not minding the cold and the rough seas.
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